U.S. could OK resuming Colombian anti-drug program soon
From Elise Labott
Washington Bureau
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Powell has recommended that President Bush immediately resume "Airbridge Denial."
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House soon may revive a suspended drug interdiction program in the skies above Colombia, a U.S. State Department official said Wednesday.
Secretary of State Colin Powell has recommended that President Bush immediately resume the "Airbridge Denial" program, the official said. The program, which supplies Colombia with equipment and intelligence to stem airborne drug traffic between Colombia and Peru, has been suspended since 2001.
"It's all ready to go," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We are just waiting for the president to sign off on it."
The program targeted raw materials for cocaine that are often flown from neighboring Peru to drug producers in Colombia.
Airbridge Denial was suspended after the deadly April 2001 shoot-down of a single-engine plane carrying American missionaries in Peru. Investigation reports said the Peruvian air force mistook the plane as a drug trafficker and shot it down, killing missionary Veronica Bowers, 35, and her 7-month-old daughter, Charity.
U.S. and Peruvian investigators blamed the tragedy on lax procedures and poor communications.
Following the probe of the crash and an examination of the program, Colombia and Washington agreed this year to restart the flights with new safety procedures. They also agreed to begin using new program guidelines to train the Colombian military.
However, before the program can resume, Peru also must agree on new safeguards for the flights.
