Speech by Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-South Carolina), July 16, 2002

Speech by Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-South Carolina), July 16, 2002
FUTURE OF ANTI-TERRORIST COOPERATION IN COLOMBIA -- (Senate - July 16, 2002)

[Page: S6860] GPO's PDF
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Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, I rise today to draw attention to the plight of the people of Colombia . For decades they have been plagued by the scourges of drugs, war, and terrorism. Today, thousands, if not millions of Colombians live under constant threat of attack by leftist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups. However, in the recent elections the Colombian people overwhelmingly voted to bring the forces of terror and violence to their knees.

In support of their fight against terror, I believe it is the responsibility of our great Nation to offer its unwavering moral support to the people of Colombia and their democratically elected leaders. Since President Monroe first offered a vision for our Nation's involvement in the Western Hemisphere, the United States has been the guarantor of peace and democracy for all the peoples of the Americas. This is a tradition we must continue.

Consequently, it is time for us as a Nation to explore further extending our support, both moral and physical to the cause of developing the institutes of justice and governance in Colombia . In doing so, we help the Colombians achieve a better way of life and further our own fight against the forces of global terror.

In closing, we should not forego this opportunity to help a neighbor and an ally. I offer my firmest support to the people of Colombia and their fight to eradicate terrorists and criminals in their own country.

Mr. John Norton Moore is a distinguished professor of law and is the Director of the Center for National Security Law at the University of Virginia. He has written thoughtfully on this matter. I found his remarks to be highly valuable and wish to share them with the Senate. Therefore, I ask unanimous consent that an article written by Professor Moore be printed in the RECORD.

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:

Ending Terrorism in Colombia

(By John Norton Moore)
The people of Colombia , after years of negotiation with the forces of terror, have courageously voted for their own war on terrorism. For almost four decades, the people of Colombia have been beset with drug lords, old-thinking leftists, and paramilitaries waging war against their democracy and their humanity. Every year in that war a much smaller country than the United States loses more people than were killed in 9/11. Kidnapping runs rampant and the force of law is held hostage to the law of force. It is time for the World to notice Colombia's plight and to join with them to decisively end the terror.

Why should the United States and others help? Simply because unchecked terrorism left free to ravage democracies anywhere ultimately affects us all. Simply because the drug business in Colombia will never be tamed without an end to the armies of terror it feeds. Simply because economic development in Latin America and an extension of hemispheric trade requires the rule of law. Simply because a decisive hemispheric victory over terrorism in Colombia will have powerful deterrent legs in the global war against terrorism. Simply because the people and democracies of Latin America matter. And simply because, as the people of Colombia have just attested, four decades of terror is enough.

How can the United States help? Visualizing the ghost of Vietnam, the body politic in the United States has been reluctant to become directly involved in what many see as a domestic struggle in Colombia . Human rights abuses from all sides have further discouraged assistance. Political consensus has only permitted an increased program of aid said to be directed at the war on drugs. Even in a post 9/11 World, it is unlikely that the American body politic wants an Afghan style American military presence on the ground in Colombia . Moreover, America has a full plate in the fight on terror at present, and an important agenda for peace in the Palestinian/Israeli dispute and now the India/Pakistan dispute. But the alternative is not, and has never been, simply a U.S. military presence in Colombia or terror as usual.

The United States should take the lead in consultations with the new leadership of Colombia and the Organization of American States to put together a powerful Inter-American coalition under the Rio Treaty to decisively and permanently restore the reach of democracy over all of Colombia . The Rio Treaty, as the security arm of the Inter-American system, preceded NATO and, indeed, NATO was largely modeled on it. The Inter-American system as a whole has as a central purpose the protection of democracy and human dignity throughout the region. The Rio Treaty pledges the collective action of all of the American states to deal with threats to the peace to those ends. It is time to put that system to the test.

To be successful such as Inter-American effort would need the full agreement and cooperation of the new Colombian Government. In addition, it must be designed to field an overwhelming response against terror on all fronts and to prevail decisively and promptly. To do this would likely require a sophisticated package with major ground units from leading Latin American states, logistics, technological and intelligence assistance from the United States, a substantial package of economic aid, perhaps coordinated from Nations around the World, and a vigorous human rights effort to accompany the necessary military action. The action should also be coordinated with the United Nations Security Council even though as a matter of international law Colombia has every right simply to request assistance from any nation or the organization of American States to deal with its problem of terror. Further, the action should properly be placed in the global war on terror. Once the plan for overwhelming response has been adopted under the Rio Treaty, a requirement experience shows will lessen casualties on all sides, then the groups in Colombia resisting the rule of law should be given an opportunity to turn over their weapons and unconditionally accept democratic rule from the properly elected Colombia officials. If the perpetrators of terror refuse, the Inter-American plan should be carried out promptly and decisively to restore the rule of law and democracy throughout the proud nation of Colombia .

For many years I have heard brave representatives from Colombia describing the daily terror in their country. I have listened to the stories of car bombs, kidnappings, and a rural judiciary that had to wear running shoes to Court in order to be able to jump out of the window and run when the terrorist arrived. It is time to put those running shoes on those who challenge the rule of law.

As of July 17, 2002, this document was also available online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r107:@FIELD(FLD003+s)+@FIELD(DDATE+20020716)