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Colombia

Violent Crime
commentary
A Colombian Survivor's Crusade to Strengthen Punishment for Acid Attacks
Mahlet Atakilt Woldetsadik
Jul 17, 2017
The RAND Blog
Acid attacks, one of the most extreme forms of violence against women and girls, can have devastating consequences. Officials could address this problem by making it tough to get dangerous chemicals, punishing perpetrators, and helping survivors.
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Cocaine
commentary
Mixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Greg Midgette
Apr 28, 2017
Brookings - Up Front
Data lags and the elimination of the ADAM program complicate estimates of U.S. cocaine consumption. New users who haven't yet developed cocaine dependence are also a factor. It may be prudent to start planning for an increase in heavy use even before all of the evidence is in.
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Colombia
commentary
Bringing FARC in from the Cold
Arturo Munoz
Oct 28, 2015
Foreign Policy Concepts
The announcement of a preliminary peace accord by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Colombian government is not receiving public support. Most Colombians manifest a strong desire for peace but they reject the possibility that crimes committed in the name of revolution should receive amnesty.
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Special Operations Forces
commentary
Special Ops Global Whack-a-Mole
Linda Robinson @RobinsonL100
Apr 8, 2013
USA Today and CFR
A new model for our nation's special forces could follow the approach used in Colombia and the Philippines, where special forces planned ongoing campaigns that use numerous advisory, civil affairs, and informational activities to address those governments' weaknesses in providing security and ending conflicts.
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commentary
Prime Numbers: Doped
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Peter H. Reuter
Oct 19, 2009
Foreign Policy
The illicit drug trade is the ultimate value-added chain. As cocaine and heroin make their perilous journeys from the fields of Colombia and Afghanistan to markets in U.S. and European cities, each border crossed and each trafficker involved adds dollars to a price, write Beau Kilmer And Peter Reuter.
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commentary
The Americas: Colombia's Rebels Talk Peace but Make More War
Angel Rabasa
Jul 13, 2001
Wall Street Journal
Colombia's friends, primarily the U.S., should be prepared to provide sustained and adequate support to the Colombian armed forces, not just for drug eradication, as is the case with the current policy, but to restore the capacity of the Colombian state to defend itself against forces that seek to overthrow it.
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commentary
Violence Unraveling the Fabric of Society
Angel Rabasa
Jun 17, 2001
San Diego Union-Tribune
Threats to democracy and stability in the Andean region of South America could confront the United States with its most serious security crisis in this hemisphere since the Central American wars of the 1980s.
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commentary
A Confounding, Complex Tragedy
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jun 17, 2001
San Diego Union-Tribune
Without external assistance, Colombia cannot defeat the guerrilla-gangster Minotaur that consumes it. It is in our national interest to help. At the same time, it is necessary that we fully comprehend the harsh realities we and our Colombian allies face.
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