MOVE NOW IN COLOMBIA DRUG WAR

WASHINGTON Daunting statistics about the future of our nation's
schoolchildren are haunting parents and striking fear deep into our hearts
out of concern for their wellbeing. Specifically, are our classrooms safe
and conducive to learning?

Recent reports say no, showing drug use on the rise among America's
schoolage children. Inn fact, more than half of all 12yearolds surveyed
say they know someone their own age or younger who has tried drugs. The
latest fad of the drug culture affecting our kids is increased use of
heroin a most addictive narcotic. Many dealers in major cities are
providing their cocaine customers and our youth with heroin free of charge
in an allout blitz to get them hooked. The latest National Drug Survey
shockingly estimated that there are 141,000 new American heroin users, most
of them under age 26. Even more daunting, the price of heroin has never
been lower, and our streets have never seen a supply so pure. This is a
lethal combination.

With 60 percent of all heroin street seizures being Colombian dope, what
has the Clinton administration done to combat this latest craze? The short
answer is: nothing but vacillate!

The Tribune reported and editorialized recently that the administration had
agreed to a $50 million aid package to help Colombia. What the Tribune
failed to mention is that not one dollar of that aid has been delivered to
date. Meantime, there has been a dramatic increase in terrorist activity
against the Colombian people, including more than 200 police officers
murdered by leftist narcoguerrillas who are now officially recognized as
terrorists by our State Department.

The White House and its drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, must develop a
strategic plan for combating the looming heroin problem.

The Andes Mountains' high altitude provides the perfect environment and
climate for growing opium poppy. The Colombian National Police (CNP) is
frantically attempting to eradicate the poppy plants which ultimately are
refined into street heroin but consistently meets heavy resistance from
the betterequiped and heavily armed narcoterrorists.

To provide cover for eradication forces, the CNP "good guys",
unfortunately, must fly outdated Vietnamera UH1H Huey helicopters well
above safe operating altitudes and must consider if they have enough
ammunition to complete their objective without unnecessarily compromising
the safety of their officers.

The $50 million package would help our drugfighting partners fly at safe
altitudes above 5,000 feet. The administration must move forward and
provide UH60 Blackhawk utility helicopters to the CNP. This however, is
just one necessary stop in the overall battle plan.

Last month the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed an
aggressive plan to obtain a drugfree America by 2001. My National Security
subcommittee targeted several areas where our proposals will help to reach
the goal.

Harvesting of the coca and poppy plants is well underway, and the
narcoterrorists are on an allout offensive to protect their drug supply.
In this country, 20,000 Americans died of drugs or drugrelated violence
last year alone. In Colombia, more than 4,000 CNP officers and Colombian
military have been killed over the last nine years. Something must be done
before it's too late.

U.S. Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (RIll.)