Report gives military school its approval

COLUMBUS - A watchdog committee said Fort Benning&#39;s Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation is adhering to U.S. law and policy, but it should improve some of its accountability measures. <br> <br> The committee, which includes lawmakers, scholars, diplomats and religious leaders, praised the institute&#39;s human rights program but urged the school to continue integrating training with democratic principles. <br> <br> The Army&#39;s School of the Americas was replaced last year by a new institution operated by the Department of Defense and supervised by the 13-member committee. Officials say the new school still trains Latin American soldiers, but also focuses on civilian and diplomatic affairs. Human rights courses are mandatory. <br> <br> The report eased concerns that it would simply be a rubber stamp of approval for Defense Department policies, said Kim Porter, a leader of SOA Watch, which conducts an annual protest against the school. Protesters blame the school for human rights abuses in Latin American. <br> <br> ``I appreciate the committee&#39;s report and how transparent the board is,&#39;&#39; Porter said. <br> <br> The report found several problems at the school. <br> <br> Original U.S. Department of Defense doctrine and policy material could not be located. Only Spanish translations could be found, and without the original documents, some meaning may be lost, said curriculum subcommittee members. <br> <br> The committee also said it couldn&#39;t determine if classes taught at the school about law enforcement and drug prevention were conforming with U.S. doctrine.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/12/186604