Mark Souder: “my intention is to withdraw this amendment. But I want to express my frustration at actually a combination of issues but…”

“my intention is to withdraw this amendment. But I want to express my frustration at actually a combination of issues but particularly related to Colombia; that I have been a strong advocate that the military has been slow in responding in Afghanistan to the interrelationship to the heroin problem in Afghanistan into the military efforts, and will be there again next week to meet on the ground to see how we are progressing. And I have grave concerns that the DOD money that is being spent in Afghanistan is not being spent as wisely as I would like. Nevertheless, I am happy that the Defense Department is starting to understand the link between what is being done in narcotics and the heroin funding the attacks on our troops and men and women in our armed services there. {time} 1845 We have a grave problem down in the eastern Pacific, and that is, we have spent this money in the Andean Initiative and in Plan Colombia. What we have seen, as naval resources, which are very limited, have been transferred out of that zone, and the DOD has not made additional investments in, that my amendment would address the problem of an oiler. When our Coast Guard vessels go out to interdict in drug interdiction through the Department of Homeland Security, they have always been dependent, just like many intelligence assets are, on DOD. DOD has not given them an oiler with which to refuel.…”