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http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020226-76879070.htm
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Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War!
U.S. law bars giving Colombians data
By Rowan Scarborough
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The U.S. military has compiled reams of satellite photographs and
communication intercepts that could aid Colombia in its revived war against
left-wing rebel terrorists, Bush administration official say.
But a leftover Clinton administration policy (Presidential Decision
Directive 73), and an accompanying federal law, is keeping the Pentagon from
sharing the vital intelligence with Colombian President Andres Pastrana and
his armed forces.
Pentagon officials, and commanders at U.S. Southern Command, which
overseas American military aid in South America, are described as
"frustrated" and "fuming" over the statute that restricts aid to anti-drug
efforts.
A senior official said the Bush administration is strictly abiding by
the law that restricts intelligence sharing. "No one wants to go to jail,"
the source said.
The State Department announced last week it was increasing intelligence
sharing, but privately officials say the increase has to do with limited
"force protection" of American interests and will do little to help Mr.
Pastrana win the war.
"It doesn't address his full needs," said a senior policy-maker. "We
have to go 10 miles. This gets them one mile down the road."
Mr. Pastrana last week broke off three years of failed peace talks with
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. He ordered a wave of air
and ground strikes into what had been a FARC safe haven in southern Colombia
after the group hijacked an airliner and kidnapped a senator.
FARC is a U.S.-designated terrorist group that controls much of the
country's hugely lucrative cocaine production.
Yesterday, Mr. Pastrana condemned FARC's weekend abduction of a
presidential candidate, as his military prepared for a major offensive
against the leftist guerrillas.
"Kidnapping members of Congress, now kidnapping a presidential
candidate, and kidnapping Colombians is kidnapping democracy," Mr. Pastrana
said.
Colombian warplanes are to launch another wave of aerial bombardments
"at any moment" in the vast Switzerland-sized region FARC formerly
controlled, a military source told Agence France Presse last night.
The French wire service also reported last night that the site where the
rebels are holding Ingrid Betancourt, who was seized Saturday with her
campaign manager after trying to enter a former rebel enclave, has been
located.
However, the army canceled a rescue operation so as not to endanger her
life, a general said.
The rescue operation was suspended "at the request of Dr. Betancourt's
family, who asked that her life not be endangered," said Gen. Roberto
Pizarro, the military commander of the southern Colombian region.
Mr. Pastrana's decision to go after FARC is spurring the Pentagon, State
Department and White House to debate whether to significantly expand military
aid to Bogota.
Some Pentagon and military officials want FARC included in President
Bush's war on terrorism. They want to scrap PDD 73 so Washington can directly
aid the Colombian military. The State Department is more cautious, but open
to the expansion, senior officials said in interviews.
The president's national security advisers are scheduled to meet this
week to discuss a change in Colombia policy.
There are no plans to insert U.S. personnel directly into combat. There
are today about 250 American service members in Colombia advising the army on
counternarcotics operations.
Mr. Pastrana, who leaves office next fall, also has asked Washington for
more spare parts for his helicopter fleet, which include U.S.-made Black
Hawks. Colombia is in dire need of more lift capability to get troops and
weapons inside the safe haven to attack FARC units.
The Colombian president also has asked Bush officials for what sources
termed as "moral and public support" as the country's 38-year civil war heats
up again.
But at the top of the list is secret-intelligence sharing. The U.S.
military possesses, and can generate daily, photos of FARC troop encampments
and movements. Passed along to Colombian pilots and ground commanders, the
images would become invaluable in conducting precision strikes. The United
States could also provide photos of bomb damage to assess whether a strike
was a success.
"Right now, we can't tell him how effective he has been," said the
senior official.
In addition, intelligence reports based on communications monitoring
could tell Colombian commanders FARC's strategy and where to strike next.
Before Bogota decided to strike the safe haven, the Bush administration
already had to ask Congress to expand the military's role. It wants lawmakers
to approve $98 million to set up a new Colombian brigade that would protect a
critical oil pipeline from persistent rebel attack. If Congress goes along,
administration sources said, the United States may be able to greatly
increase intelligence sharing in the name of protecting the pipeline.
The FARC obtains most arms from the world weapons bazaars, and much of
it comes from Middle Eastern wholesalers. But administration officials said
there is no evidence that a particular Middle East regime is supporting the
leftist rebels.
The Washington Times reported earlier this month that at the same time
FARC leaders were negotiating to extend peace talks, they convened a secret
summit and voted to seek the overthrow of the democratically elected
government.
Many Bush aides considered the three-year peace process a failure. FARC,
enjoying a safe zone guaranteed by Mr. Pastrana, launched strikes from the
sanctuary, increased its army from 10,00 to 17,000 fighters and grew richer
from illegal drug production.
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