[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1053-H1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COLOMBIA IS NOT VIETNAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, we are about to consider a supplemental 
appropriations bill here in Congress. One of the things I keep hearing 
is, is the antinarcotics effort in Colombia going to lead us into 
another Vietnam. The ridiculous thing is that it shows what happens 
when we have a President without a clear foreign policy and no clear 
definition of compelling national interests.
  We are certainly embroiled in another potential Vietnam. It is 
Kosovo. If one looks at the front page of the Washington Post today, it 
says ``Kosovo Attacks Stir U.S. Concern. Official Says NATO May Have to 
Fight Ethnic Albanians.''
  When we were on the ground just before we voted the funds here in the 
House and Senate to support this effort, visited the camps of the 
Kosovars in Macedonia and other places, they said, no, we are not going 
to go back under the Serbs. Of course we are going to fight to take 
over this. We are going to be independent. There was not a single 
person who did not believe that they were going to continue their 
internal civil war.
  What defines a clear compelling national interest is how it relates 
to the United States. In this bill, we are putting money back into the 
military that the President stripped out for Kosovo, but I do not hear 
complaints about that.
  But in Colombia, we do have a clear compelling national interest, and 
it is most certainly not like Vietnam. In Vietnam, we were across the 
other side of the continent. Here, Colombia is a 2-hour flight from 
Miami, Florida, and produces 80 percent of the cocaine that comes into 
the United States, the drugs that are on the streets of Fort Wayne of 
northeast Indiana and all over this country.
  Colombia has 40 million people. It is the second largest country in 
our hemisphere known historically as the area of the Monroe Doctrine, 
the fifth largest economy, and the oldest democracy in Latin America. 
This is not a propped up government like we were dealing with at 
multiple times in Vietnam. This is a democratically-elected government. 
In fact, the narco-guerillas do not have any popular support unlike the 
Viet Cong, which we could argue about how much they had.
  But here is the latest approval ratings in Colombian polls: 73 
percent for the Catholic Church, 71 percent for the Colombian National 
Police, 69 percent for the Colombian military, 9 percent for the 
terrorist paramilitary, and only 4 percent for the FARC and ELN. They 
know they do not even have the popular will in any village in their 
country. They control rural areas by force, but they do not control the 
major metro areas. The only way they can control the rural areas is by 
force.

[[Page H1054]]

  Furthermore, in addition to the narcotics that are coming into this 
country being a compelling national interest. Obviously, Panama used to 
be part of Colombia. Panama is now vulnerable. It is right up against 
the areas, and the narco-terrorists have moved into that, threatening 
trade routes.
  It is our eighth largest producer of oil in the United States. The 
government oil pipeline there has been attacked 700 times in the last 
number of years. They are predicting that they are going to be a net 
importer in 3 years if we can control the narco-terrorism.
  Basically, they would not have this drug problem if we and Europe 
were not consuming the cocaine. This is not a domestic Colombian 
problem, this is a domestic Colombian democracy problem caused by our 
consumption and consumption in Europe.
  They have a national police that is willing to fight. They have a 
military that is willing to fight. We are not proposing to put American 
armies on the ground like we have in Kosovo.
  How in the world can this be compared to Vietnam? Vietnam is over in 
Europe. But we do not hear people yelling about that.
  This is a clear compelling national interest on energy prices, on 
narco-trafficking going into this country, and our kids and families on 
the streets who are being destroyed by this, and because of trade 
related to Panama, and because it is the second oldest democracy in 
South America fighting for its life because of our problems here. We 
have the obligation to at least assist them with some additional fire 
power with which to fight the druggies who have been using our dollars 
to buy weapons to fight the people there who are trying to preserve 
their democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following fact sheet for the Record, as 
follows:

             Fact Sheet: The Growing Emergency in Colombia

       The Crisis: Narco-guerillas, funded by the illicit drug 
     trade, now threaten the oldest democracy in Latin America. 
     The Colombian government has the political will, but not the 
     resources to combat this threat. Failing to provide U.S. 
     ``Supplemental'' aid now will further weaken Colombia's 
     democratic institutions, jeopardize its fragile economy and 
     undermine its ability to negotiate a peace.


