DRUG WAR CASUALTIES

Re "Colombia Pledges to Investigate Killing of 6 Children by Troops"
(news article, Aug. 20):

How can the United States build up the military in Colombia, to the
tune of $1.3 billion in aid -- even with the benevolent purpose of
fighting drug trafficking -- when there is such clear evidence that
this same military is waging a war of terror against the country's
villagers?

We have no choice but to look not only at our intentions but also at
the results of our actions.

What is the actual result for the lives of average Colombians? Is it a
decrease of narcotics trafficking? Or does the narcotics trafficking
just end up in better armed and more deadly hands?

Whatever the United States does in Colombia, fostering human rights and
the safety of Colombians should be No. 1 on our agenda.