CANADA

U. S. A. PORTUGAL

MOROCCO ATLANTIC

MEXICO OCEAN CUBA WESTERN SAHARA ALGERIA BELIZE HONDURAS MAURITANIA GUATEMALA NICARAGUA EL SALVADOR MALI GAMBIA COSTA RICA VENEZUELA GUYANA GUINEA BISSAU PANAMA FRENCH GUIANA GUINEA NIGER SURINAME SIERRA LEONE IVORY LIBERIA COAST NIGERIA ECUADOR

BRAZIL

PACIFIC GABON PERU OCEAN CONGO Colombia BOLIVIA PARAGUAY ANGOLA

CHILE NAMIBIA

URUGUAY ARGENTINA

SOUTH AFRICA

by Kenneth Finlayson

This special campaign issue of Veritas is devoted in Latin America. The more than fifty years of Ameri- to Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) in Colom- can military professional exchanges and the increased bia. The nation of Colombia has a unique and long-stand- numbers of such exchanges are indicative of Colombia’s ing relationship with the United States dating from the importance to U.S. strategic interests in Latin America. . Today, both nations are united in an effort The commander of the U.S. Army Special Warfare to counter the problem of narco-terrorism as part of Center, Brigadier General William P. Yarborough, vis- America’s Global War on Terrorism. The purpose of this ited Colombia and provided recommendations that were issue is to present the historical background of that long- incorporated in Plan Lazo (lasso) designed to eliminate term relationship, describe the Colombian military and the violence caused by bandits and quasi-guerrillas in police forces and their overseas experiences, provide an the countryside. The recurrent themes espoused in Plan overview of the U.S. military commitment in Colombia, Lazo are still relevant and are important to understand explain what ARSOF soldiers are doing in Colombia, Colombia today. Plan Lazo pre-dated the modern-day and discuss improvised explosive devices (IEDs). , the heavily U.S.-funded national campaign The issue opens with a description of the special rela- to rid the country of the narco-terrorists. Plan Colombia tionship between the United States and Colombia, one and its successor are explained before the that dates from the U.S. recognition of the newly inde- “enemy order of battle”—the insurgent groups. An over- pendent nation in 1822. The country’s modern history, view of the Colombian armed forces, both military and specifically post–World War II internal problems associ- police, constitutes the “friendly order of battle.” Colom- ated with and the regeneration of insurgent bian Special Operations Forces (SOF), supported by the groups (rural and urban) while the illegal drug trade U.S. ARSOF “economy-of-force” approach, are treated was expanding, are addressed in the article. The theme separately. The Colombian National Police, an integral of internal strife, most notably La Violencia, which peri- part of the Ministry of Defense, and its close relationship odically recurs throughout Colombia’s modern period, with the military in the fight to counter narco-terrorism plays a prominent role in all aspects of Colombian life. is a third theme that is prevalent in this issue. U.S. forces One very positive experience during the post-war years who work with both security forces must continually was the performance of the Colombian military in the deal with the complexities of this integration. Korean War. The U.S. SOF mission originates with the U.S. South- The Colombian Army formed and deployed the ern Command (SOUTHCOM) and is executed by Special Batallón Colombia while the Navy rotated a frigate to Forces ODAs (operation detachment alphas) of the 7th fight alongside the United Nations forces in Korea. The Special Forces Group, the Psychological Operations ele- Batallón Colombia fought valiantly with the 24th and 7th ments from the 4th Psychological Operations Group, and Infantry Divisions in numerous engagements and was the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade teams who advise and involved in the brutal fight for Old Baldy in March 1953. train Colombian Army and National Police paramilitary frigates bombarded and blockaded the units and assist national assets. Topics covered explain Korean Peninsula. Combat in Korea was a seminal event what the ARSOF soldiers are doing, training-wise, in for Colombian officers that led to the professionalization Colombia with SOF, National Police, and, in the case of of the armed forces. Following the Korean War, two U.S. the conventional divisions and brigades, what planning Army officers were instrumental in the establishment of assistance and training teams (PATTs) do in support the Colombian Lancero School, the oldest Ranger course of the counter-insurgency campaign. The soldier his-

Vol. 2 No. 4  tory articles are based on the perspectives of the ARSOF insufficient to restore law, order, and confidence in the teams and are largely told in their own words. The issue democratic government; and the relationship with the then returns to the Colombian Army. United States is tightly entwined with the counter-drug The Colombian Army has a long history of peacekeep- war and the growing threat of regional terrorism. In ing in the Sinai that dates to 1956. This commitment to Colombia, the United States has a partner that is willing international security operations stems from the Korean to pursue a national internal defense strategy that is in War experience. It demonstrates Colombia’s commit- concert with its own. ment to collective security and international peace. The issue concludes with an article on IEDs, the overwhelm- Kenneth Finlayson is the USASOC Deputy Command ing cause of U.S. military casualties in Afghanistan and Historian. He earned his PhD from the University of Iraq. IEDs are a major problem in Colombia, now third in Maine, and is a retired Army officer. Current research the world for landmine victims. interests include Army special operations during the Three major themes run through this issue and are Korean War, special operations aviation, and World War crucial to understanding Colombia. They are the impact II special operations units. of La Violencia, in its several forms over almost sixty years on the people and country, a military solution alone is

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