U.S. HALTS ANTI-DRUG FLIGHTS IN COLOMBIA

CIA's Role In Shoot-Down Of Missionary Flight Under Scrutiny

WASHINGTON -- Criticism of the CIA's role in the shooting down of an
American missionary flight in Peru mounted Wednesday as the State
Department announced the suspension of its aerial drug-interception program
in Colombia.

The suspensions, in Colombia and in Peru, are to allow time for State and
other federal agencies to investigate the incident and review the U.S.
strategy of joint aerial interdiction of suspected drug traffickers, said
State Department official Philip Reeker.

Peru plans a separate investigation. Its findings will be reported May 8 to
the House Government Reform Committee.

A Peruvian air force fighter shot down the single-engine Cessna on Friday
after mistaking it for drug-smuggling plane, killing American missionary
Veronica "Roni" Bowers and her 7-month-old daughter.

According to the CIA's account, three agency personnel in a surveillance
plane tried to dissuade the Peruvians from shooting down the plane before
its identity had been confirmed. Several precautions, the CIA has said, may
have been short-circuited.

Former White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey lauded the suspension of
interdiction flights.

"We can't tolerate a situation in both Peru and Colombia where they don't
comply with their own laws and international laws" that prohibit shooting
down civilian planes, he said.

McCaffrey said the suspension would allow drug traffickers to retake the
air routes, setting the drug war back, but he said that was a reasonable
price to ensure that laws are obeyed and innocent lives are not lost.

Senate intelligence committee chair Richard Shelby, R-Ala., praised the
decision to suspend the aerial program. "We cannot have incidents such as
the senseless and unnecessary shooting of an American woman and her baby,"
he said.

Shelby questioned the Spanish-language proficiency of the three CIA
personnel aboard the surveillance plane, saying all operatives in Latin
America should be fluent in Spanish.

Shelby also wanted to know whether the Peruvian air force followed the
rules of engagement adopted by the United States and Peru.