                      The World's Drug Supply Line

       Colombian cocaine production has skyrocketed from 230 
     metric tons in 1995 to 520 metric tons in 1999 and now 
     accounts for 80% of the world's cocaine supply and 90% of the 
     U.S. cocaine supply.
       Colombia has replaced Southeast Asia as the number one 
     supplier of U.S. heroin (producing approximately 70% of the 
     heroin seized in the U.S.).
       Colombian narco-guerillas earn an estimated $600 million 
     from the illegal drug trade each year. The 17,000 member FARC 
     and 6,000 member ELN insurgency groups were declared 
     terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department in 1997 
     and now control 40% of the Colombian countryside.


                       Increased Human Suffering

       Since 1990, 35,000 Colombians have been killed by the 
     guerilla insurgency including a presidential candidate, 
     Supreme Court justices and 5,000 policy.
       At 27,000 homicides per year, Colombia's murder rate is the 
     world's highest (10 times that of the U.S.). Fifteen American 
     citizens are known to have died in Colombia as a result of 
     the drug war and the internal conflict.
       35% of all terrorist acts in the world are committed in 
     Colombia (2,663 kidnappings last year alone). In fact, the 
     longest held U.S. hostages are three missionaries from 
     Florida, held by the FARC in Colombia since 1993.
       Since 1990, the violence from the insurgency has displaced 
     1.7 million Colombians from their homes (more than in Bosnia, 
     Kosovo or East Timor).


                            Economic Crisis

       Colombia is facing its worst economic recession in 70 years 
     with 21% unemployment, a black market economy that undermines 
     its tax base, and a lack of consumer and investor confidence.
       Oil companies in Colombia are facing overwhelming security 
     threats. One government-owned oil pipeline has been attacked 
     700 times by narco-guerillas (79 times in 1999 alone). These 
     attacks have caused $100 millions in economic losses, and 
     more than 1.7 million gallons of oil have been spilled.

              Fact Sheet: Why Colombia Matters to the U.S.


                    drugs are killing american kids

       The U.S. Drug Czar says that illegal drugs account for 
     52,000 American deaths every year (compared to 58,000 during 
     the entire Vietnam War).
       One in every two American school kids will try illegal 
     drugs before they graduate from the 12th grade.
       The cost of illegal drugs to U.S. society is a staggering 
     $110 billion a year.
       U.S. prison population for drug-related crimes is 
     approaching 2 million and 80% of all U.S. inmates are drug 
     abusers.


                     a significant trading partner

       Colombia is the 5th largest economy in Latin America and 
     the 5th largest U.S. trading partner in the region.
       Two-way trade with Colombia totals nearly $11 billion per 
     year and accounts for 80% of the cut flowers and 21% of all 
     coffee imports to the U.S.
       20% of daily U.S. oil imports come from Colombia, Ecuador, 
     and Venezuela (which has surpassed Saudi Arabia as the #1 
     supplier of crude oil to the U.S.). Colombia produces 820,000 
     barrels of oil daily and provides 330,000 barrels of crude 
     oil per day to U.S. refineries in Texas and Louisiana.
       Colombia is the 8th largest supplier of foreign crude oil 
     to the U.S. reducing the U.S. dependence on oil from the OPEC 
     nations of the Middle East.


                           regional stability

       Narco-guerilla incursions into neighboring countries (e.g., 
     Venezuela, Ecuador, Panama and Peru) now threaten the 
     stability of the entire region.
       The strategically important Panama Canal is only 150 miles 
     north of the Colombian border and is vulnerable to guerilla 
     attacks since the pull-out of all U.S. military troops in 
     accordance with the 1977 U.S./Panama Canal Treaty.
       800,000 Colombians have fled their country in the last 4 
     years--seeking entry into the U.S. at an alarming rate 
     (366,423 visa requests last year compared with only 150,514 
     in 1997).
       Colombian political asylum requests have more than 
     quadrupled (396 requests in the last quarter of 1999 compared 
     with 334 in the previous 12 months).

         Fact Sheet: the Administration's Colombia Aid Proposal

       $954 million in FY-00 . . . The ``Supplemental'' Request.
       $150 million already passed in FY-00 Appropriations last 
     fall.
       $150 million in regular FY-01 budget submission.
       $318 million ``plus-up'' to FY-01 budget request ($1.6 
     billion total over two years).

