[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 16, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6860-S6861]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FUTURE OF ANTI-TERRORIST COOPERATION IN COLOMBIA

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to draw attention to the 
plight of the people of Colombia. For decades they have been plagued by 
the scourges of drugs, war, and terrorism. Today, thousands, if not 
millions of Colombians live under constant threat of attack by leftist 
guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups. However, in the recent 
elections the Colombian people overwhelmingly voted to bring the forces 
of terror and violence to their knees.
  In support of their fight against terror, I believe it is the 
responsibility of our great Nation to offer its unwavering moral 
support to the people of Colombia and their democratically elected 
leaders. Since President Monroe first offered a vision for our Nation's 
involvement in the Western Hemisphere, the United States has been the 
guarantor of peace and democracy for all the peoples of the Americas. 
This is a tradition we must continue.
  Consequently, it is time for us as a Nation to explore further 
extending our support, both moral and physical to the cause of 
developing the institutes of justice and governance in Colombia. In 
doing so, we help the Colombians achieve a better way of life and 
further our own fight against the forces of global terror.
  In closing, we should not forego this opportunity to help a neighbor 
and an ally. I offer my firmest support to the people of Colombia and 
their fight to eradicate terrorists and criminals in their own country.
  Mr. John Norton Moore is a distinguished professor of law and is the 
Director of the Center for National Security Law at the University of 
Virginia. He has written thoughtfully on this matter. I found his 
remarks to be highly valuable and wish to share them with the Senate. 
Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that an article written by Professor 
Moore be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                      Ending Terrorism in Colombia

                         (By John Norton Moore)

       The people of Colombia, after years of negotiation with the 
     forces of terror, have courageously voted for their own war 
     on terrorism. For almost four decades, the people of Colombia 
     have been beset with drug lords, old-thinking leftists, and 
     paramilitaries waging war against their democracy and their 
     humanity. Every year in that war a much smaller country than 
     the United States loses more people than were killed in 9/11. 
     Kidnapping runs rampant and the force of law is held hostage 
     to the law of force. It is time for the World to notice 
     Colombia's plight and to join with them to decisively end the 
     terror.
       Why should the United States and others help? Simply 
     because unchecked terrorism left free to ravage democracies 
     anywhere ultimately affects us all. Simply because the drug 
     business in Colombia will never be tamed without an end to 
     the armies of terror it feeds. Simply because economic 
     development in Latin America and an extension of hemispheric 
     trade requires the rule of law. Simply because a decisive 
     hemispheric victory over terrorism in Colombia will have 
     powerful deterrent legs in the global war against terrorism. 
     Simply because the people and democracies of Latin America 
     matter. And simply because, as the people of Colombia have 
     just attested, four decades of terror is enough.
       How can the United States help? Visualizing the ghost of 
     Vietnam, the body politic in the United States has been 
     reluctant to become directly involved in what many see as a 
     domestic struggle in Colombia. Human rights abuses from all 
     sides have further discouraged assistance. Political 
     consensus has only permitted an increased program of aid said 
     to be directed at the war on drugs. Even in a post 9/11 
     World, it is unlikely that the American body politic wants an 
     Afghan style American military presence on the ground in 
     Colombia. Moreover, America has a full plate in the fight on 
     terror at present, and an important agenda for peace in the 
     Palestinian/Israeli dispute and now the India/Pakistan 
     dispute. But the alternative is not, and has never been, 
     simply a U.S. military presence in Colombia or terror as 
     usual.
       The United States should take the lead in consultations 
     with the new leadership of Colombia and the Organization of 
     American States to put together a powerful Inter-American 
     coalition under the Rio Treaty to decisively and permanently 
     restore the reach of democracy over all of Colombia. The Rio 
     Treaty, as the security arm of the Inter-American system, 
     preceded NATO and, indeed, NATO was largely modeled on it. 
     The Inter-American system as a whole has as a central purpose 
     the protection of democracy and human dignity throughout the 
     region. The Rio Treaty pledges the collective action of all 
     of the American states to deal with threats to the peace to 
     those ends. It is time to put that system to the test.
       To be successful such as Inter-American effort would need 
     the full agreement and cooperation of the new Colombian 
     Government. In addition, it must be designed to field an 
     overwhelming response against terror on all fronts and to 
     prevail decisively and promptly. To do this would likely 
     require a sophisticated package with major ground units from 
     leading Latin American states, logistics, technological and 
     intelligence assistance from the United States, a substantial 
     package of economic aid, perhaps coordinated from Nations 
     around the World, and a vigorous human rights effort to 
     accompany the necessary military action. The action should 
     also be coordinated with the United Nations Security Council 
     even though as a matter of international law Colombia has 
     every right simply to request assistance from any nation or 
     the organization of American States to deal with its problem 
     of terror. Further, the action should properly be placed in 
     the global war on terror. Once the plan for overwhelming 
     response has been adopted under the Rio Treaty, a requirement 
     experience shows will lessen casualties on all sides, then 
     the groups in Colombia resisting the rule of law should be 
     given an opportunity to turn over their weapons and 
     unconditionally accept democratic rule from the properly 
     elected Colombia officials. If the perpetrators of terror 
     refuse, the Inter-American plan should be carried out 
     promptly and decisively to restore the rule of law and 
     democracy throughout the proud nation of Colombia.
       For many years I have heard brave representatives from 
     Colombia describing the daily terror in their country. I have 
     listened to the stories of car bombs, kidnappings, and a 
     rural judiciary that had to wear running shoes to Court in 
     order to be able to jump out of the window and run when the 
     terrorist arrived. It is time to put those running shoes on 
     those who challenge the rule of law.

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