Beating Colombia's Army

[Avispa]

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

What a wildly pessimistic viewpoint.
Hell, you would think Farc is on the verge of toppling the government. Interesting about the killed "Marines" in the south. The word Marine evokes a certain image in the mind. These poor guys were basically peasant militia.

Still, these events underscore that the war is still to be won. Farc is not going to go gently into that good night.
I wonder why the government doesn't have the use of satellite imagery to pinpoint the location of guerilla formations?

[Malandro]

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

you cannot see through the forest canopies or geographic features.  but the FARC is not a standing army encamped in a remote corner of Colombia.  many simply slip in and out of civilian life in the remote communities.

[kented]

... in response to satellite imagery is not X-ray vision, posted by Malandro on Feb 14, 2005

and the peasants support them because their livelihood and prosperity depend on it.  

The US support for Colombia (as strong during Clinton as during Bush, this is definately NOT a patisan issue) is not because we love Colombia.  We are trying to stop drugs being smuggled into the US since we can't stop  the problem here.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: satellite imagery is not X-ray visio..., posted by kented on Feb 14, 2005

I think there is a difference in the Clinton and Bush positions.Under Clinton the effort was supposedly solely to stop drugs.Even Congressional funding had limitations about that in it.Under Bush I think he is willing to back a  broader effort that includes fighting leftist rebels.
I personally do not care if some idiot decides to kill himself with drugs.I consider that his right.I don't think the US government should be in the business of protecting people from themselves or harasing people who seem to be doing no one else harm.Yeah I know alot of people get killed in drug turf wars,but that is because drugs are illegal,therefor controlled by criminals.
I am concerned about the effect of the drug money on the country of Colombia.

Pete