Pubdate: Thu, 14 Sep 2000
Date: 09/14/2000
Source: Free Lance-Star (VA)
Author: Ellen Herndon Atkins

I am outraged that President Clinton has committed U.S. tax dollars
and military forces to the futile effort of abolishing the cocaine
trade in Colombia. When has force ever hurt the illegal drug trade?

Has it ever occurred to U.S. leaders that the $1.3 billion aid package
being used to support Plan Columbia could be used to support services
that are desperately needed in our own country?

The huge U.S. aid package is a grave mistake that only will escalate
violence in and around Colombia. How much death and destruction have
to occur before the American people stand up against this debacle and
say, "Enough is enough"?

Ellen Herndon Atkins,
Mineral