US 'may increase' Colombia military aid

The US had donated military equipment to Colombia

By the BBC's Rachel Harvey

With peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and left wing rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, on the brink of collapse, the United States is apparently rethinking its assistance to the government of President Andres Pastrana.

The United States already provides substantial aid to Colombia to help with counter-narcotics operations.

Colombian anti-drugs squads have received US training

But a US newspaper report says President Bush's administration is now considering expanding the aid package to provide direct help for the Colombian Government's campaign against rebel groups.

Mr Pastrana has for some time been urging the United States to take a more active military role in Colombia.

The events of the past few days have given his appeal a new sense of urgency.

The United States is already committed to an aid package for Colombia worth $1.3bn.

'Artificial' line

But the US Congress imposed restrictions to ensure that the money would only be used in the fight against drugs trafficking.

Now a report in the Washington Post newspaper quotes unnamed officials within President Bush's administration as saying that the line between counter-narcotics and counterinsurgency is artificial and increasingly difficult to maintain.

Cocaine is widely grown in Colombia

The proposals reported to be under consideration include increased intelligence sharing on the activities of rebel groups, and training Colombian troops to serve in a rapid reaction force to protect sensitive infrastructure, such as oil pipelines.

In the wake of the 11 September attacks, the United States placed all three Colombian rebel groups on its list of what it calls "terrorist" organisations.

That could perhaps be used as justification for any expansion of its role in Colombia.

But it may prove hard to convince Congress, which has repeatedly warned against mission creep in Colombia.

The fear is that, in its efforts to bolster the Colombian government, the United States risks becoming involved in a very messy and prolonged civil war.