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Commando Training — Colombian Army Special Forces commandos train in rappelling maneuvers in Cali. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

AUC Urban Organizer — A Colombian “paramilitary” urban organizer in Barancabermeja in the early 2000s. Remnants of the demoblized United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) have “recyled” into “post-paramilitary” outlawed organized criminal groups known as BARCRIMS, say Colombian authorities. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Author with Juan Manuel Santos — Juan Manuel Santos during his first presidential campaign in 2010. Was Santos at that time thinking it possible of starting a peace process with the FARC? © All rights reserved.

Peace to Pain — Going from bottom to top, the words appear to read (if inadvertently): “pain” in English to “paz” (“peace” in Spanish). Or read from top to bottom, it could be seen as “paz” to “pain.” Colombians will decide how their future unfolds. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Colombian Marines — Colombian marines navigate the Magdalena river on patrol near Barancabermeja. Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Juan Manuel Santos and Álvaro Uribe — Colombian then-President Alvaro Uribe (right) bestowing a decoration to his in-coming successor Juan Manuel Santos Aug 5, 2010, two days before Santos is inaugurated president. Photo courtesy of the Voice of America.

Kidnap Victim's Family — The family members of kidnapped victims speak on the radio, hoping that their messages of love and support reach the ears of their loved ones held in captivity. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

US Navy SEAL lieutenant on special mission training Colombian special forces anti-narcotics commandos in riverine tactics on the Cauca river in southwestern Colombia in 1999. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

AUC Light Artillery Infantryman — Now-defunct United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) “paramiitaries” in Cordoba department in 2000. Some 2,200 former “paramilitaries” have been murdered since demobilizing, according to demoblized AUC “block”-unit commander Freddy “El Aleman” Rendon. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

The FARC’s “Alfonso Cano” in the “Distension Zone.” Cano eventually became the maximum leader of the FARC, but was killed by soldiers in 2011. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

House with FARC Slogan — Colombian Army soldier patrolling in front of a house written with FARC slogans in southwestern Colombia. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

FARC founder, the late “Manuel Marulanda” in the “Distension Zone” in southern Colombia in 2000. “Marulanda” and 40-some campesinos formed the FARC in 1964. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

FARC's Mono Jojoy and Comrades — The FARC’s late combat strategist “Mono Jojoy” with his guerrillas in the “Distension Zone” in 2000. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Carlos Castaño, the dead leader of the now-defunct United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), reportedly killed in internal AUC power struggle, with his “paramilitaries” in northwestern Colombia in 2000. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Sicario Hit-men — Teenage “sicarios” (“hit-men”) in Medellin in 1990. Worries for Colombia’s post-conflict include the possibility of rising crime by either gangs or individuals. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Author and Navy SEALS — The author (in blue shirt) with US Navy SEALs and Colombian Special Forces commandos in front of the Cauca river in southwestern Colombia years ago. © All rights reserved.

The FARC’s “Simon Trinidad,” during his days in the “Distension Zone.” The FARC calls “Simon” a “revolutionary’s revolutionary” and a “man of iron” who inspires it, as he serves a long prison sentence in the United States. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Bacrim — Gunman guarding coca crops (materia prima for cocaine) in southern Colombia. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Author with FARC's Marquez and Santrich — FARC’s chief peace negotiator “Ivan Marquez” (on the left) and the FARC’s “Jesus Santrich” (on the right) with author Steve Salisbury (center) in Havana, Cuba in February 2015, discussing the Colombian peace process. © All rights reserved.

Author Steve Salisbury (right) working with FOX NEWS’ Geraldo Rivera (center) in an interview of Colombian then-Vice President Francisco “Pacho” Santos during the presidency of Alvaro Uribe. © All rights reserved.

Guerrilla Girl and Child — FARC guerrilla girl with boy in the “Distension Zone” in southern Colombia in 2000. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Colombian then-Pres. Andres Pastrana at a police ceremony in Bogota. Pastrana allowed a Switzerland-sized “Distension Zone” to hold ill-fated peace talks with the FARC from 1999 to 2002, when Pastrana ended them. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Burning Cocaine Lab — A Colombian Army scout in front a burning cocaine “crystalizer” laboratory just torched by soldiers in southwestern Colombia. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Drug Lab Raid — Colombian Army Special Forces anti-narcotics commandos raid a coca-leaf “chagra” rustic lab and arrest two suspects in southwestern Colombia. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

Guatemalan Lt Wounded By Mine Blast — Like in the past guerrilla conflicts in Central America, where landmines caused havoc among combatants and civilians alike, Colombia has faced that same situation to devastating extent. Here is a Guatemalan Army lieutenant seconds after being blown up by a guerrilla-laid landmine in 1985 in Peten province. © Photo by Steve Salisbury. All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Steve Salisbury is a private consultant with a background in media as a photojournalist, war correspondent, TV producer, analyst and commentator, covering Latin America. Read More…

Index

Preface
Introduction: Difficult Complexities Yet to Resolve, Despite Evidently Growing Optimism
1) No Colombian Government-FARC Overall Peace Agreement by March 23 and No Guarantee for It in 2016
2) What about Colombia’s Second-Largest Guerrilla Group, the “National Liberation Army” (ELN), in This?
3) FARC Unilateral “Indefinite” Cease-Fire or Undeclared “Bilateral” Cease-Fire, and Eventual Declared Bilateral “Definitive” Cease-Fire
4) Could Calls for a Military Solution Spike on Potential, New Frustrations over Prolonged Talks? What Is the Balance of Forces?
5) With the Colombian State’s Overwhelming Military Superiority, Why Even Have Peace Talks with the Guerrillas?
6) What Would Happen with No Peace Talks?
7) Plan Colombia and the Peace Talks
8) “Black-Op” Smart Bombs, FARC Decision-Making Structure
9) Human Rights
10) Why Is the FARC Still in Arms? Its Roots, What Does It Want?
11) What about FARC Weapons? What about the Colombian Armed Forces after an Overall Peace Accord Is Signed?
12) Would There Be Armed Dissident or Splinter Groups Peeling Away from the FARC after an Overall Peace Accord?
13) Does the FARC See the Clock Winding Down on Pres. Santos a “Strategic Advantage”?
14) Does the FARC Want to Run the Clock Out on Pres Santos and Wait for the Next President (Who Could Be Better or Worse for the FARC)?
15) What Can Be Done to Keep Up Confidence in the Peace Process among Colombian Public Opinion? “Memo of Understanding” to End Conflict
16) Some Things that Could Risk to Undercut Confidence in Peace Process
17) Smoke-and-Mirrors Impunity or an Historic Brilliant Balance between Peace and Justice in Victims’/Justice Agreement?
18) Pres. Santos Ceding Too Much or Not?
19) Would Pres. Santos’ Cure Be Worse than the Malady, or The Best, Simplest Way? The Question of Ratifying an Eventual Overall Peace Accord
20) Former President/Now Senator Uribe’s Possible Next Moves? The Retired Military Voice, Political Parties
21) Other Questions about the Victims’/Justice Agreement
22) Extradition, Cooperation on International Judicial and Security Issues
23) The FARC’s “Simon Trinidad”
24) A Decision Boils Down to…
Sidebar: Some of the Hardest Issues to Resolve at This Juncture in Colombian Peace Process

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Sidebar: Some of the Hardest Issues to Resolve at This Juncture in Colombian Peace Process

What about the FARC and extradition?

What about the FARC's "Simon Trinidad"?

Justice or impunity?

Will time run out on Pres. Santos?

A "Memo of Understanding" to End War, if March 23 "deadline" Is Missed?