THE WAR ON DRUGS IS THE WAR ON TERROR

U.S. Backs Colombia on Attacking Drug Planes (JUAN FORERO, 8/20/03, NY Times)

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, on a one-day visit to Colombia, said today that the United States would support Colombia in resuming a policy that allows Colombian fighter pilots to shoot down planes suspected of ferrying drugs or force them to land. [...]

The announcement was timed as part of a visit to Colombia by Mr. Rumsfeld, who arrived in Bogota, the capital, this morning under tight security to underscore American support for President Alvaro Uribe.

The Uribe government has received $2.5 billion from Washington, largely in military aid, since 2000 as it battles leftist rebels and drug traffickers. Colombia is likely to get $700 million more this year.

The Colombian drug trade, which supplies most of the cocaine entering the United States, has been increasingly tied to both the leftist insurgency and right-wing paramilitary groups. To move the drug, traffickers have often relied on private aircraft. [...]

Under the new policy, coordinates from United States and Colombian radar stations will be passed on to Colombian crews flying Cessna Citation surveillance planes. The surveillance planes will then direct Colombian Air Force jets toward the suspect aircraft.

The surveillance planes will have at least one bilingual observer, most likely an American, to maintain contact with radar operators and Colombian Air Force commanders, American officials said. The pilots have also undergone extensive language training.

President Uribe has done an amazing job trying to save Colombia and deserves any support he seeks. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 20, 2003 5:29 PM