Publication

This paper looks at the successes of and challenges to the Colombian government's security operations against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). It comments on the relations with Colombia's neighboring countries, underlines the need to free the hostages held by FARC and examines the involvement of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Subsequently, the paper asks whether the Colombian government can defeat FARC militarily. It argues that as a complement to its military strategy, the Colombian government should promptly design and implement a political strategy to gain political ground and to recover broader international backing.