Beating Colombia's Army

[Heat]

February 14, 2005
Beating Colombia's Army
By Robert Novak

Ignored by Washington, the Colombian army has been taking a bloody beating at the hands of an unexpected offensive by Communist guerrillas. It is not just the death of more than 50 Colombian soldiers the past month. The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia) has taken the initiative in the 40-year war, and the government troops look bad.

The timing for President Alvaro Uribe's conservative government could not be worse. He is asking the U.S. Congress for another $700,000 tranche to spending that would bring the total cost for Plan Colombia over the $4 billion mark. Colombia, which has been depicted as a great success story, has all the earmarks of dreaded stalemate.

As President Bush seeks to spread democracy to every corner of the globe, U.S. interests are seriously imperiled in the Western Hemisphere. Across the Colombian border in Venezuela, leftist President Hugo Chavez is solidifying dictatorial power and threatening to cut off oil to the U.S. To say that this close-to-home crisis has been a low priority at the White House and in Congress is an understatement.

U.S. policymakers took at face value claims that Uribe's tough stand with a reformed army the past two and one-half years had thrown some 20,000 guerrillas into headlong retreat. The strategy was for destruction of coca production to so limit the flow of funds from illegal narcotics that the Communist fighters would be eliminated as a serious force in Colombia.

Thus, the events of the last two weeks were totally unexpected. An army column that had penetrated the mountains of northwest Colombia was hit hard, with 19 soldiers dead and five missing -- the worst single military setback of the Uribe era. A week earlier, the FARC ambushed a remote naval infantry base in the south, killing 16 marines. Earlier that week, eight soldiers were killed in a FARC bombing.

U.S. officials minimized the fighting, describing it as the last gasp of a defeated guerrilla force. But there is disagreement from non-government experts such as retired Marine Corps Maj. Gil Macklin, a fellow of the National Defense Council Foundation who has many years of experience in Colombia. "The Colombian government has overplayed its hand in saying that the FARC's military threat has been contained," Macklin told me. "This offensive shows FARC still capable of running sustained operations." Drugs continue to produce a million dollars a day for guerrillas, augmented by revenue from kidnappings.

FARC began its offensive in mid-January, and has been winning the battles. What worries Americans is the ability shown by guerrillas to chop up army units in small pieces, encircle them and then eliminate them. Despite its improvements under Uribe, the army has had no answer to these tactics.

U.S. officials in Washington, still playing down the FARC's military prowess, believe the guerrillas are combining the fighting in Colombia with a "charm offensive" to seek allies in Europe and elsewhere in South America. The guerrillas are attempting to use apparent military victories on the battlefield to win foreign pressure for negotiations between the FARC and Uribe.

In the midst of the guerrilla offensive, 20 more Colombian soldiers were killed last Thursday when a U.S.-supplied Blackhawk helicopter crashed during a nighttime anti-narcotics mission. The aircraft crashed in mountainous southwest Colombia deep in the heart of FARC country, but authorities denied it was shot down.

A crashed aircraft in Colombia nearly always produces such a denial, and that was the case on Feb. 13, 2003, when a single-engine Cessna 208 went down in Colombia. Three American contract employees, working for the CIA, were captured. Nobody knows whether they are alive or dead, but what's certain is official silence about their plight.

When I reported on this crash two years ago, I referred to Colombia as "America's forgotten war." No official talks about the war today. Roger Noriega, assistant secretary of state for Inter-American Affairs, is widely criticized for that silence. The question is whether Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will address herself to Colombia now that it is clear that the war, far from being won, may even be lost.

Copyright 2005 Creators Syndicate

[Payton]

... in response to Beating Colombia's Army, posted by Heat on Feb 14, 2005

I just finished a 20 page paper for grad school last semester on the FARC for my Latin America Revolution and Reaction class.  I actully got to read a Copy of FARC EP  which is book that is printed by the FARC.  You can't get this in the U.S because we might all want to create an U.S version of the FARC! LOL!  The report sounds to be right on with the way that the FARC is working with Europe, however the FARC will have to stop kidnapping and completly move away from Narcotics.  The FARC made a mistake a few years back and kidnapped some officials from Europe and that soured some realtions.

Some things that I found really interesting is the FARC is not the TOP insurgency group finded by drug money.  Actually the AUC gets 80% of thier money from narcotics trafficing.  I saw these stats in both a Report from the United States house of Congress and in a Book "Vanguard Revolutionaries of Latin America". In that same report the Congress talked bout how the U.S. government was bickering over the money that was to go over sending the Blackhawk helicopters to Colombia.  When the Choppers finally got to Colombia they were missing armor.  They ammuniton that was sent to go with the helicopters was made just after WWII so it would not work with the Choppers.  This whole process of getting the propperly equiped blackhawks to the Colombian national police took 90 additional days!  

