U.S. poised to shift Latin America policies

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Some Democrats want to rewrite both the Colombia and Peru agreements to include, among other things, more environmental regulations and stronger guarantees for union organizers.
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Under the administration's "Plan Colombia" policy, the U.S. has provided nearly $5 billion in mostly military aid since 2000 to fight the country's narcotics traffickers and Marxist guerrillas. Although security has improved in many areas, the rebels remain a threat while tons of Colombian cocaine and heroin continue to reach the U.S.

"Six years and $4.7 billion later, the drug-control results are meager at best," Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., told a congressional hearing last June.

Many Democrats want to reduce military spending and use the money to boost programs to fight poverty, relocate people displaced by Colombia's 42-year civil war and encourage farmers to plant legal crops.

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