Calls on Secretary Rice to Withhold Military Aid Until Columbia Puts a Stop to Extrajudicial Executions
February 29, 2008 In a letter sent yesterday to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) expressed serious concern regarding recent reports of the killing of civilians by members of the Colombian Armed Forces. The senators urged Secretary Rice to withhold a portion of military aid to Colombia until the Colombian government makes progress in investigating and prosecuting these cases, moving them into the civilian justice system, and ensuring that new cases do not occur. Senators Dodd and Feingold were joined by Senators Sanders (I-VT), Brown (D-OH), Kerry (D-MA), Kennedy (D-MA), Boxer (D-CA), Durbin (D-IL), Kohl (D-WI), Harkin (D-IA), Mikulski (D-MD), Whitehouse (D-RI), Casey (D-PA), and Johnson (D-SD) in sending the letter.