The Pentagon spent about $1 billion on drug-related operations in fiscal 2002, out of a total federal counter-narcotics outlay of $19 billion. The Pentagon has a bigger anti-drug budget than the Coast Guard, Customs Service or the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and accounts for a significant share of federal money spent to fight drugs abroad.
Most of the Pentagon's anti-drug efforts are in the Western Hemisphere, notably the Andean region, Central America and the Caribbean. Its efforts in Mexico are more limited. The military also offers training and gathers intelligence in Southeast Asia, notably Thailand.
In addition to facing trouble in Congress, the cutbacks could be unpopular with some Latin American governments. Most countries in the hemisphere have taken advantage of training programs the Pentagon has offered.
Colombia: Special Case
While it retrenches elsewhere, the Pentagon intends to continue its growing effort in Colombia, where U.S. military trainers and intelligence personnel have been helping a weak government wage a four-decade war with drug-dealing rebels. The Bush administration regards Colombia as a special case where danger from guerrilla groups involved in drug trafficking could destabilize the region and threaten the United States.
In its drug-interdiction role, the military acts as the lead U.S. agency for gathering intelligence on drug trafficking, and uses an array of aircraft, ships, radar and other eavesdropping tools.
Although barred from conducting drug raids directly, troops provide some real-time technical help -- such as communications and intelligence analysis -- during anti-narcotics operations being carried out by law enforcement and foreign military organizations.
Highly skilled special operations troops and other military personnel also train foreign police and soldiers, as well as U.S. law enforcement personnel. They teach everything from basic infantry skills to languages, first aid, boat handling, swimming and horsemanship.
Hollis said these duties could be scaled back. For example, he said, if Special Forces are training U.S. customs officials in horseback riding, customs should now turn to local ranchers for that. And if the Border Patrol is learning swimming from Special Forces, "they'll have to go to the local YMCA."
One high-profile anti-drug operation that may see changes is Joint Task Force 6, based at Fort Bliss, Texas.
