David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, the issue is not whether we should fight drugs. We should. The issue is what is the most effective way to…”

“Mr. Chairman, the issue is not whether we should fight drugs. We should. The issue is what is the most effective way to do that. The issue is not whether we like the president of Colombia. I do. The question is whether his country, his society, and his military are reliable reeds to lean on when we are talking about starting a 5-year or more commitment of military involvement. I would like to once again read some of the comments made by James Hoagland, who I think everyone knows to be an objective, middle-of-the-road, and very sage reporter on international issues. This is some of what he said on March 19: ``In Colombia, the United States pursues unattainable goals largely for domestic political reasons with inappropriate tools.'' He goes on to say, ``Questions not being asked, much less answered, now in the rush into quagmire include the following: What happens when it becomes clear of the considered judgment of the U.S. Air Force officers that the Colombian military will not be able to maintain the Blackhawks under the conditions in which they will be flying is shown to be correct? Will the United States replace the helicopters that crash or are shot down at 13 million a copy? Will large numbers of U.S. advisors be provided to maintain the helicopter force?…”