Bill Clinton, president, excerpt from State of the Union Address, January 27, 2000

Bill Clinton, president, excerpt from State of the Union Address, January 27, 2000

This is interesting -- from Nigeria to Indonesia, more people got the right to choose their leaders in 1999 than in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell. We've got to stand by these democracies -- including, and especially tonight, Colombia, which is fighting narco-traffickers, for its own people's lives and our children's lives. I have proposed a strong two-year package to help Colombia win this fight. I want to thank the leaders in both parties in both Houses for listening to me and the President of Colombia about it. We have got to pass this. I want to ask your help. A lot is riding on it. And it's so important for the long-term stability of our country, and for what happens in Latin America.

As of May 15, 2000, this document was also available online at http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/ar/colombia/state.htm