1.   If a country is decertified, the U.S. must also vote against loans to that nation from six lending development agencies such as the Inter-American Development Bank.

2.   In fact, until two years when it first flunked Colombia, it had never decertified any country it considered an ally.

3.   Last year five countries were decertified as not being co-operative, including Iran, Nigeria, Myanmar, Syria and Afghanistan.

4.   The administration also could choose a middle course, deciding to decertify a country but waive the sanctions.

5.   The certification process, mandated by law, requires that the United States decertify countries that do not cooperate with American antidrug efforts.

6.   The United States has continued to finance virtually the entire fumigation effort in Colombia even though it decertified the country last year.

7.   There are so many dodges and loopholes that clever decertified countries with clout, such as Colombia, can escape most financial damage anyway.

8.   When a country is decertified, Washington cuts off most non-essential aid, and can impose trade sanctions.

9.   When a country is decertified it becomes ineligible for most American aid, and the president can also apply some trade sanctions and withhold investment credits.

10.   When a country is decertified, the United States may deny requests for loans and other financial aid.