Re "Colombia may drop anti-drug plan," May 23

If Colombian President Alvaro Uribe wants to cut off his nose to spite
his face, so much the better. The proposed free trade agreement
between the U.S. and Colombia would destroy the livelihood of family
farmers in Colombia. It would benefit wealthy investors in both
countries at the expense of working people.

The expensive but largely ineffective anti-drug plan consists mainly
of aerial spraying of herbicides on rural parts of Colombia. It is a
waste of U.S. taxpayers' money and an attack on Colombia's farmers and
environment. Therefore, if Uribe rejects the anti-drug plan because
Congress rejects the free trade agreement, it will be good news on
both counts.

Patrick Bonner

South Gate