After reading what I did about Plan Colombia I really hope that we scrap that. It is not benefiting the Colombians at all.  Why do I say that?  75% of the money that is alocating for plan Colombia is spent with a Defense Contrator that is U.S owned and operated in Colombia.  Guess who's father was the VP of the Defense Contractor in Colombia?...Al Gore.... Guess what president came up with plan Colombia...Bill Clinton....  Oh yeah Al Gore has like a 25% stock ownership in this company.  I got this info from a book by Gerry Leech,  This guy has actually interviewed FARC leaders and been inside thier camps. I  Had the chance to speak with him and he is not pro FARC. So please do tell me this guy is a commy loving jerk or any sort.  I will say this I am now very glad that we have Bush as our president I think that Al Gore would have commited the U.S to a war in Colombia to make himself rich! I would like so see the United States begin recognising the FARC as a political entity inside Colombia so that Uribe would see that negotiation with this political entity is something that is going to be required for this country to move forward.  Before anyone starts calling me a communist pig, remember that our fore fathers were just a big of a guerrilla army as the FARC, the British government viewed them the same way.  Britian is now our Stanchest ally and as we see has our back through anything.  Perhaps it is time to recognize a group that is fighting for thier own beliefs that does not pull BS like ram planes into our buildings or go on the air and talk about how we are the great satan!  

My view point is that I love Colombia, I was there in 1999 and the people of this country have a very speacial place in my heart.  Knowing how important soccer is to Colombia I always cheer for their teams, heck I walk around with a Nacional keychanin! I was saddened by the fact that they did not make the last world cup!  I think that if Colombia could make a powerful run in the world cup it may bring the people and the country a much needed chance to forget about the war that they face daily.  I pray every day that we keep our military out of Colombia until i get a chance to go back.  Once the U.S military gets into Colombia the country as we know it is no more!

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by Payton on Feb 16, 2005

Payton,
I knew there was something about Bill Clinton and Al Gore that I liked.  What's that line out of one of the Star War movies.  It's the scene where Jobba the Hut is talking to the person who was wanting money for bringing in Chewbacca.  Jobba said, "He's my kind of scum".  Well, that's how I feel about Clinton and Gore.  Two scum bags near and dear to my heart!  Good ole graft and corruption.  Doesn't it make you feel all warm inside?

                           OkieMan

[Pete E]

... in response to Beating Colombia's Army, posted by Heat on Feb 14, 2005

Well I guess thats Bob Novac's take on the situation.And even though its pesimistic it might be good to consider.
No doubt FARC is capabel of doing more than they have,even if in a loosing effort.I am surprised with all their supposed drug money they haven't been able to buy any effective weapons and are still shooting oxegon bottle rockets at people.Did we expect them to roll over a play dead?Not without a fight.
I think Colombia is capabel of winning this thing,but if they need any help we should give it too them.We are talking western hemisphere here.And the amount of money is nothing compared to whatv we are spending in Iraq for instance.A week of what we spend there would put the Colombian military in first rate shape I would think.
So Bob is being a bit of an alarmist,but maybe thats good.We need to make sure Colombia wins this one.
AND,I still think when the point really hits them they will lose FARC leaderswould split with amnesty and the troops will go back to farming.We need to make sure they will lose.
Of course,living here its more important to me than lots of people in the US,30 % of whom could probably not tell you where Colombia is.
I think Bush will give it what it takes.I think he has the political support to do it.If FARC was a real threat to the survival of Colombia,which they are not,just a huge pain in the butt,you better believe we would do something.

Pete

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by Pete E on Feb 14, 2005

I don't know how you can be such an optimist but I guess it's good. Personally I think the Colombian army is absolutely worthless and I think the Colombian people do not have the will to do what is necessary to win. In fact it makes me wonder if the FARC do not still have support from many Colombians. Otherwise how could they continue like this? Hell, sometimes I think I'd rather disband the Colombian army and give the AUC the money - you'd be damm sure they'd wipe the FARC and the ELN right off the map. OTOH, the cure might be as bad as the disease. My wife's family comes from Monteria, home of the AUC, and you can travel all over Cordoba without a care in the world. It's not a safe place for leftist sympathizers and trade unionists but for everyone else it's great with close to the lowest crime rate in Colombia.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by utopiacowboy on Feb 15, 2005

I don't think FARC has much political support.But they have drug money,kidnaping and robbery money and still sort of control,or are at least a big factor in lots of the country.
I think unfortunately Colombians have to a degree come to accept them like they do long lines for everything,thinking oh hell what can you do anyway?
Uribe has popular support,but how strong and determined is it?
I guess we will see.I am not giving up on him at all.I think he has the guts and determination.The question is does Colombia?
BUT,lets not get too discouraged by some desperate acts by FARC.In a way it shows they know they are in trouble.
And remember,we are talking one tenth of one percent of the population here.If Colombia can't handle them,well I guess they deserve what they get.
What they need is mad as hell and I'm not taking it no more.Determination to get rid of these guys WHATEVER it takes.
I think AUC could do it to.But it would be politically unpopular in the world press.Just like nailing Pablo Escobar you have to stoop to their level to beat them maybe.You just go in and kill the f--kers.No miranda rights involved.No Johnny Cochrans.Shoot first,ask questions later.Desperate situations sometimes require desperate solutions.What are they going to do,wait 50 more years?
I don't know what happened to Carlos Castano.I think he is laying low seeing what will happen.And the US wants to extradite him for being involved in drugs.They want to extradite the whole f--king country?He was getting  money same place as the other guys.
I wish  the US would get off this vendeta about prosecution and try to think lets save this country.Getting someone to go away is the solution.Giving them a reason to not make a deal the problem.
I guess we will see.Why do I think a bunch of wackos in the woods in the US would have been toast about 49 years ago?
Guess it figures,they can't even make a pizza.

