TIME TO RE-EVALUATE

The recent deaths of five American soldiers and two Colombian air force
officers in the mountains of Colombia must serve as a catalyst to a serious
re-evaluation of the U.S. government's participation in Colombia.

In its effort to curb the drug flow to this country, the United States has
aided and abetted the efforts of the Colombian military and associated
paramilitary groups to wipe out Colombian guerrillas and pacify the civilian
population, resulting in atrocious human rights abuses.

We have concentrated too much on the question of supply and not enough on
the question of demand. Too many of our ample resources have gone to
supporting the Colombian military and, consequently, the notorious
paramilitary forces, while not nearly enough has gone into drug prevention
and drug treatment programs.

Have we forgotten that it is the people within our own country who are
battling the disease of drug addiction, or is it simply easier and more
profitable to punish the Colombian people?

I believe that if a larger percentage of the American populace were aware of
how our money and men and women were being used, they would stand up against
it and demand a more humanitarian response to the critical situation in
Colombia.

Beau Golwitzer, Grapevine