COLOMBIA'S DRUG MONEY

To the Editor:

Colombia's decision to include income from illegal drug crops in its
official economic figures is yet another step in the creation of the
Americas' first narco-state (news article, June 27). Colombian officials
claim they must report the value of drug crops so they can provide a clear
economic picture to international lending institutions. However, this new
step not only legitimates the internal unrest caused by drug lords and
narco-guerrillas, but it also ignores that the drug trade does not really
"add" to the Colombian economy.

Drug money finances insurgent forces to the tune of almost $100 million a
month, damaging the judiciary and the military.

The new policy gives the illusion that Colombia is growing when in fact it
is being undermined.

LORENZO R. CORTES
Alexandria, Va., June 28, 1999

The writer is a research assistant at the National Defense Council Foundation