Pete

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by Pete E on Feb 15, 2005

Pete,
I agree with everything except your comment about no Johhny Cochrans.  I would amend that and recommend that they take Johhny Cochran, and shoot him too! (him and all of the other crooked lawyers). At least put them on a leaky boat and sent them to Cuba!  If the Caribbean did not get them,maybe Casto would scare them to death.  I don't think violence from Castro would scare them.  I think the fact that they could not charge huge legal bills would scare the crap out of them.  Oh well, it's wishful thinking.  By the way, while I'm wishing, I guess we could put O.J. in the leaky boat with Johnny!

                                OkieMan

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by Pete E on Feb 15, 2005

[This message has been edited by utopiacowboy]

Here is what kills me about the whole thing. The guerilla troop movements do not go unnoticed by the population but they don't do anything to warn the army. They sit by idly while the FARC annilates them. They don't seem to regard the Colombian army as "their" army. Either that or they are too intimidated or on the take themselves.

[Payton]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by utopiacowboy on Feb 15, 2005

The reason why the FARC operates in the open in parts of Colombia is becasue they have shown that they can be a funtioning providing governing fation is those pueblos.  The FACR uses alot of thier money to provide for thier "people".  The fact that the FARC controls 40% of the country is ont something to be overlooked.  I am sure that the FARC is bringing in teachers and teaching the campesinos the FARC version of the story, just as Castro did while he was building his army to eventually overthrow the Bautista regime. The rules of Guerrilla warefare are very cut and dry obey them or be dead.  Che Guevarra was cocky and did not in Bolivia and you see where it got him.  To be honest what the FARC is doing reminds me of MAO's idea of a protracted war, with a latin american and 21st century flare.  Why would the people rat out the FARC when they are providing for them?

[thunderbolt]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's A..., posted by Payton on Feb 16, 2005

It seems actually that they are at a stalemate: the government is popular in the northern urban centers, and FARC obviously enjoys support in the south.  What's sad is that their message, even if in the beginning it was about betterment of the country, is compromised by their involvement in drug trade.  This drug trade has undermined and criminalized the country, even though it did undoubtedly bring in a lot of dollars, some which did trickle down to the people.

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by utopiacowboy on Feb 15, 2005

Utopiacowboy,
 I say what they need is a "new" John Wayne.  Let the Duke kick the crap out of the FARC.  Then the peasants would wave and holler and then the movie credits start to roll, etc, etc.  Didn't I see that in several old John Wayne movies?  Now, there was a real hero -- at least to me!

                         OkieMan

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's Army, posted by utopiacowboy on Feb 15, 2005

The farmers that are not already on the side of FARC have a problem.The government might come in but not stay,then they have to deal with FARC,so I think they try to stay neutral to survive but maybe thats not possible.Its probably much more responsible than economic oportunities for the major Colombian cities doubling in population the last 10 years.I met a woman who's father was killed by FARC 10 years ago.The whole family just moved to Cali.
One of Uribes ideas is arming the peasants to protect themselves,an excellent idea I think.

Pete

[Payton]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's A..., posted by Pete E on Feb 15, 2005

Arming peasants!  Brilliant!  Actually that is shown to be a smart as sticking a fork in an electrical outlet!  Historically this was done by the U.S in Viet nam with the Hamletts that were created.  The enemy just got the weapons in the end, either by force or by sale.  The Colombian army is smaller than it has been for a long time.  Uribe is hard up for people to fight the war that killed his daddy.  Both sides need to get to the table and talk.  All outside entities need to leave, and Chavez needs to quit toying with Colombian politics!

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia..., posted by Payton on Feb 19, 2005

Well, that sounds good, but you have some very bad people in Colombia and Venezuela who won't take a hint.  By the way, I think that Chavez needs to take a long walk on a short pier!  At the very least, he needs to either get on that TV show called Lost, where they are on a deserted island; or maybe he could be sentenced to life on "Desperate Housewives".  If it were me, I would force him to live with that ugly, bitchy red-head.  That would be grounds for suicide; which in his case would be a good thing!

                            OkieMan

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Beating Colombia's A..., posted by Pete E on Feb 15, 2005

I guess organizing a "militia", sort of?  Well, if they get properly trained and well armed, it might work.  But, as you said, they have to have the will to win.  I don't know the answer to that question.

                               OkieMan