CONGRESS DOUBTS OVER 'PLAN COLOMBIA'

Senators Are Worried The War Against Drugs Is Being Lost

United States senators have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of
US-backed efforts to combat the illegal drugs trade in Colombia - also
known as Plan Colombia.

A Democrat Senator, Patrick Leahy, said that despite the allocation of
more than $1bn in the plan, the results so far had been insignificant as
ever larger amounts of cocaine were being smuggled into the US.

The American Secretary of State, Colin Powell, defended the government
strategy, but he admitted that more had to be done to reduce the demand
for the drug.

He also denied that the US is supporting paramilitary groups, and said
the Colombian authorities had to show their commitment towards human
rights in the anti-drugs efforts.

At an earlier hearing in the Senate, US Coast Guard Commander Admiral
James Loy said that while seizures of drugs had increased markedly last
year, their flow increased even more.

The service was unable to meet its target of a 13% seizure rate, he
added.

Mr Loy said that Coast Guard vessels were unable to keep pace with the
faster boats now used by traffickers.

'Worthwhile Investment'

Mr Powell defended the US decision to allocate over $800m to combat
trafficking in Colombia and neighbouring countries.

The funds are in addition to $1.3bn already provided for Plan Colombia.

The new programme calls for promoting alternative crops, improving
infrastructure, fighting corruption and strengthening democracy in
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and Venezuela.

"I think we can make a case that this is a worthwhile investment in our
overall drug strategy but also in our overall development strategy," Mr
Powell said.

But Mr Leahy was sceptical: "I see it more as a case where we're
spending an awful lot of money with wonderful intentions...," he said.

"But the results are still, I believe, negligible."

Other senators expressed concern that the Defence Department was
planning to reduce its role in the drugs war.

Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley said that he was anxious to hear the
results of a Pentagon strategy review ordered by Defence Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld, following "rumblings of ... desire to reduce their
involvement".