DISCREDITED REPORT CITED ON COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT

It is unfortunate that in telling the frightening story of Daniel
Coronel, The Times resurrects previously discredited allegations
against Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. Coronel is, as the article
rightly points out, one of Colombia's corps of courageous
journalists. But to illustrate the dangers Coronel faces, The Times
cited a 1991 report by a "U.S. intelligence official" tying Uribe to narcotics.

I recall that report clearly. As deputy assistant secretary of State
at the time, I was struck by how error-filled it was and asked the
U.S. Embassy in Bogota to follow up. The embassy's assessment, agreed
to by all Bogota-based U.S. agencies, forcefully contradicted the
earlier report and credited Uribe with being one politician strongly
opposing narcotics traffickers. That assessment was declassified in
2004. The Times should have considered a fairer view of Uribe's past
and his present record of fighting drugs and violence.

PHILLIP MCLEAN