DRUG CZAR WALTERS MEETING WITH MOD OSPINA AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 010847

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/11/2015
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV EAID CO
SUBJECT: DRUG CZAR WALTERS MEETING WITH MOD OSPINA AND
CUPOLA


Classified By: Charge Milton K. Drucker, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) November 10, 2005, 8:00-9:00, Ministry of Defense,
Bogota


2. (U) Participants:

U.S.
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John P. Walters, Director ONDCP
Patrick Ward, ONDCP A/D
Richard O'Connor, ONDCP
Julie Connor, Narcotics Affairs Section Director
Col. Kevin Saderup, MilGroup Commander
Col. Brian Butcher, Defense Attache
Paul Mahlstedt, Narcotics Affairs
Alberto Rodriguez, Narcotics Affairs Officer
Dana Brown, Notetaker
Nohemy Kattan, Interpreter

Colombia
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Camilo Ospina Bernal, Minister of Defense
Gen. Carlos Ospina, Commanding General of the Armed Forces
Gen. Freddy Padilla, Chief Joint Staff
Gen. Edgar Lesmez, Commander of Air Force
Gen. Mauricio Soto, Commander of Navy
Gen. Reinaldo Castellanos, Commander of the Army
BGen. Jorge Baron, Director Antinarcotics Police (DIRAN)
Mr. Julian Ponton, Director of International Relations


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Summary
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3. (C) Defense Minister Camilo Ospina and his military cupola
briefed the Office of National Drug Control Director John
Walters on priority areas of bilateral cooperation on
counter-narcotics efforts: increasing flexibility with
interdiction, eradication, and Air Bridge Denial operations;
augmenting resources, especially for Narino and Cauca
Departments; and strengthening international law enforcement
cooperation on narcotics criminals. Walters agreed that
flexibility and cooperation were necessary to
counter-narcotics successes. He stressed, however, that U.S.
resources were finite and that Colombia had to prioritize and
coordinate its operations. End summary.

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Prioritizing Scarce CN Resources
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4. (C) Minister Camilo Ospina reported that counter-narcotics
eradication had surpassed 2005 goals, but stressed that
further resources would be necessary to allow for success in
long-term drug eradication efforts. Ospina and Army General
Castellanos noted that three aerial spray packages were not
enough; a fourth package would allow permanent coverage in
different cultivation areas without allowing cultivators any
recovery time (as they have now). Ospina raised concerns
about the increasing narcotics cultivation in Narino and
Cauca Departments in southwest Colombia. The MOD also
expressed concern that the third spray package (T-65s) was
not flying and asked that it resume its mission. Admiral
Soto requested U.S. assistance in providing a fuel supply for
remote areas in those departments to allow the military to
refuel locally rather than having to depend on distant
supplies. He also cited the need for a base in Tumaco from
which to launch operations on the Pacific coast, and for two
maritime patrol aircraft.


5. (C) ONDCP Director Walters recognized Ospina's concerns,
but underscored the limits to U.S. resource availability,
especially given commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan. While
he noted that the GOC would receive slightly more assistance
in 2006 than this year, he recommended the GOC identify vital
resource needs and focus assistance requests on items
primarily available in the United States. For example, he

suggested that the Colombian military resolve fuel supply
issues while the United States focused on airframes to
counter Narino's growing cultivation. Such an resource
division would allow more efficient coverage overall,
according to Walters. He also mentioned the possibility of
ONDCP establishing an asset sharing agreement with the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security. Walters said he had asked
the Deputy Secretary of DHS to lend assets for maritime
patrol when the United States was on lower terrorist alert
status. He encouraged Colombia to seek similar cross-agency
cooperation.

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Air Bridge Denial and Transit Nations' Resources
-------------- ---


6. (C) Air Force Commander General Lesmez praised the Air
Bridge Denial (ABD) program overall, but voiced concerns
about the legal limitations placed on pilots and the balance
between source- and transit-nation counter-narcotics efforts.
He said the 12-mile limit imposed on the Citation Tracker
aircraft made it difficult for the Colombian Air Force to
respond or even identify targets. He requested that the
limit be extended from 12 miles to 80 to allow for proper
identification of narcotics trafficking aircraft. Lesmez
reaffirmed Colombia's commitment to safe ABD operations to
avoid tragic errors, but underscored the need for greater
leeway. He also recommended that, in general, the United
States consider shifting counter-narcotics resources
currently used in transit nations towards narcotics source
nations to improve interdiction. He also asked for an
increase in the number of flight hours financed through the
ABD program.


7. (C) Director Walters offered to review the possibility of
extending the ABD's protocol limits. He also stated that the
USG had already reduced resources assigned to the transit
zone and had focused remaining resources on targeted
operations. He encouraged Colombia to do the same by using
resources in coordinated, intelligence-driven operations
rather than attempting to cover all narcotics cultivation and
transportation areas simultaneously.

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Spraying in National Parks
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8. (C) MOD Ospina said the relevant GOC offices met to
discuss the issue of spraying in the national parks after
Walters' meeting the day before with President Uribe. GOC
officials decided to move forward with eradication in La
Macarena National Park and planned to move military forces in
to secure it for manual eradication. If General Castellanos
decides it is not possible to eradicate manually, the GOC
will authorize aerial spraying.

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Multiple Targets Require Flexibility
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9. (C) MOD Ospina told Walters that the drug kingpins were
not only the simple "drug mobsters" but also the
narcoterrorists who cloak their work in political
justifications. He reported the GOC's efforts to go after
both kinds of narcotics traffickers and to eliminate leaders.
He said the GOC needed resources, flexibility, and
information to be able to capture or kill such drug chiefs.


10. (U) Walters acknowledged the need for greater flexibility
and thanked MOD Ospina for the military and police actions
against narcotics in Colombia. He offered to investigate the
status of urgent equipment requests that were delayed in the
U.S. foreign military sales process. He further mentioned
that he would be willing to request that the British
government encourage Venezuela to cooperate with Colombian
counter-narcotics counterparts. Despite U.S. resource
limitations, Walters confirmed the USG was willing to assist
Colombia in its efforts to help do more with less on
counter-narcotics issues.


11. (U) This message was cleared by ONDCP.
DRUCKER