JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: An infusion of cash and aid from the United States will soon be on its way to Colombia in the battle against drug traffickers and their rebel allies. For more on that, we go to CNN senior White House correspondent John King. He joins us now -- John.</s>JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Judy, the total will be $1.3 billion in U.S. money soon on its way, as soon as President Clinton can sign that emergency spending bill passed by the U.S. Congress today. That money to Colombia will be used to help train and equip the Colombian military as well as the national police force for -- to wage war on drug trafficking and those rebels you mentioned. Also it will go to buy some new military hardware to help in that effort, including 18 Black-Hawk helicopters and 42 Huey helicopters, those to be used to ferry troops and supplies into coca- growing regions. Now Mr. Clinton promised this money to the Colombian government back in January. He's getting that bill just now because of some domestic political disputes here in the United States. But he will sign that measure soon. And as he prepares to do so, the president today rejecting criticism from some in the United States and elsewhere that the United States is essentially picking sides in a civil war. Mr. Clinton put it quite differently, noting that most of the heroine and cocaine on the streets of the United States comes from Colombia. He said this money was long overdue and, quote, "gives us a chance to save the oldest democracy in Latin America" -- Judy.</s>WOODRUFF: All right. CNN's John King reporting from the White House. Thank you. Those Colombian rebels are undertaking their own offensive. Some rebel leaders and a group of farmers met with diplomats from Europe and the Americas, hoping to stir opposition to the plan. They propose that instead, the international community subsidize programs to develop alternative crops such as rubber, rice, and cattle farming.
U.S. Sends Money to Colombia to Fight Drug War