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Excellent stuff. Thank you very much.

The attached is an info paper I found discussing SLV lessons learned.

I would think in these situations where you have a criminal element waiting to...

Looking for thoughts and references on successful transformations of militaries after a successful negotiated peace or demobilization of an insurgent force.

Looking at the future of the Colombian...

Graycap:

Do you have any recommendations for reading on Cosa Nostra? This sounds a lot like discussions on Mexico regarding the 2012 election. Lots of folks are asking if the next government will...

I'm only wiki deep into this so please excuse my ignorance, but wasn't the RUF trying to overthrow the government?

Thanks for the comments. I am aware of the problems with the term "criminal insurgency." I don't have a better term for it and I think John Sullivan and Adam Elkus make a compelling case for it. That...

I'm looking for some help identifying resolved "criminal insurgencies." I would define that as economically motivated non-political groups (narcos, pirates, gangs) that have successfully controlled...

Actually, I argue that SL remains a communist organization that now funds its operations with drug money. I believe this because unlike traditional drug trafficking organizations (DTO) they are not...

Military Review just published an article I put together on Sendero Luminoso's resurgence in Peru.

Summary:
The decapitation of Sendero Luminoso (SL) in conjunction with the use of local...

Here is my prep list for an upcoming trip to Honduras and El Salvador:

Third Generation Gangs and Criminal Insurgency in Latin America by Hal Brands. www.smallwarsjournal.com

Afterward: Law...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/27/AR2010022700523.html

So can Santos keep Colombia on track? Has Colombia achieved irreversibility and institutionalization?

Chao
...

I will be in Rio shortly looking at the security situation with the favelas.

Any advice, contacts, and/or questions I should ask would be great.

Thanks

Mike

There are a couple major changes for the new SL which makes it dangerous. It has fully embraced narco-trafficking and has shifted to a FARC model which allows it to purchase better equipment. This...

Thanks for all the help. The links are great. I've got a draft version of a boat unit task org ready. If you want to critique it let me know and I'll send it to you via email.

Chao

Mike

FOL Manta was just closed down by the Correa government which led to the base signing agreement with Colombia and now the aggresive behavior by Chavez.

Looking for some help on riverine operations doctrine. Specifically task organization. I'm working with a foreign jungle based division that is receiving 10 man (3 crew and 7 combat loaded...

John:

I came away feeling cautiously optimistic.

It seemed to me that the political future of Colombia was the critical issue. I would think that having someone like former defense minister...

I recently returned from an interesting visit to Colombia. The government is working to consolidate its gains against the FARC and establish government services in formerly lawless areas. Colombia...

I would say that within the cavalry community the terms recon and security with their associated missions are pretty well defined in US doctrine.

Not sure if you can access it but I would...

John,

Thanks, that is a great perspective. I’m working my way through David Palmer’s compilation on Shining Path now and you are right like most conflicts it is complex and multi-layered. I’m...

Thanks, I think I'll check that out.

John, Steve or anybody else with a background on SL

I'm working on a short paper discussing the decline of SL. Basically I'm arguing that

1. The removal of Guzman was critical in the defeat of...