House Funds Wider War in Columbia

[Nathan Newman]

There hasn't been much comment in the press, but the supplemental
spending bill just passed in the House approves moving the anti-drug
money for Columbia into broader "war on terrorism" in Columbia; ie.
jumping into the civil war in that country.   A defeated amendment
would have barred use of "counternarcotics funds provided for Columbia
to be used as part of a wider cmapaign against terrorist groups in that
country."  See
http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2002&rollnumber=202
for the Roll Call votes on the amendment, which 170 Democrats voted
for to their credit.  Some odd defections by Barney Frank, Patrick
Kennedy, and Earl Hilliard in supporting the Columbian war funds.

-- Nathan Newman