STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT HIGHLIGHTS DRUG WAR SNAFUS

WASHINGTON -- A State Department audit found that mistakes by U.S.
advisers in Colombia hampered anti-drug efforts there, even as the
United States prepares to spend $1.3 billion to beef up that nation's
war on narco-traffickers.

The 43-page inspector general's report obtained by the Houston
Chronicle detailed miscues between State Department officials in
Colombia and that nation's police that occurred during ongoing
helicopter missions against drug cartels.

The inspector general said U.S. advisers failed to warn the Colombian
National Police that helicopters received from U.S. contractors lacked
extra fuel tanks and minigun mounts to make them effective drug
fighting machines.

It also noted that the Colombian police had trouble providing basic
equipment for helicopter crews because of what the report termed as
"inventory problems." One result was a crash in which air crews were
injured because of a lack of helmets.

According to the report, State Department officials allowed U.S.
helicopters to be transferred to Colombia without adequate spare
parts, which led to the aircraft being frequently grounded.

The findings in the inspector general report worried some members of
Congress. But State Department officials said they can correct the
problems detailed in the report.

U.S. advisers have been helping Colombia in its war against gangs that
supply much of the cocaine and opium reaching the United States.

Part of that effort has been to supply Colombia with helicopters and
other equipment for finding and destroying drug crops. The massive aid
package recently approved for Colombia will be spent mostly on
helicopters and other aircraft.

The report, which was completed in late July and has not been publicly
released, also confirmed earlier assessments that an expensive U.S.
effort to spray plants that produce cocaine and heroin with herbicide
had been a failure.

"Despite spending over $100 million on the increased eradication
efforts during FY 1997-99, the results of the spray program are
uncertain," the report said. It noted that, "the (State) Department's
efforts have had little measurable impact on the U.S. drug market, as
Colombian cocaine and heroin continue to be readily available."

President Clinton has said he will travel to Colombia at the end of
August to "personally underscore America's support for Colombia's
efforts to seek peace, fight illicit drugs, build its economy and
deepen democracy." He will be accompanied by House Speaker Dennis
Hastert, R-Ill.

Colombia has been locked in a decades-long struggle with leftist
guerrilla groups, as well as highly organized and well equipped drug
cartels.

Last month, Congress passed a Clinton administration backed $1.3
billion aid package that is aimed at helping Colombia with its
anti-drug efforts.

Since Clinton signed the aid bill, guerrilla groups have mounted a
series of attacks, leaving dozens of Colombian police and civilians
dead.

Because most of the drugs are grown in guerrilla held areas, and under
the protection of guerrilla fighters, some in Washington are concerned
that the aid package will deepen U.S. involvement in Colombia.

Most of the $1.3 billion is to equip Colombia with helicopters and to
train anti-drug forces in an effort to reach vast drug growing areas
in southern Colombia.

That makes the glitches found by the State Department report in how
Colombia is using U.S. supplied helicopters of major concern to some
lawmakers.

Rep. Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y., who chairs the House International
Relations Committee, said of the inspector general's audit, "Overall,
this report reveals serious shortcomings in the administration's
approach to counter-drug programs."

Gilman said, "I am worried that the administration will not be able to
effectively use the $1 billion in additional aid Congress recently
provided for Colombia's war on drugs."

One State Department official said, "What problems that were brought
up in the report are being fixed. There is a learning curve, and
lessons have been learned from this."

Linda Topping, a spokeswoman for the State inspector general's office,
said the report did not recommend a major restructuring of the U.S.
anti-drug effort in Colombia. She said the inspector general is
confident the issues the report raised will be addressed.

A separate State Department report to Congress dated July 31 described
how the administration proposes spending the $1.3 billion in aid. Huge
chunks of the money would go to funding and outfitting
helicopters.

Up to $208 million would go to buying 16 Black Hawk helicopters for
Colombia. Those would be the most modern and longest range helicopters
given to Colombia. Another $60 million would go to convert 30 old
UH-1H helicopters into Huey IIs, which have greater range and
firepower capabilities.

And $60 million would go to helping refit additional helicopters now
in storage so the Colombians could use them in "larger scale airmobile
operations."

Additional millions of dollars would provide Colombia with fuel,
ammunition, spare parts and crew training necessary for effective use
of the helicopters.