Publication

This paper looks at US policy toward Colombia's protracted internal war of illegal armies, paramilitary forces and narcotics traffickers. The author argues that the element of Colombia’s war most germane to US interests is no longer merely narcotics, but the propensity for international criminal and terrorist networks exploiting ungovernable spaces in the Andean region. The paper proposes a revised, integrated US-Colombian campaign plan that seeks to enhance public security, governance, defense relations, as well as community development, and bring about a political settlement, which could mark an important turning point in strengthening both Colombian and regional security.