A Brief History of Plan Colombia

Is the U.S.-backed anti-drug war in Colombia really a success worth replicating in Afghanistan?

BY URI FRIEDMAN | OCTOBER 28, 2011

Uribe takes control. In 2002, Álvaro Uribe was elected president of Colombia and pledged to aggressively pursue Plan Colombia as part of his larger security platform. As part of this process, Uribe launched raids against FARC leaders and initiated a highly controversial program to demobilize and disarm the AUC paramilitary organization and reintegrate its fighters into society.

Above, Colombian soldiers watch over former guerrillas and paramilitary fighters who have enlisted in the amnesty program.

Mauricio Duenas/AFP/Getty Images

PREVIOUS 2345678910NEXT

Uri Friedman is an associate editor at Foreign Policy.

(7)

HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE

TTURAIDERS

5:20 AM ET

October 28, 2011

did it really work

Yeah, but the plan really work? They essentially carved out a chunk of Columbia and gave it to FARC. That's like saying Afghanistan can just tell the Taliban they gave the border regions of Pakistan if they'll just leave the rest of the country alone. What's the difference between that and giving up? The scary part is that this option will likely be presented as an answer to the current Mexican Civil War that has now killed nearly 50,000 in just a few years.

XMASTER4000

10:21 AM ET

October 28, 2011

That's false, by all accounts

Before Plan Colombia was implemented, the Colombian government barely controlled less than half it's own territory, and was losing ground, fast. After Uribe came to power he immediately focused on securing major population centers, breaking down the guerrilla's momentum and securing the country's communication lines, so often disrupted by guerrilla attacks.

After this phase was consolidated, Colombian military forces focused on consolidating themselves across previously abandoned minor population centers, from which guerrilla units based their usual operations and territorial control. This phase includes the "Consolidation" steps described in the article, mainly focused on bringing basic government presence to remote places.

Finally, in recent years Colombian military forces took to the task of entering and disrupting FARC's historical sanctuaries, deep in the Colombian jungle. This in an ongoing and long term operation, as guerrillas know their territory better and are deeply entrenched in some indigenous and peasant societies across the territory. However FARC as a unified military-political group, is doomed to failure, with zero political support from within the country and its own survival depending on drug trafficking. This means in the short term, the atomization of insurgent groups, being unable to coherently defend their territory against a committed, better equipped adversary, is the most likely outcome .

Seems like a success story to me.

CHARLESFRITH

8:03 AM ET

October 28, 2011

Reality Check

I worry about articles like this that ignore the DEA and CIA involvement in drug dealing is about poppy height deep. The issue is well documented with video testimony on Youtube from former agents though naturally you wont see it covered by corporate media apertures.

DOMINOES

11:58 AM ET

November 16, 2011

Colombia is safer

I think that is the best measure of whether or not the plan was a success. If you look at quality of life, it has improved too. Also, that first picture is one of the coolest pictures I have seen...would love to know what kind of camera was used...maybe the D800. All in all, I am glad for Colombia and its citizens.

DANISHKHAN001

7:23 AM ET

November 18, 2011

A brief story of plan colombia

I liked this aticle having an intresting subject.On foreign policy, Paul Wolfowitz and Michael O'Hanlon suggest a novel model by which the United States might actually measure "success" in the 10 year-old war in Afghanistan: look at Colombia.Well thanks for this great article.
California Dui Lawyers

JESSEK

9:04 AM ET

November 21, 2011

I hope all the soldiers come home safe

Whether you like the U.S' operations in Colombia or not, I'm sure everybody are worrying for the soldiers lives. I work as an In Vitro Fertilization expert, and some traumatic injured soldiers suffers from infertility. Sad stories, may they come home safe.

UPINSON

1:16 PM ET

November 25, 2011

good

Follow us on Twitter | Visit us on Facebook | Follow us on RSS | Subscribe to Foreign Policy

11 DUPONT CIRCLE NW, SUITE 600 | WASHINGTON, DC 20036 | Phone: 202-728-7300 | Fax: 202-728-7342
FOREIGN POLICY is published by the FP Group, a division of The Washington Post Company
All contents ©2013 The Foreign Policy Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

Foreign Policy Magazine

Inside National Security

A Brief History of Plan Colombia

Is the U.S.-backed anti-drug war in Colombia really a success worth replicating in Afghanistan?

BY URI FRIEDMAN | OCTOBER 28, 2011

(7)