Drugs & US Law Enforcement (2006-2017)

[SWJ Blog]

Translating Lessons Learned in Colombia and Other Wars Among the People: Confronting the Spectrum of 21st Century Conflict

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[davidbfpo]

A new IISS Strategic Comment:

Colombia is reassessing its approach to its decades-long struggle against guerrillas and criminal gangs. It is embarking on reforms of its security services and legal system as part of its efforts to tackle a new hybrid threat: groups with the military know-how of insurgents and the adaptability of criminal actors..

Link:http://www.iiss.org/en/publications/...la-threat-635f

[SWJ Blog]

Covert Action in Colombia

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[AdamG]

Illicitly ‘homemade’ submachine guns feature very prominently in firearms seizures by police across South America, Brazil in particular. These weapons vary in their level of sophistication though a large number appear to be semi-professionally produced. In a recent study of over 14,488 firearms seized between 2011 and 2012 in Sao Paulo alone, 48% of submachine guns analyzed were reportedly homemade. Given the decent quality of many SMG clones, even that high statistic is probably significantly under reported.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...ne-guns-brazil

[AdamG]

The Armed Forces of Colombia commissioned a pop song that included a Morse code message to kidnapped military personnel, "19 people rescued, you're next. Don't lose hope", because the kidnappers would let their captives listen to radio.

http://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/...code-17518455/

[SWJ Blog]

BACRIM in Colombia

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[SWJ Blog]

Persistent Engagement in Colombia

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[SWJ Blog]

The Intractable Conflict: Why Colombia’s War Against the FARC Eludes Resolution

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[davidbfpo]

From Kings War Studies blog, Strife, a short article that could fit elsewhere, but it uses Colombia as the focus. The full title is: Colombia and the ‘Small footprint’ intervention illusion:http://strifeblog.org/2014/11/25/col...tion-illusion/

It opens with:

The challenge posed by ISIS has intensified debates in the West over the possibility of dispatching “boots on the ground” and has, yet again, brought to the forefront the search for alternative modes of military intervention following the recent disillusionment with “Big footprint” counterinsurgency in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[SWJ Blog]

Colombia, FARC Announce Breakthrough in Peace Talks

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[davidbfpo]

A new book available for pre-order from Hurst (London-based) on Colombia, with an impressive line up of authors: Davis, Kilcullen, Mills and Spencer:http://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/a-great-perhaps/

There is a 33% discount if you register with Hurst, with free P&P.

From the publishers notice:

No country has managed as rapid and positive a turnaround in governance and security conditions this century as Colombia. In 1999, FARC and ELN rebels were literally at the gates of Bogot, and Colombia was a country synonymous with the antics of Pablo Escobar, known primarily for rapacious corruption, weak government, drug smuggling and criminality. Fifteen years later the guerrillas, seriously weakened, have been persuaded to attend peace talks in Havana, and the Colombian economy has been a top performer in Latin America.

To date, however, there has been no comprehensive examination of the different elements employed by the government to combat the guerrillas, win local and international political and military support, extend government authority to the 75 per cent of the countryside where it was seldom felt, and turn the Colombian economy around. How the Colombians did all of this is the subject of this book by four international specialists with unrivalled policy and practical expertise in counterinsurgency campaigns in Colombia and elsewhere, bringing a unique comparative perspective.


Based on fieldwork in Colombias regions, the study provides a history of the conflict, compares it to other case studies, examines the war from the perspectives of the government and the guerrillas, delves into the development of special Colombian capabilities (notably in intelligence and the use of airpower and special forces), and explains the economic dimension in terms both of historical exclusion and ongoing attempts at growth and inclusion. Finally, it concludes with an assessment of the countrys prospects: can the combination of improved security, a flourishing economy and the peace process offer an opportunity to finally translate Colombia from, in Gabriel Garcia Marquezs words, a great perhaps into something more permanent?

[davidbfpo]

A short five minute video clip; explained as:

With rare and exclusive access, the Guardian joins one of the Farc’s remaining rebel cells deep in the Colombian jungle as guerrillas contemplate the final days of their dying revolution. After 51 years of armed struggle and numerous attempts at peace, the revolutionaries’ rapidly dwindling numbers have resolved into a hard core of hold-out cells, still on the run and deeply reluctant to give up their guns

Link:http://www.theguardian.com/world/vid...colombia-video

[SWJ Blog]

Event: Lessons for Africa from Colombia’s Counter-Insurgency Experience

The events two hour podcast is now available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY2T...ature=youtu.be

[SWJ Blog]

‘Bandas Criminales’ and a Post-accord Colombia

[SWJ Blog]

Bullets for Ballots: A History of Demobilization, Disarmament, and Reintegration in Colombia

[davidbfpo]

The Colombian government and the Farc rebels have signed a historic ceasefire deal, bringing them closer to ending more than five decades of conflict.The agreement is expected to pave the way for a full peace deal.
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Farc leader Timochenko shook hands at a ceremony in the Cuban capital.

Link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36611952


Three other items in support.

[davidbfpo]

An excellent Military Review (latest issue) article on the prospects for peace:http://usacac.army.mil/CAC2/Military...831_art010.pdf

[SWJ Blog]

Colombia and FARC Announce Deal to End the Americas’ Longest War

[AdamG]

Colombia’s government and the largest rebel group in the country have reached a deal to end more than 50 years of conflict, the two sides announced Wednesday, paving the way for an end to the longest running war in the Americas.

For four years, the Colombian government and the rebels have been locked in negotiations to end the conflict. Time and again, they have emerged from the negotiating table to assure a weary public that another impasse had been eliminated, another hurdle cleared.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/wo...one-share&_r=0

[AdamG]

So why did a slim majority of the population vote “no” in a national referendum to end the war once and for all?
Because the peace deal was too nice to the FARC.

http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/b...pened-colombia