ASKING FOR AID, COLOMBIANS CITE TERROR; U.S. DEMURS

BOGOTA, Colombia, Nov. 10 - As he made the rounds in Washington this week,
President Andres Pastrana of Colombia was greeted with hearty handshakes
from the friends he has cultivated in his three years in office.

In meetings with such powerful officials as the House speaker, J. Dennis
Hastert, and Attorney General John Ashcroft, Mr. Pastrana was reassured
that the United States remained committed to supporting Colombia's grinding
antidrug battle.

But the United States, which is providing $1.3 billion in aid for Colombia
and its neighbors, is not about to become further engaged against rebel
groups that enrich themselves from cocaine, Colombian and American
officials said this week.

After the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, many Colombians concluded
Washington would become more involved in the country's brutal civil
conflict. They anticipated more support for aerial fumigation of drug crops
and even for counterinsurgency operations.

Newspaper columnists and commentators have predicted an increase in
American support, noting that the two rebel groups and a right-wing
paramilitary organization that operate here are on the State Department's
list of international terrorist organizations. Colombian officials have
hardened their talk against the largest rebel organization, the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, calling it a terrorist group that,
like Osama bin Laden's network, Al Qaeda, has worldwide reach.

Mr. Pastrana called on worldwide antiterrorism efforts to include Colombia.
He also is asking American officials to lift restrictions that permit the
use of American helicopters only for antinarcotics operations, not
counterinsurgency.

"If we are going to combat terrorism, we need all the arms are our disposal
to do it, "Mr. Pastrana told reporters in Washington on Friday.

But American officials who work on Colombia policy, as well as a top
Colombian official, said they did not expect the United States to change
course. "It is wishful thinking on the part of those Colombians who would
like us to become more involved," a State Department official said by
telephone from Washington.

American policymakers, preoccupied with the war in Afghanistan and anthrax
scares, believe that Colombia policy is safely on "auto pilot," said one
Congressional aide.

"There is interest in Congress in Colombia, and there will continue to be,"
said Tim Rieser, an aide to Senator Patrick J. Leahy, chairman of the
appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations. "But I would think it's
fair to say it is not getting the same degree of attention as it did a year
ago."

Some Colombia experts say that while Colombia will continue receiving aid,
Mr. Pastrana's visit is also aimed at ensuring that his country's problems
continue to be addressed in Washington. He is scheduled to meet with
President Bush on Sunday.