Colombia's Rebels Face Possibility of Implosion

sloopskipper says on Mar 22, 2008, 05:53:

A great story!

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tejasmarcos says on Mar 22, 2008, 06:22:

good stuff. i still do not understand how the FARC can be financially desolate when they supposedly control a 40 billion cocaine distribution channel. something does not add up.......

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 22, 2008, 06:23:

What a great article.

The march against FARC probably helped in showing members that it's not just the government against FARC, it's the Colombian people, many who may have supported them in the past.

Also, great time to continue airing announcements on both radio and tv offering the rebels an opportunity for peace with a future by walking out of the jungles and into one of the many social programs offerred by the government in exchange for their surrender.

Kill 'em with kindness. They will come........many are tired of the war.

tejasmarcos says, "i still do not understand how the FARC can be financially desolate when they supposedly control a 40 billion cocaine distribution channel. something does not add up......."

I asked the same question awhile back on another thread... sorry, can't find it. robbi666?

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podborski says on Mar 22, 2008, 07:52:

buggy cassini isn't going to like that story!

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Mr. Hollywood says on Mar 22, 2008, 11:55:

TejasMarcos, the profits from the drug trade never go away, they just shift to different people. But with the FARC in disarray I'm guessing the money isn't going to the fronts and operations as much as it's going to the direct benefit of those few in the organization who actually control the trade. As we all know, corruption knows no geographic or ideological boundaries.

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ColombianoGringo says on Mar 22, 2008, 13:52:

The FARC supposedly tax the drug traffickers primarily, although it seems like they do sell some directly. It could be that these days, the coqueros are telling the farc to shove off since they all have demobilized paras working for them. Still, I would be leery of claims that the farc is on its last legs.

Besides, just because the official organization might one day cease to exist, doesn't mean that all those guys trained to kidnap, terrorize and kill since they were teenagers are just going to become law abiding citizens. Just like the demobilized paras, they will turn to crime or simply reorganize under different banners.

If the government is able to defeat the farc, they can't just pull back because they "won" and leave a security and power vacuum. Otherwise, the whole situation will give rise to something worse.

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:16:

I believe a majority of FARC members are forced to fight.... they want out.

Once the FARC is dead, many will find their way back home. Hopefully, family members will be able to accept them back and support them to get back on the right path in life.That's if FARC comes to an end....

Afterwards, the Colombian government can asist the US with "The War on DRUGS" helping make this world a better place to live.

The Colombian government should host big freakin' rumba parties and airing them on tv, showing the rebels what they're missing. "See how much F - U - N we are having in Colombia. You can too, come out the jungles." Or something like that....

I think the Colombian government should be doing as much as it can to lure the lower level foot soldiers out of the jungles, even with promises of...................

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ColombianoGringo says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:19:

"Hopefully, family members will be able to accept them back and support them to get back on the right path in life."

This is wishful thinking. Obviously, this will be the case with some, but once they get out there and find unemployment and complete lack of opportunities, many will turn to crime. Why didn't the demobilized paras "get back on the right path of life"? Their supportive families didn't keep them from going to work for narcos and rearming under new names. Do you really think that the low-level guerrilla soldier is that much different from his para counterpart? The government cut the paras super sweet deals, yet a huge percentage have gone right back to their old habits or worse ones.

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 22, 2008, 14:26:

Agree... my whole comment was probably wishing thinking as a whole.

Again, agree.... my paisa friends in Medellin tell me that it's hard for a paraco to go straight when there is easy money to be made without working 60 hours a week, and worse... having to get up before the sun rises.

In Medellin, a paracos job is never done.

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romy says on Mar 22, 2008, 16:41:

Colombianogringo-"It could be that these days, the coqueros are telling the farc to shove off since they all have demobilized paras working for them."
Who do you think they worked for before?

MT- "Afterwards, the Colombian government can asist the US with "The War on DRUGS" helping make this world a better place to live."
Do you seriously believe this? Are there no substitutes to cocaine? Especially with poppy plantations booming in Afghanistan...
-"The Colombian government should host big freakin' rumba parties and airing them on tv, showing the rebels what they're missing. "See how much F - U - N we are having in Colombia. You can too, come out the jungles." Or something like that...."
Do you think the type of people tempted/suckered into joining the guerrillas came from a social class that had access to these rumbas?

But, overall it seems like there has to be major changes to the social/wealth structure of the country for there to be sustainable peace/order, eh

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 22, 2008, 20:49:

romy,

Silly suggestions for ending the FARC crisis.

I was just being facetious.

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romy says on Mar 22, 2008, 21:26:

maybe note when you want to be taken seriously then

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podborski says on Mar 23, 2008, 05:39:

The 'war on drugs' is still a war, and won't end any better than all the other wars.

why can't people understand that you cannot force people to do something they don't want to do?

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Medellin Traveler says on Mar 23, 2008, 06:38:

romy,
The whole war on drugs in the US is a joke, thought people would be able understand my sarcastic remarks as being facetious. I hate the double "L" with the "O" in between.

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