Winning the War on Terror, Losing”¯the War on Drugs? U.S.”¯Policies in Colombia during George W.”¯Bush’s Presidency

Abstract

The article describes the basic elements of U.S. policy in Colombia during George W. Bush ’ s presidency. It points out several issues for which the U.S. government has been continuously criticized, but focuses on two main aspects of the policy: the two-pronged war against illegal armed groups and the aerial eradication of illicit crops. I argue that although broader U.S. objectives such as strengthening of Colombian democracy have been fulfilled, the aerial eradication has not only proven ineffective in the long run, but is inherently flawed and continues to cause massive ecological destruction.

Keywords:United States, Colombia, war on drugs, war on terror, illegal armed groups, aerial eradication