CIA ANALYSIS SEES INCREASED OPIUM PRODUCTION IN COLOMBIA

WASHINGTON (AP) A CIA analysis made public Tuesday says opium poppy
cultivation rose a surprising 23 percent in Colombia last year, and
Colombian heroin increasingly joined cocaine in reaching U.S. streets.

Gen. Barry McCaffrey, White House drug control chief, disclosed the
data at a Senate hearing before heading to Colombia for three days of
talks on a $1.6 billion U.S. aid plan to fight Andean drugs.

"If left unchecked, the rapid expansion of drug production in Colombia
threatens to significantly increase the global supply of cocaine and
heroin," McCaffrey told the Senate Finance subcommittee on
international trade.

A week ago, McCaffrey announced a 20 percent upsurge in Colombian coca
production despite an overall decrease in the region. Growing of coca
in Bolivia and Peru declined dramatically last year, offset partially
by a major shift to Colombia, he said.

McCaffrey and other administration officials are trying to sell the
two-year aid plan to Congress, stressing that Colombia itself will
spend $4 billion, with nearly $2 billion more from Europe and
international lenders.

The total $7.5 billion plan, if approved by Congress and fully
implemented, would finally begin reducing illicit drug production that
has been rapidly increasing in Colombia over the last decade,
McCaffrey promised.

"We expect to see substantial reductions in drugs in Colombia," he
said. Colombia now produces 90 percent of the cocaine sold on U.S.
streets and 70 percent of the heroin, McCaffrey aide Robert Weiner
said.

Some of the U.S. money would go to Peru, Bolivia and other countries
to bolster their success in stemming the flow of drugs a 55 percent
reduction from Bolivia and 66 percent from Peru since 1995.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said he was not convinced that Colombia is
committed to cutting back illegal drug production.

"They have not yet gotten their act together," he said, adding that
pouring more aid without a stronger commitment would be "doomed to
failure."

Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., urged the administration to be totally open
in any military assistance it gives to Colombia. The plan calls for
U.S. equipment and training but no U.S. troops.

Gen. Charles E. Wilhelm, top U.S. commander for the region, told the
senators Colombia remains the most threatened nation in the region.

But he praised the country's civilian and military
leadership.

"Colombia demonstrates a level of national organization and commitment
that was not present two years ago," Wilhelm said.

He said concern over increased coca production is "partially offset by
improved performance by Colombia's security forces during tactical
engagements" against narcotraffickers and rebels.

"With our help, Colombia will succeed," he said.

Thomas Pickering, the undersecretary of state, told senators Colombian
aid is aimed at expanding counternarcotics operations, increasing
interdiction of drugs, assisting the national policy, developing
alternative economic opportunities for growers, while boosting
government respect for human rights.

"No assistance is provided to any units of the security forces for
which we have credible evidence of commission of gross violations of
human rights," he said, unless those responsible are brought to justice.