DRUG FLIGHTS MAY AGAIN BE TARGET OF U.S.

Bush Expected To Resume Program In S. America

WASHINGTON - The program to force down or shoot down airplanes suspected of
carrying drugs in Latin America is expected to be resumed, a senior Bush
administration official said yesterday.

The timing of President Bush's decision remains uncertain, said the
official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity. The program was stopped
after an American missionary and her infant daughter were killed in Peru
last year when their plane was shot down by mistake.

White House press secretary Ari Fleischer confirmed that administration
officials have formally recommended that Bush "resume this program with new
safeguards."

"This is something the president is very interested in," Fleischer said.

Cautioning that Bush "has not yet made a formal decision on this matter,"
Fleischer added:

"The president very much wants to take strong actions to fight drug
narcotics trafficking in South America. We will work closely with our
allies there."