[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H1484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       URGING CAUTION ON FURTHER AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN COLOMBIA

  (Mr. WICKER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, this is the day! March 29, 2000, is the day 
that, unless something changes, this House of Representatives will 
decide to become involved in a lengthy and expensive military action in 
the country of Colombia.
  There are a lot of questions that we do not know about plan Colombia, 
but we do know this, that at best it will take us 6 years to do the 
job, and probably twice that length. It will involve us in supporting a 
military action against guerillas on the left and narco terrorists on 
the right. Also, it will cost billions and billions of dollars, all 
without a full hearing and all without a full national debate.
  This should not be a partisan issue, Mr. Speaker. Today I will vote 
for the Obey amendment which will say, at least let's put the brakes on 
$500 million of this appropriation until we know what we are doing. We 
ought to be fully informed, and the American people ought to be fully 
informed, before we embark on a course of action which will last for 
decades and cost billions of American dollars with doubtful results.

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