Counterterrorism policy in Colombia

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to suggest a coherent, credible, and long-term counterterrorism policy in Colombia. The events of September 11, 2001 heightened U.S. awareness of Colombian terrorist organizations, the most powerful being the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The U.S. counterterror approach in Colombia appears fragmented, with only minor changes to its previous drug control policies. In contrast, the Colombian government has developed and implemented a policy to combat the FARC. To analyze the effectiveness of the Colombian government's efforts, this thesis takes a two-step approach. First, it aims to clearly define the threat posed by the FARC, and, in doing so, expose its center of gravity. With the intent of moving beyond the grievance versus greed debate, this thesis analyzes five characteristics of the FARC. The conclusion drawn is that it is most accurate to characterize the FARC as a 'resource-based' insurgency with territory as its center of gravity. Second, the thesis assesses current U.S. and Colombian policy and finds that it is effectively attacking the FARC's center of gravity, and these efforts must be sustained if the FARC is to be defeated or forced to the negotiating table.