InfoBrief - January 31, 2006

US Current Affairs and Media

• Internal Memo Reveals Possible DEA Corruption in Bogotá A confidential internal memo published this month by The Narco News Bulletin implicates Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents in Bogotá of widespread corruption and subsequent cover-up operations. Thomas M. Kent, a former attorney for the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section (NDDS) of the Department of Justice, drafted a memo in December 2004 to Jodi Avergun, Chief of NDDS, outlining three main allegations of corruption within the Bogotá office. Kent’s account depicts agents in Bogotá participating in a number of illegal activities, from tampering with internal and external investigations to taking bribes and assassinating informants. The memo also expresses Kent’s concern with the apparent lack of follow-through on the part of the DEA's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and Office of the Inspector General. He notes that all three of the allegations were brought to the attention of OPR, and that “By all accounts OPR did nothing about them.” The DEA announced soon after publication of the memo online that OPR would begin an internal investigation to determine the validity of the allegations outlined by Kent. Read the Kent Memo on the "Narco News Bulletin."
• State Department Announces New Leadership Position, ‘Transformational Diplomacy’ In a move that is drawing both criticism and praise from foreign policy analysts, Secretary of State Rice announced this month the creation of a new position within the State Department: Director of Foreign Assistance. In the same speech, Secretary Rice named Randy Tobias, former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, as the new Director of Foreign Assistance. Serving "at a level equivalent to Deputy Secretary" and holding the position of AID Administrator concurrently, Mr. Tobias will oversee all State Department and USAID foreign assistance funding and programs. The position has been created, according to Secretary Rice, to "more fully align the foreign assistance activities carried out by the Department of State and USAID," and comes as part of the Secretary's broader plan for transformational diplomacy. In addition to tying aid more closely to foreign policy objectives, transformational diplomacy consists of the global repositioning of Foreign Service staff, and a shifting of diplomatic focus from transnational to regional areas. Secretary Rice underscored the importance of transformational diplomacy as a mechanism for building and maintaining "democratic, well-governed states that will respond to the needs of their people- and conduct themselves responsibly in the international system." While some analysts view the merging of USAID and State Department projects as a step towards increasing the efficiency of and effectiveness of aid programs, others have expressed skepticism. Carol Lancaster, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Deputy Administrator of USAID, highlights the possible problems inherent in the merging of the two departments in an Op-Ed piece written for the Financial Times: "The day-to-day decisions on how USAID uses its funds for development can be very different from the priorities of the State Department, which often involve managing crises in foreign countries."
• Initiative for Inclusive Security Holds Policy Forum with Colombian Participation The group Initiative for Inclusive Security (formerly Women Waging Peace) led a series of roundtable discussions between US policymakers and female civil and governmental leaders from several conflict-laden countries this week in Washington, DC. Participants discussed ways in which the implementation of rule of law in post-conflict countries can be more effective with the full participation of women. Luz Piedad Caicedo Delgado and Beatiz Vejarano traveled from Colombia to provide both the governmental and non-governmental perspective on the role of women in post-conflict negotiations. These discussions resulted in several recommendations for the successful implementation of the Justice and Peace Law, which included the creation of protection programs for female victims and witnesses of the conflict; the aggressive prosecution of sexual crimes; and a strengthening of education and support programs for women. Participants also discussed women’s inclusion in ex-combatant reintegration processes.

Upcoming Events in the US

• The office of Representative Sam Farr (D-CA), in conjunction with the U.S. Office on Colombia and Lutheran World Relief, will sponsor a congressional briefing on the impacts of the U.S. policy of aerial fumigation in Colombia. The briefing will take place Thursday, February 9th, from 3-4pm in room HC- 8 in the U.S. Capitol Building.