NO-WIN WAR IN COLOMBIA

Juan Tamayo's article "Attacks cut lifeline in Colombia" ( July 27) was
timely. I just returned from a trip to Colombia with Witness for Peace. I
saw how our tax dollars are spraying homes, schools, pastures, food crops
and water supplies with poisonous herbicides. Ostensibly designed to
eliminate coca, the fumigations instead are killing cattle, making it
impossible for subsistence crops to grow and seriously impacting public health.

The situation in Colombia is extremely complex. None of the armed sectors
can be viewed as "good guys." Colombia is involved in a no-win war.

Given that reality along with our embarrassing history in Latin American
armed conflicts, we need to terminate support for the military and related
subcontractors.

We should also admit that we are not truly engaged in a "war against drugs"
but in an alliance geared to benefit the rich and powerful of both nations.