Editorial: Colombia conundrum
STAFF E O M M 0 N %, Editor: Margaret O'Brien Steinfels Executive Editor: Paul Baumann Managing Editor: Patrick Jordan Associate Editor: Daria...
...and monthly July and August, by Commonweal Foundation, 475 In Peru and Bolivia, the interdiction of drug smugglers and the destruction of coca Riverside Drive, Rm...
...involvement seems futile...
...Display advertising correspondence should be sent to Ruth E. cent of the world's cocaine...
...the question of how the United States can best assist the forces of democracy in the region...
...The Clinton administration thinks that the Colombian Taylor, 11 Graffam Rd., So...
...Fax: of coca grown there...
...Moreover, military as- the NexTech system (training will be provided if sistance must be coupled with support for the peace process applicant can begin by July 3...
...p. 15, Karsh...
...3, 31, itary successes and fat bank account have given them little incentive to come to an Ross, Rothco...
...ments...
...11, troops) of the Colombian army, will pay for a campaign against FARC-controlled coca 19, Valerry...
...and "vigorous efforts" to help farmers with alternatives to the Interested applicants should send a resume cultivation of coca and poppies...
...President national Money Order or by check on a U.S...
...Four-day workweek...
...Readers are invited to join in our search by passing on this announcement or by letting us know of potential candidates...
...405, New York, NY 10115...
...Europe, $89...
...The government has indicted some paramilitary leaders, but Colombia's judicial system remains cor- COMMONWEAL rupt and unaccountable...
...Microfilm from Vol...
...aid is out of the question...
...Commonweal is indexed in Reader's Guide to Pe- There are good reasons to be skeptical about how the aid package is designed riodical Literature, Catholic Periodical Index, and what its prospects for success may be...
...Yearly subscriptions, U.S., surgency efforts in Colombia...
...p. 24, Schwadron, Rothco...
...p. 20, Corbett, fields...
...All Canadian and foreign subscrip- the FARC's political agenda seriously (it executed three American human-rights tions must be paid in U.S...
...Many worry that U.S...
...p. 7, Engleman, Blackhawk helicopters and the creation of three specially trained battalions (5,000 Rothco...
...Benefits: Employer-funded health insurance and pension plan...
...We did mean Renaissance...
...Few observers take Hemisphere, $84...
...No one really knows...
...Much of the ofStates comes to terms with its own drug problem...
...oldest in Latin America, will become even more perilous...
...Many fear that the nation, torn beC Intern: Christopher Ruddy tween leftist guerillas, right-wing private armies, and a military with a hisCirculation Manager: Sandra Smith tory of brutality, is on the verge of collapse...
...Canada, $81...
...Special two-year rate: U.S...
...There are no easy answers to Colombia's problems or to Join the Commonweal staff...
...agreement with the government...
...With the and acquaintance, if any, with the magazine...
...Kidnappings, poE.J...
...Knowledge of MS and democratic reforms, substantial humanitarian assistance, Excel and Access are necessary...
...Copyright © 2000 Commonweal Foundation...
...dollars by Inter- workers last year), but its fifteen-thousand-person army cannot be ignored...
...Catholic bishops have issued a statement that deserves attention...
...Ultimately, the bish- ness matters, as well as supervising the business ops note, Colombia's fate depends on how well the United staff...
...1, 1924, to current issues available in the thirty-five-year civil war between Marxist guerillas in the south and the corrupt through University Microfilm, 300 N. Zeeb oligarchy that controls the government in Bogota...
...The large coca-growing areas of southern Colombia are $44...
...military and financial records are maintained on Quickaid, the bishops write, must be carefully monitored and con- Books and our in-house circulation system uses ditioned on respect for human rights...
...proper safeguards, greater U.S...
...The military-aid package, which includes thirty pp...
...and a letter describing his or her qualifications Will increased U.S...
...Without those safeguards, nothing of lasting value will be achieved...
...the use of terror, further U.S...
...entanglement view Digest, and Book Review Index...
...Canada, $47...
...Next month the U.S...
...p. 8, Renault, Rothco...
...Web: couraging farmers to plant alternative crops, have significantly reduced the amount http://www.commonwealmagazine.org...
...3, 17, courtesy CBS...
...At times corruption appears so ubiquitous that any greater U.S...
...Serials Data program are seeing is a dramatic ratcheting up of a counterinsurgency policy in the name of No.: ISSN 0010-3330...
...has warned that "What we braries and research facilities on CD-ROM and in electronic data bases...
...In that light, the U.S...
...Senate is likely to approve a $1.6-billion aid package for Commonweal, [ISSN 0010-3330] A Review of Public Affairs, Religion, Literature, and the Colombia, four-fifths of which is designated as military assistance...
...Dionne, Jr., Sidney Callahan, William Pfaff, Daniel Callahan, litical murders, pervasive drug trafficking, corruption, and a deepening Jo McGowan economic recession wrack the country...
