Changing the plan

摘要

Next week Colin Powell, the American secretary of state, is due to become the first member of George Bush's cabinet to visit Colombia. Not before time, you might think. The Bush administration inherited a controversial commitment to Plan Colombia, a scheme launched by President Andres Pastrana to fight drugs and guerrillas. Mr Bush has opted to continue with the plan: he has asked Congress for $880m in aid to Colombia and its Andean neighbours, on top of the $1.3 billion in mainly military aid approved last year.