James A. Leach: “at issue in this case are Colombia priorities, but in a different sense than is usually assumed. The priority debate…”

“at issue in this case are Colombia priorities, but in a different sense than is usually assumed. The priority debate today is not about whether stemming the drug trade is appropriate, but the methodology of going about it. Quasi-military approaches fit war scenarios. Civil war is more problematic; criminal activities even more so. My concern is that when America becomes intertwined in internal conflicts, we change the nature of the ongoing struggle, as well as the motivation of various combatants. We become implicitly accountable for a panoply of policies of any side we back and, accordingly, answerable to the people for that side's allegiance or lack thereof to social fairness and sometimes the rule of law itself. In this context, wouldn't it be better to limit our military involvement in this struggling, divided country and focus efforts on replenishing the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance program? This assistance program allows the President to respond quickly to urgent, often unexpected, crises throughout the world. For instance, it is this program that the President tapped last year to provide assistance to the victims of the Pakistani earthquake. Mr. Chairman, I support this amendment and I respect very much the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) for enlightened leadership on a whole host of issues.…”