LEAVING A LEGACY OF WAR IN COLOMBIA

AMIDST ALL the hoopla and fund-raising that accompanied the national
political conventions, not one political candidate even mentioned the
fact that the United States has entered a war in Colombia. Yet as
summer draws to a close, U.S. Special Forces have quietly arrived in
Colombia and are starting to train and equip two military battalions.

President Clinton has already signed a $1.3 billion aid package to
Colombia. Now, in a visible display of bipartisan support, House
Speaker Dennis Hastert and Sen. Joe Biden will accompany the president
on August 30 when he visits President Andres Pastrana for a few hours.

Yes, for a few hours. Depending on whom you ask, it is either a matter
of scheduling or security.

In either case, we should be concerned. If the president doesn't
believe that America's entry into a war deserves more of his time, he
is misguided. If the security service believes they can't protect the
president, it underscores how much Pastrana's already weakened
government is threatened by infiltration and violence.

Meanwhile, the mere prospect of American military aid is already
affecting the region. Fearful of being drawn into a 40-year old civil
war, Brazil has refused to support the American effort.

In the countryside, guerrilla, paramilitary and government forces have
intensified their fighting. As was the case in Vietnam, it is almost
impossible to recognize ``the enemy.'' In fact, government troops
recently opened fire and mistakenly killed six schoolchildren.

Paul Reyes, a spokesperson for FARC, the largest rebel group, has
stated that if American helicopters are used to rescue government or
police forces, they will be considered ``military targets'' and
subject to anti-aircraft fire.

Under these conditions, American troops will be unable to escape
combat. And once they are endangered, the president has the right,
under this legislation, to increase the number of American military
troops sent into Colombia.

Ultimately, Colombia's long civil war will require a political, not a
military solution. Is this the legacy -- a protracted and unwinnable
war -- that President Clinton wants to bequeath as he leaves office?

Someday, we will look back and ask, why didn't we know?