KEEPING FAITH WITH COLOMBIA

The proposed free-trade agreement with Colombia has stalled in
Congress. The success and stability of Colombia and the Pan-American
region depend on our ability to recognize the importance of this
agreement to the United States, to Colombia's economy, to human
rights progress and to enhanced U.S. national security.

This fall I spent several days in Colombia, meeting with President
Alvaro Uribe and other high-ranking officials in the government and
military. I visited refugee camps, economic development zones and
counter-drug operations. The Colombia I recently visited is
drastically different from the place I visited seven years ago when I
served as the U.S. national drug czar.

Colombia's transformation from a failing state in 2000 to a
progressive democracy today is a U.S. foreign policy triumph. In less
than a decade, Colombia's national leaders have made significant
achievements reducing violence and the number of illegal groups, as
well as improving the country's human rights situation. The murder
rate is at its lowest in 20 years, and kidnappings have decreased by
80 percent. Among the illegal armed groups that have plagued
Colombia, 45,000 fighters have been demobilized. The three principal
narco-guerrilla groups (AUC, FARC, ELN) have lost nearly all of their
political credibility and have suffered more than 13,000 desertions.
In addition, the economy has grown robustly, unemployment has
declined significantly, and foreign investment has increased
dramatically. Colombia's human rights record also continues to
improve. The level of violence against union members and the number
of politically motivated homicides are still unacceptable, but the
rates of such incidents are down significantly.

The illegal production of cocaine and heroin remains a major
challenge for Colombia. However, more than 525 drug traffickers have
been extradited during the Uribe administration -- by far the most
extraditions ever from any country to the United States. The
effectiveness of the counter-drug campaign is clear: 66 percent of
Colombia's opium production has been eliminated.

Alvaro Uribe is an extremely popular leader. This Harvard- and
Oxford-educated lawyer has accomplished near political miracles in
successfully negotiating with criminal groups. Acts of terrorism have
decreased 63 percent during his tenure. All of Colombia's major roads
are open for civilian travel for the first time in the country's
modern history. Uribe has also left his mark on the legal system. He
has moved jurisdiction for human rights abuses from military to civil
courts and appointed the first civilian (and woman) to head the
military justice system.

Colombia has made great strides in recent years, but, as with any
entity undergoing tremendous change, the roots of political and
economic progress are still shallow. Significant disruption could
compromise the country's future.

Approving the free-trade agreement would enable Colombia to continue
on its positive course.

Consider three reasons this agreement is necessary:

First, Colombia is an independent, free-market, democratic and
long-standing ally of the United States. The value of a relationship
with such a strategically located country cannot be underestimated.
Aid to Colombia has been supported by a bipartisan congressional
majority in the Bush administration and in administrations past.
Abandoning Colombia now would jeopardize its security and be a
catalyst for human rights regression.

Second, failure to pass the agreement would cast Hugo Chavez and the
Venezuelan regime as the best alternative model for Latin America.
Such a choice would weaken Colombia's thriving democracy.

Third, the terms of the agreement would further decrease unemployment
by 2 percent -- eliminating potential threats posed by additional
fighters who are demobilized. Hunger is an enemy that has produced
thousands of illegal drug cultivators, but the agreement would help
ensure that they have legal, productive employment.

We are facing an unprecedented opportunity to reinforce a U.S.
foreign policy triumph that involves a valued ally. Colombia already
possesses duty-free access to U.S. markets, thanks to congressional
approval of the Andean Trade Preference Act. The benefits of the
proposed free-trade agreement lie in its mandate for economic
openness, the rule of law and transparency -- elements that are
critical to Colombia's long-term growth, stability and security.

Uribe has worked effectively and at great personal peril to combat
violence and poverty while promoting economic development. He has
improved the lives of his fellow citizens and the security of our
hemisphere. We have a strategic and moral obligation to stand behind
his successful leadership of a nation at war -- a nation that is only
three flying hours from Miami.

The negotiations are done, and this historic agreement has been
passed by the Colombian legislature. Support for Colombia and the
trade agreement is smart foreign policy. Congress has a
responsibility to act now.