Pubdate: Mon, 08 Apr 2002
Source: Chico Enterprise-Record (CA)
Copyright: 2002 The Media News Group
Contact:  http://www.chicoer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/861
Author: Walter Cook
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT COLOMBIA

The Colombia Civil War has raged for 40 or more years. Civilian massacres 
and other atrocities are being committed by all sides. There were 3,000 to 
3,500 civilian deaths last year alone.

Colombia provides 90 percent of the cocaine used in the United States. The 
United States is spending billions for the war on drugs in Colombia, 
limited by Congress to eradication and control, and with human rights 
protections and limits on military action. President Bush is now asking 
Congress to remove these limitations in the interest of fighting the war on 
terrorism. How we choose one side against the other on the basis of 
terrorism is difficult to understand as the government, the paramilitary 
militia and the rebels have all engaged in terror.

It can reasonably be argued that the motive for U.S. involvement is the 
welfare of the L.A.-based Occidental Petroleum Co. Their second- largest 
crude oil pipeline, the Cano Limon, was attacked 152 times in 2000 by the 
rebels.

President Bush has also requested $98 million in the fiscal 2003 budget to 
train a new Colombia battalion to help protect Occidental's facilities.

There has been precious little public and congressional consideration and 
understanding of the Colombia issue so far. With the potential for direct 
intervention in the civil war, and with the possible contradictory aims of 
the administration, it should not be unpatriotic for us to take a little 
time out and commit the issues to extensive public and congressional debate.

Walter Cook, Chico
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