Cali Cartel's Influence -- Flow Of Drug Money To Politics In Colombia Not Encouraging

Former President George Bush met with the rulers of Colombia, Peru and Bolivia in early 1989 to map out strategy for what Bush proudly called the "war on drugs." President Bush and his Andean counterparts held their anti-drug conclave in an atmosphere made both festive and pompous by the nearby presence of innumerable marching bands and "official civic delegations."

The Cartagena, Colombia, meeting ended with the issuance of a communique that pledged a huge increase in U.S. assistance for the Andean countries' "war on this gruesome evil."

The results have been, to say the least, much less than encouraging. Colombia's most recent election was won by Ernesto Samper Pizano, who almost certainly was put "over the top" in an extremely close race by $3.75 million worth of Cali cartel money. A wiretap tape recording of Cali cartel big shots offering to contribute to Samper's campaign coffers was recently played in Bogota.

One wonders why the U.S. continues to send billions of aid bucks into the drug-infested political ratholes known as Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, only to have these "narco-republics" repay us for our generosity by putting allies of the drug mobsters into their respective presidential palaces. Our "aid" pays for ruthless repression, but it accomplishes very little in the way of true anti-drug results.

"President" Ernesto Samper Pizano of Colombia will no doubt receive a message of congratulations and support from U.S. President Bill Clinton. It's too bad that Samper's win was purchased with Cali cartel money. Frank W. Goheen Camas