...Historically, the Colombian military has been largely outside the control of elected officials, and the army's ties to right-wing paramilitary groups, many of which are also involved in drug smuggling, complicates the picture further...
...aid work...
...Knowledgeable observers, and many of the Colombians who favor a negotiRothco...
...fields (cocaine is made from the coca leaf), combined with UN-sponsored efforts enTelephone: (212) 662-4200...
...In the short fice has recently been computerized: accounting term, however, Colombia needs our assistance...
...Reform of the judiciary is essential if there is to be any hope of long-term stability...
...As a consequence, Colombia has become the source for 80 per(212) 662-4183...
...Commonweal is looking for a new business man(Even the wife of a former commander of the U.S...
...involvement can be a force Please include references and salary requirefor peace and stability...
...Army's ager...
...foreign, $50...
...Yet Colombia's proximity to the Panama Canal, committed to working with a small staff and a and its civil war's displacement of hundreds of thousands of limited budget to ensure the financial future of civilians, make Colombia's stability of vital national interest to the magazine...
...Commonweal 6 May 5, 2000...
...military in- azine, small business, and/or nonprofit organivolvement, but argues that, because the United States is the zation is a plus...
...Hope resides in a growing peace moveStaff...
...law stipulates that aid cannot go to military forces involved in human-rights Commonweal 5 May 5, 2000 violations...
...These include budgeting their country from the drug cartels...
...New York, N.Y., and at additional offices...
...Com- in the atrocious human-rights record of the Colombian military is sure to be one remonweal articles also are available at many li- sult of greater involvement...
...But the guerrillas' recent milIllustrations: Cover design: Christopher Young...
...ated peace, think that military pressure is needed to bring the FARC to the bargaining table...
...Applications or suggestions should be sent to: commonweal@msn.com or Editor Commonweal 475 Riverside Drive, Room 405 "I don't have anything against the Neanderthals, but New York, NY 10115 I don't see why ave should have to send them foreign aid...
...foreign, $87...
...Whether or not these safeguards will prevent future atrocities is the crucial question...
...6, 9, Baloo, Rothco...
...destroy them...
...E-mail: commonweal@msn.com...
...Christmas/New Year's...
...Previous experience with a magthe United States...
...STAFF E O M M 0 N %, Editor: Margaret O'Brien Steinfels Executive Editor: Paul Baumann Managing Editor: Patrick Jordan Associate Editor: Daria Donnelly Production Editor: Tiina Aleman Senior Writer: Robert G. Hoyt Editorial Assistant: Maurice Timothy Reidy Copy Editor: Susanne Washburn Business Manager: Gregory Wilpert Colombia conundrum Poetry: Rosemary Deen Screen: Richard Alleva Stage/Media: Celia Wren Columnists: John Garvey, olombia is one of the most violent places in the world...
...http://www.commonwealmagazine.org U.S...
...Moreover, the bravery of and finance, marketing and promotion, circulaordinary Colombians in the face of terror calls out for a gen- tion, fundraising, development, and general busierous response...
...other parts of the world, $99...
...principal market for Colombia's cocaine, the United States has The business manager works with the staff on a moral responsibility to help Colombians wrest control of a wide variety of tasks...
...If the United States does nothing, advocates of aid say, not only will the POSTMASTER: send address changes to flood of cocaine increase, but the chance for survival of Colombia's democracy, the Commonweal, 475 Riverside Dr., Room 405, New York, NY 10115...
...Quanda Williams ment that has mobilized millions of ordinary Colombians and helped elect a president, Advertising Manager: Ruth E. Taylor Publisher Emeritus: Edward S. Skillin Andres Pastrana, who has pursued a negotiated peace among the factions...
...columnist portraits, Elaine Mills...
...Pastrana has already made significant concessions to the FARC, and the United States supports a negotiated settlement to the conflict...
...complicity Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 and on Microfiche from Bell & Howell, Wooster, OH 44691...
...Annual controlled by the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who exrates for air-mail delivery outside U.S.: Western tract $500 million annually in "protection" fees from coca growers...
...Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt...
...A terrific job for a Renaissance person: military activities in Colombia has pled guilty to drug-smug- someone with business and promotion skills gling charges...
...The U.S.-trained antidrug battalions are supposed to exclude Colombian military units suspected of such abuses...
...Periodicals postage paid at counterdrug policy...
...It is impossible, however, to completely separate counterdrug from counterinSingle Copy, $2.50...
...Portland, ME 04106 armed forces, given the resources and training needed, can get to the coca fields and (207) 799-4387, classified advertising correspondence to 475 Riverside Dr...
...The Clinton adArts, is published biweekly except ministration sees the aid, which Pastrana has requested, as crucial to the "drug war...
...cover art: Charlot...
...Pastrana rejects direct U.S...
...Critics argue that the $1-billion increase Index of American Periodical Verse, Book Re- in aid is not aimed primarily at drug interdiction, but is a recipe for U.S...
...bank...
...It must be made clear to Colombia's military that if it is unwilling to forsake Tired of Making Millions...
Vol. 127 • May 2000 • No. 9
