WASHINGTON The United States and its hemispheric friends cannot be
satisfied with their achievements against narcotics traffickers
because much more needs to be done, says Rear Admiral Walter Doran,
acting commanderinchief of the U.S. Southern Command.

"The need to move ahead is more obvious now than ever before. We
cannot merely attempt to consolidate the gains that have been made
we must do more than that," he said in testimony to Congress July 16.

The United States must continue to enhance the efforts of the
involved nations, make assets available to exploit intelligence and
>>ensure that the U.S. and regional forces are equipped to fight a war
>>>on drugs," he told members of the House International Relations
>>>subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
>>>
>>>Following is the text of his statement:
>>>
>>>(begin text)
>>>
>>>Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of this committee, thank you
>>>for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss U.S. Southern
>>>Command's contribution to the counterdrug effort in the Americas. This
>>>comes during a critical period in our fight against the scourge of
>>>illegal drugs entering this country. Confronted by a myriad of
>>>threats, domestically and abroad, counterdrug resources and efforts
>>>must now be balanced against the global demand for U.S. and Department
>>>of Defense assistance. The threat of drug trafficking is real,
>>>however, and it exacts a terrible toll on not only our nation, but the
>>>entire hemisphere. This threat is not speculative. The enemy is not
>>>unknown, nor is it invulnerable.
>>>
>>>Although we fully recognize that SOUTHCOM's role is one of support to
>>>law enforcement agencies, our efforts, engagement and support have
>>>provided indications that we are on the right track and should
>>>continue forward. Drug traffickers are feeling the pressure
>>>pressure that is being applied by both the United States and our
>>>regional partners.
>>>
>>>While these events are encouraging, we all must realize that there is
>>>a long way to go. Continuing success will require persistence and
>>>commitment. SOUTHCOM has a longterm vision, however, and in
>>>partnership with the interagencies and participating nations, we see
>>>increased potential for a more effective counterdrug effort.
>>>
>>>THE CURRENT STATE OF THE COUNTERDRUG EFFORT
>>>
>>>While we have strong indications that our previous efforts are bearing
>>>tangible results, nearly 300 metric tons of cocaine enter the United
>>>States annually, and the associated effects of illegal drugs continue
>>>to wreak havoc upon the entire region.
>>>
>>>The foundation of our strategy to counter this threat is the national
>>>drug strategy. In support of goals four and five of the National Drug
>>>Strategy, to "Shield America's air, land and sea frontiers from the
>>>drug threat" and same time we develop professional relationships,
>>>trust, confidence and mutual understanding and we provide
>>>outstanding role models. This year alone we will deploy 37 separate
>>>teams a total of 633 personnel in support of counterdrug
>>>training.
>>>
>>>In The Source Zone In South America: You may be familiar with
>>>Operation LASER STRIKE, which is primarily focused on the disruption
>>>of the PeruColombia air routes used to move coca base to labs in
>>>Colombia. This operation continues to demonstrate the significance of
>>>synchronized, integrated regional counterdrug operations, and it has
>>>done much to foster multilateral cooperation. It has been a successful
>>>interagency interdiction effort, involving complementary actions by
>>>Peru and Colombia, acting in concert with the U.S. military, U.S.
>>>Customs, DEA, Central Intelligence Agency, NIMA and Defense
>>>intelligence Agency. In combination, we have continued to effectively
>>>disrupt the air bridge and are forcing traffickers to turn to
>>>alternate, less efficient and more time consuming methods of
>>>transporting illegal drugs. As we have impacted air transportation,
>>>internal trafficking on the complex river systems of the source zone
>>>countries appears to have increased. So, while we continue our efforts
>>>in disrupting air transportation, we are trying to stay a step ahead
>>>by developing the means to choke drug trafficking on the ground and
>>>rivers.
>>>
>>>In The Eastern Pacific Transit Zone: An increased reliance by
>>>narcotraffickers on maritime transport poses a significant problem. We
>>>believe that more than 40 percent of the cocaine flowing into the
>>>United States moves through the Eastern Pacific region. Operation
>>>CAPER FOCUS concentrates on the Eastern Pacific loading zones off the
>>>South American coastline, and the transport routes north to the
>>>delivery zones off the Mexican coast. To date the operation has been a
>>>coordinated interagency and participating.nation effort to gather
>>>information on suspected vessels and the methods being employed by the
>>>drug traffickers in the region.
>>>
>>> and the employment of all available means at our disposal to
>>>disrupt and eventually destroy the organizations that traffic in drugs
>>>including:
>>>
>>> security assistance and training
>>>
>>> enhanced radar coverage
>>>
>>> and finally equipment and training to counter riverine traffic.
>>>
>>>Let me say a bit more about this important riverine effort. The Source
>>>Zone Interdiction Plan which SOUTHCOM promotes, will provide Peru and
>>>Colombia with the necessary tools and knowledge needed to prosecute
>>>drug trafficking on the rivers in a defensible and effective manner.
>>>Based around the Riverine Interdiction Unit, it combines the use of
>>>surveillance, logistics, mobility and marine interdiction capability
>>>to thwart or deny the use of the rivers for moving drugs and precursor
>>>chemicals. The country teams, in concert with the two nations, are
>>>fully engaged with SOUTHCOM in providing this necessary capability.
>>>
>>>CONCLUSION
>>>
>>>As you know, in compliance with the Panama Canal Treaty, we are
>>>preparing to move our headquarters from Panama to Miami, a process
>>>projected to be complete by the end of September this year. While this
>>>move poses a daunting logistical challenge, our strategy and vision
>>>will continue to press forward. As I have proposed, there is much in
>>>recent developments that gives us hope.
>>>
>>>The need to move ahead is more obvious now than ever before. We cannot
>>>merely attempt to consolidate the gains that have been made we must
>>>do more than that. The United States must continue to enhance the
>>>efforts of the involved nations, make assets available to exploit
>>>intelligence and ensure that the U.S. and regional forces are equipped
>>>to fight a war on drugs.
>>>