EQUIPMENT SOUGHT IN ANTI-DRUG BILL; $690 MILLION ADDED

WASHINGTON - Republicans added $690 million in new anti-drug aid in a broad
spending bill slated for final approval next week.

Most of the money would go to adding planes, ships and other equipment for
fighting traffickers in South America and the Caribbean.

To win White House support, Republicans deleted a clause that might have
barred any counter-drug aid for Colombia, as well as one calling on
Mexico's government to give unqualified permission for U.S. drug agents to
carry guns in Mexico.

The legislation, which also calls for an added $1.8 billion in spending
during the next two years, would mark a shift in U.S. strategy in the
counter-drug effort, Republicans said.

The Clinton administration has emphasized domestic programs, including law
enforcement and drug treatment programs, and neglected efforts to stop
narcotics before they get to U.S. borders, said Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio.

"This is our effort to restore balance to our anti-drug efforts," he said.

White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who helped negotiate the spending
with Republican leaders, through a spokesman called it a "bipartisan
agreement."

Mr. McCaffrey also has argued that the administration maintained effective
foreign anti-drug operations while increasing money for domestic programs.

This year's added spending includes $100 million for large radar machines,
border barriers and surveillance gear for the border with Mexico. It also
includes:

* $184 million for helicopters and planes, bases and equipment for Andean
countries, mostly six Blackhawk helicopters and 34 Vietnam War-era Huey
helicopters for the Colombian National Police

* $134 million for the U.S. Coast Guard, including two new cutters and
eight patrol boats

* $191 million for U.S. Customs, including six P-3 tracking planes, crews
and related equipment

* $23 million for crop eradication and alternative crop development

The equipment spending, particularly in Colombia, could help resolve a
long-running dispute between the administration and Republicans. House
members have fought administration resistance to get new Blackhawk attack
helicopters to the Colombian police. Administration officials said money
could be better spent than on the expensive Blackhawk helicopters, which
will cost about $16 million each. Republicans argued the Colombians lacked
the equipment needed to reach mountains where heroin poppies are grown.

"That's why we have included the Blackhawk helicopters - so the Colombian
National Police can get up there,' said Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., a key
architect of the Republican effort.

The White House, in turn, won changes that gives the administration more
flexibility in the counter-drug programs, Mr. DeWine said.

Those changes included removing the provisions on Colombia and Mexico.

The House added the potential bar on Colombian aid when it passed the bill
last month. Republicans cited concerns that new Colombian President Andres
Pastrana might halt counternarcotics operations in a planned demilitarized
zone dominated by guerrillas.

Colombia's government would establish the zone when peace talks are
convened in November.

"We took into account the concerns expressed by President Pastrana of
Colombia and by the White House," Mr. DeWine said.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski