Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- "Ballenger emphasized that the United States spends $15 billion a year battling substance abuse. " "The House of Representatives last month passed a $15.2 billion foreign aide bill that includes $676 million allotted for helping the Andean region fight drug trafficking. The bill is awaiting discussion in the Senate."" U.S. Defends Anti-Narcotics Policy http://news.excite.com/news/ap/010830/04/int-andean-drugs-summit Updated: Thu, Aug 30 4:36 AM EDT By ALEXANDRA OLSON, Associated Press Writer CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Two U.S. congressmen defended their country's efforts to combat drug trafficking in the Andean region, against criticism that the United States isn't doing enough to fight drugs at home. At the Andean Parliament summit on drug trafficking Wednesday, Rep. Cass Ballenger of North Carolina and Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana answered concerns that the United States is spending too much money on fighting drug trafficking and too little on reducing demand. There is a "misnomer that the United States is only pointing the finger" at drug producing nations, Souder told representatives of the Andean Parliament, which includes Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. "It's important for you to understand that we understand we have a major problem (with drug abuse), and we are trying to tackle it," he added. Souder listed several initiatives to reduce drug consumption in the United States: suspending federal student loans for those found to have abused drugs; encouraging private companies to submit their employees to drug tests; and guaranteeing college loans for students who maintain good grades and avoid drugs. Ballenger emphasized that the United States spends $15 billion a year battling substance abuse. The U.S. recently contributed $1.3 billion to Colombia to eradicate coca production in rebel-held territories using U.S.-trained soldiers and American Black Hawk helicopters. The Andean region, especially Colombia, is the world's biggest producer of cocaine while the United States is the world's biggest consumer. Earlier this year, Colombian President Andres Pastrana and Mexican President Vicente Fox criticized Washington's annual certification of other countries' cooperation in the drug war, saying the practice "offends our countries." During the Wednesday summit, Venezuelan Vice President Adina Bastidas questioned whether "rich countries" should not shift the resources they spend on combatting drug trafficking to cutting demand at home. Interior Minister Luis Miquilena said Venezuela was still concerned that Plan Colombia would lead to coca production spilling into Venezuela. Venezuela is not a narcotics-producing nation, but it is key transit point for Colombian cocaine being smuggled into the U.S. and Europe. "We understand that drug production in Colombia will spill over. But we argue ... that the biggest threat to Venezuela is not getting control of (coca production in) Colombia," Souder said. The House of Representatives last month passed a $15.2 billion foreign aide bill that includes $676 million allotted for helping the Andean region fight drug trafficking. The bill is awaiting discussion in the Senate. Email this story | Printer-friendly version Father of S. Africa President Dies (Previous story) Pope Seeks Apology for Slave Trade (Next story) International News from AP ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
