On June 9, I spearheaded a bipartisan amendment that would have reduced Colombia's military aid by $30 million, transferring those funds to increase emergency refugee aid. For this I have been attacked by columnist Robert Novak, who insists such a move would have been a "disastrous cut." However, even if my amendment had passed, Colombia would have received $9 million more than what the Bush administration requested from Congress. That's a "disastrous cut?" I support foreign aid but I also support making certain that our taxpayers get their money's worth. Over the last six years, the United States, through its "Plan Colombia," has poured more than $4 billion in mostly military aid to Colombia in an attempt to help that government in its war against guerrilla insurgents and to stem the flow of drugs into the United States. The results have been less than impressive. Colombia remains one of the most dangerous places in the world - and a nation with one of the largest populations of displaced persons in the world. The problem can be traced in part to the guerrillas who continue their brutal attacks against civilians. But part of it also rests with Colombian security forces that we generously support. Novak accuses me of "harping" on the recent murders of anti-drug police by members of the U.S.-funded Colombian Army. Novak may not be horrified by this crime, but I am. For years, Colombian officials have told us that the character and professionalism of their armed forces have changed for the better. Yet, each week we learn about more well-documented cases of murder, corruption and direct involvement in the drug trade. Where is the outrage by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, who has become a favorite within the Bush administration? And where is the outrage by our own leaders who profess to care about human rights? After all the U.S. money, training, arms and advice that have been provided, is it too much to expect more from these security forces and this government? All of us should "harp" more about crimes that by any measure should be loudly condemned. The U.S. war on drugs in Colombia, with its emphasis on ending coca cultivation through fumigation and eradication, has largely failed. There is at least as much and likely more coca being grown in Colombia than there was nearly six years and $4 billion ago when "Plan Colombia" began. Furthermore, there has been no change in price, purity or availability of Colombian cocaine on the streets of the United States as a result. Is that a success story? Should we dump another $4 billion to continue more of the same? Let's make respect for human rights and an end to corruption conditions for continued U.S. aid to Colombia's military. Let's also spend money for drug interdiction and arresting drug lords and dismantling their mafia-style structures in Colombia. But let us also understand that trying to end coca cultivation through fumigation and eradication has been a failed strategy. If more of our financial investment had been targeted to social and economic investment for the rural poor, I believe we would be significantly further along in ending drug cultivation in Colombia, as well as ending the civil war. Just as important, we must understand that our failure to address our own insatiable demand for drugs means that the demand will continue - and there will always be a supplier, be it Colombia, Peru, Bolivia or Afghanistan. We must remain engaged in Colombia . But we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to a failing policy.