OPEN COLOMBIAN DRUG WAR TO DEBATE

A full-scale debate on U.S. involvement in the anti-drug war in Colombia
should begin now. Many people fear we are heading into another Vietnam.
Every day there are reports of murders of officials, massacres of police
and residents of small towns, as well as violations of human rights by
right-wing paramilitaries (sometimes wearing regular army uniforms) and
leftist guerrillas.

U.S. taxpayers paid $1.3 billion in military tools and personnel and are
entitled to accurate information about this civil war. Are U.S. pilots
training Colombian pilots to fly the $13 million Black Hawk helicopters?
Will we be told when Americans become casualties?

We need to know whether the purpose of this action is to stop drugs or to
ensure the safety of American corporations that have invested in oil
(Colombia is the seventh largest supplier of oil to United States) and
other natural resources there.

Questions also need to be addressed about the environmental damage to the
rain forest by the pesticide sprayed on coca plants as well as food crops
grown there - total cost $600,000. We should also learn whether the United
States has promised adequate funds to Panama and Ecuador to protect their
borders against Colombian farmers fleeing guerrillas and pesticides.

National leaders must begin a debate on the Colombian situation.

MARTHA BALDONI

Perrysburg