COLOMBIAN DRUG EFFORT FAILING ON ALL COUNTS

It appears that we haven't made up our mind about what to do about Colombia
and its vast dope-producing industry.

Until we do, we're liable to continue losing the battle against the drug
cartels. More than 90 percent of the heroin that comes into this country
comes through Mexico, and more than 90 percent of the heroin that enters
Mexico comes from Colombia.

Given those hard facts, it's difficult to comprehend the thinking of the
Clinton administration in regard to Colombia.

The White House has proposed a $1.6 billion package for Colombia that
President Clinton said will not fix the problems of drug violence and
corruption in that country but will bolster democracy there.

The massive aid package will also support economic development and improve
human rights in Colombia, the White House claims. ''It will make it better
if the money's well spent, and it will dramatically strengthen and solidify
the Colombian government in its struggle to preserve democracy, to preserve
economic growth and preserve order in the country and be a good neighbor,''
Clinton said.

The rest of the money would go directly into military aid for Colombia.

The aid package is part of the budget plan the White House is presenting for
fiscal 2001.

While the proposed package appears to address a wide range of problems in
Colombia, it isn't assured easy passage in Congress because it fails to
point a clear plan for U.S. involvement in Colombian drug activities.

Capitol Hill Republicans generally favor spending on counter-narcotics
activities. The administration and Democratic lawmakers prefer spreading the
money over a range of domestic programs, including treatment of addiction
and focusing remaining funds into direct military assistance.

We're promoting plans that are flawed.

Interdiction -- intercepting illicit drug shipments before they reach Mexico
or the United States -- has failed.

Training and equipping special counter-narcotics battalions -- the package
would buy 66 U.S. military helicopters for use by Colombian police in drug
surveillance and eradication -- has failed.

Funneling U.S. anti-narcotics money into Colombian police interdiction --
along with forced eradication of coca and opium crops -- has failed.

Weaning Colombian farmers from producing narcotic plants -- the U.S. has
spent millions but still can't match the money that drug lords will pay for
the crops -- has failed.

The Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights advocacy group, said
the latest proposed package will worsen the crisis in Colombia, not
contribute to its solution. ''More weapons and more soldiers have not, and
cannot, defeat the source of illegal narcotics," a spokesman said.

There are obvious -- and firm -- differences of opinion on the subject.

Most of those opinions are based on past actions that haven't worked.

Before Congress adopts any package for Colombia, lawmakers need to study
failed programs of the past.

Repeating a history of mistakes won't do.