In 2001, it was reported that the United States had spent over $1 billion on the drug war in Latin America, with a substantial portion of this amount going to Peru, Colombia, and Bolivia (A just war, 2001). However, the joint U.S.-Peruvian strategy of shooting down plans suspected of carrying drugs has not been without problems. American surveillance planes flown by CIA contract employees who work for a U.S.-funded system in Peru, shot down a small unarmed Cessna carrying Baptist missionaries from the United States (A just war, 2001). This incident called into question the entire strategy of bringing down airplanes as part of a larger effort to prevent cocaine from leaving Peru. Plan Colombia has a heavily militaristic component. Fratepietro (2001) claims that it is the military nature of AmericaÆs plan that has led to opposition from the European Union. Groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the National Council of Churches have also protested Plan Colombia. The United States Congress did not engage in lengthy debate before passing Plan Colombia and is said by Fratepietro (2001) to have acted not only in response to the War on Drugs and concerns regarding democracy in Colombia, but also because Colombian oil is of vital strategic importance to the United Sates because it reduces U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil imports. transit countries. Weekly Compilation of Presidential United Press International, March 15, P. 1008074u6176. The goal of Plan Colombia, therefore, is the remaking of a secure democratic society freed from violence and corruption. Marcella (2002) believes that because little of magnitude happens in this hemisphere without leadership from Washington, U.S. financial support is critical for encouraging Colombians to sacrifice for their survival and prodding the international community to assist. Accordingly, the five year Plan Colombia will cost $7.5 billion. Colombia will spend $4 billion of its own mo |
