HELPING COLOMBIA IS IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST

A decade ago, Colombia teetered on the brink of disintegration.
Terrorist groups were taking thousands of citizens hostage. Unfettered
drug trafficking was threatening core institutions and the basic
cohesion of the state. As I saw first-hand earlier this month on a
visit to Colombia, the picture today is strikingly different: A
democratically elected government is making great strides in curbing
violence and drug trafficking. It has restored the integrity of the
state and taken the fight to the terrorists and traffickers
themselves. Colombia's rebirth is one of Latin America's success stories.

This progress is due to the courage and industry of Colombia's people
and its leaders, especially President Alvaro Uribe. It is also due to
our faith in their efforts. Beginning in 2000, President Clinton, with
strong bipartisan Congressional backing, committed $1.3 billion to
Plan Colombia -- the country's road map in its fight for drug-free
development. President Bush committed another $3.4 billion from 2001-
2006.

Now President Bush proposes an additional $590 million in his fiscal
year 2008 budget request to the Congress to fund the next stage of
Plan Colombia. The government of Colombia will pay for the vast
majority of the costs with its own funds, but continued U.S. and
international support is essential.

Joint U.S.-Colombian funding is paying dividends for a more peaceful
Colombia. Exponential growth in Colombia's cocaine production has been
stopped. In 2006 alone, combined eradication and interdiction efforts
kept approximately 550 U.S. tons of cocaine off U.S. streets. In the
past five years, the security situation has improved remarkably, with
kidnappings reduced by 76 percent, terror attacks down by 61 percent
and homicides down by 40 percent. Colombia has extradited more than
475 drug traffickers to the United States to stand trial. These
achievements give Colombians renewed hope that their children will
grow up to have better lives. They also benefit everyone in this
country, where cocaine has ruined thousands of American lives.

The improved security situation also has led to rapid economic growth
and new opportunities for the people of Colombia. Economic growth
averaged about 5 percent during the past four years, while the number
of Colombians living in poverty dropped by more than 8 percent. U.S.
assistance reached 81,000 small farmers and contributed to more than
1,100 infrastructure projects.

Much remains to be done. Colombia must still fight against illegal
armed groups -- one of which, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC) has held three U.S. citizens hostage for four years.
Criminal groups must be prevented from filling the vacuum left by the
demobilization of paramilitaries.

The vulnerable must be protected, including labor leaders, those
displaced by conflict and Afro-Colombians. There can be no tolerance
for complicity with drug trafficking or paramilitarism, and there must
be no shelter or impunity for those who break the law. The government
must fully implement the Justice and Peace Process to bring the truth
to light and achieve national reconciliation.

President Uribe knows his government must address the charge that it
has been negligent in pursuing corruption in its counter-narcotics
programs. He has pursued necessary reforms with determination. As
information has come from demobilized fighters, he has ordered full
investigations of all alleged ties between the government and
paramilitaries. He must continue this effort and punish those who have
abused the law.

In addition to extending Plan Colombia, President Bush has asked
Congress to approve a free-trade agreement with Colombia this year. If
passed, an FTA would further investment and growth and help more
Colombians climb out of poverty. If Congress does not act, the
conflict in Colombia is likely to intensify, undermining years of
bilateral effort that are finally paying off. That would be a tragedy,
particularly at a critical moment in defining the future U.S. role in
the Americas. An FTA with Colombia, as well as Peru and Panama, will
underscore our commitment to help the region's people conquer poverty,
achieve social justice and live their lives in peace.

We have been good friends to Colombia. President Bush and Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice are committed to helping Colombia accelerate
this progress. Significant challenges remain, but the people of
Colombia can now envision a much more peaceful future. That is why the
United States must reaffirm its support for Colombia and help to make
that vision a reality.