The research reported here was sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract F49642-01-C-0003. Further information may be obtained from the Strategic Planning Division, Directorate of Plans, Hq USAF. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Rabasa, Angel. Columbian labyrinth : the synergy of drugs and insurgency and its implications for regional stability / Angel M. Rabasa, Peter Chalk. p. cm. “MR-1339.” Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-8330-2994-0 1. National security—Colombia. 2. Colombia—Strategic aspects. 3. National security—Latin America. 4. Colombia—Politics and government—1974– 5. Insurgency—Colombia—History—20th century. 6. Guerrillas—Colombia— History—20th century. 7. Drug traffic—Colombia—History—20th century. 8. United States—Military relations—Colombia. 9. Colombia—Military relations— United States. I. Chalk, Peter. II. Title. UA625 .R33 2001 986.106'35—dc21 2001031639 RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND® is a registered trademark.RAND’s publications do not necessarily lectref the opinions or policies of its research sponsors. © Copyright 2001 RAND All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from RAND. Published 2001 by RAND 1700 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA 22202-5050 201 North Craig Street, Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-1516 RAND URL: http://www.rand.org/ To order RAND documents or to obtain additional information, contact Distribution Services: Telephone: (310) 451-7002; Fax: (310) 451-6915; Internet:
[email protected] PREFACE Drug trafficking and political disintegration in Colombia could con- front the United States, if present trends continue, with the most se- rious foreign and security policy crisis in the Western Hemisphere since the Central American wars of the 1980s.