                        [In millions of dollars]

        Additional Aid Request                      FY-00 Supplemental/
        in six categories                             FY-01 ``Plus-Up''
1. Push into Southern Colombia.................................$512/$88
2. Interdiction (Air, Water, Ground)............................238/102
3. Colombian National Police Support..............................68/28
4. Alternative Economic Development...............................92/53
5. Boost Governing Capability.....................................42/46
6. Economic (& Peace Process) Assistance............................3/2
                                                       ________________
                                                       
      Total(s)..................................................954/318

       The proposal includes 85% for Colombia, 6% for other 
     countries and 9% for U.S. agencies.


                               highlights

       30 new Blackhawks and 15 (State Dept) UN-1N Huey 
     helicopters (in addition to 18 now in country) for Colombian 
     troop air transport ($439M in FY-00/$13M in FY-01).
       Two more Colombia counterdrug battalions ($30M in FY-00/
     $12M in FY-01).
       Enhanced Colombian Army bases and air facilities ($18M in 
     FY-00/$23M in FY-01).
       Upgrade OV-10 interceptors, FLIR for AC-47 aircraft ($16M 
     in FY-00/$5M in FY-01).
       Relocate Ground Based Radars/build command center ($25M in 
     FY-00/$12M in FY-01).
       Upgrade airplanes, helos & bases for CNP eradication ($68M 
     in FY-00/$28M in FY-01).


                       proposed regional funding

       Peru Interdiction ($10M in FY-00/$12M in FY-01) eco. 
     development, ($15M in FY-00).
       Bolivia Interdiction ($2M in FY-00/$4M in FY-01) eco. 
     development, ($12M in FY-00).
       Ecuador Interdiction ($2M in FY-00/$4M in FY-01) eco. 
     development, ($3M in FY-00) in addition, Manta FOL ($38.2M in 
     FY-01) included under DOD funding.


                   proposed funding for u.s. agencies

       State Department ($61M in FY-00/$61M in FY-01) for support 
     of Colombian military air mobility and police eradication 
     operations.
       Defense Department ($106M in FY-00/$41M in FY-01) for Manta 
     FOL and training of Colombian counterdrug battalions.
       Treasury Department ($2M in FY-00/$2M in FY-01) for 
     ``Kingpin Act'' (Foreign Assistance Control).
       US Customs ($68M in FY-00) for upgrade of four P-3 AEW 
     aircraft.
       DEA ($7M in FY-00/$3M in FY-01) for support of in country 
     operations.
       21% for Human Rights/Rule of Law/Economic Development and 
     79% for Interdiction & Eradication.

        Fact Sheet: What about Human Rights Abuses in Colombia?


      More Aid for Human Rights Rule of Law, Economic Development

       The Administration's proposal has allotted 21% for combined 
     Human Rights training and monitoring, the Rule of law 
     including judicial reform, and Economic Development--
     (compared to only 10% last year).
       Plan Colombia addresses systemic changes to get the cause 
     of many human rights violations, including: the illicit drug 
     trade, the peace process, the lack of government institutions 
     in rural Colombia and a weak judicial system.

[[Page H1055]]

                      The Leahy Law (vetted units)

       The Leahy Amendment requires that all foreign units 
     receiving U.S. economic assistance must be ``vetted'' for 
     past or current human rights violations.
       Leahy still applies--no U.S. aid will be provided to any 
     Colombian military unit where there is `'credible evidence'' 
     of serious human rights violations.
       Supplemental funding supports Colombian military human 
     rights training and ombudsmen, as well as security protection 
     for human rights monitors. Personnel vetting includes the use 
     of lie detector tests and NGO monitoring.


        Commitment and Improvements by the Colombian government

       President Pastrana and his government are committed to 
     reducing human rights violations whether conducted by the 
     paramilitaries, narco-querillas, or Colombia security forces. 
     He fired four military generals with ties to the 
     paramilitaries and involvement in human rights violations.
       Defense Minister Tapias has taken dramatic steps to deal 
     with the human rights allegations. The Colombian military is 
     undergoing a transformation into a more professional 
     organization. The annual human rights report has documented a 
     steady decline in human rights violations by the Colombian 
     military.
       President Pastrana has publicly acknowledged the importance 
     of deploying properly vetted units as a condition of U.S. 
     aid.


     Blanced Aid to the Military and the Colombian National Police

       The current Administration's proposal is heavily weighed 
     toward assistance to the Colombian military. However, it does 
     include $96 million for the CNP (the 1999 drug supplemental 
     was heavily weighted toward the CNP).

                          ____________________