BERNARD SHAW, CNN ANCHOR: Here in Washington, political maneuvering is being blamed for holding up what the Clinton administration calls "key programs" to fight the flow of illegal drugs into the United States from Colombia. CNN's national security correspondent David Ensor has the story.</s>DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The war on drugs in Colombia is not going well, says the Clinton administration. Fumigation flights to eradicate coca plants have been scaled back or halted in key areas. Special Colombian army anti-drug units have yet to undertake any missions for lack of helicopters. Clinton administration officials say the problem is congressional delays, and they say the price of delay is high.</s>BARRY MCCAFFREY, U.S. DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR: Huge impact. We're grinding to a halt. The drug problem is going up 20 percent a year. Production's up 520 metric tons. So right now, the spraying program, eradication by the Colombian police in danger, as well as the training of these counternarcotic battalions.</s>ENSOR: The problem is that when the House passed the emergency funding for Colombia's drug war, it attached billions of dollar worth of projects that congressman wanted. (on camera): To avoid such pork-barrel politics, Senate Majority Leader Lott put the funds in the regular budget for next year. But now that budget is held up in an unrelated procedural pursuit. (voice-over): Lott has always said he favors the money for Colombia.</s>SEN. TRENT LOTT (R-MS), MAJORITY LEADER: We're not looking for this to drag out into the fall or into next year.</s>ENSOR: But that was in March. Now, administration officials say the money for the war on drugs is unlikely to start flowing until at least midsummer. Meantime, officials say, guerrilla groups are greatly increasing their presence, guarding the coca cultivation areas where a bumper crop is growing. David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
Clinton Administration Says Congressional Delays Impeding Fight Against Drugs in Colombia