Colombia has been involved in an internal conflict since 1949 following the assassination of the popular liberal political leader, Jorge Eliecer Gaitan. Afterward, the two radical political parties, liberals and conservatives, began a bloody struggle that grew systematically creating today's narco-terrorist organization FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia)and other smaller as ELN (National Liberation Army). When Alvaro Uribe Velez assumed the presidency of Colombia in 2002, he developed the Democratic Defense and Security Policy Democratic Defense and Security Policy (DDSP), which for the first time involved all of elements of national power to fight narco-terrorism. In 2006, Alvaro Uribe elected for his second term, continue the DDSP and his Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos developed the Policy for the Consolidation of Democratic Security (PCDS). Colombian Military Forces in the last decade have achieved a high degree of success in military combat operations. The kidnappings and terrorist attacks have decreased while cocaine seizure and international investments have increased. But this success is not enough if the state as a whole does not help to develop all regions, the conflict will persist. Therefore, Military Stability Operations become very important for Colombia because the military is the element of national power that ensures state presence in every region of Colombia to include those with some actual threat by terrorist organizations. By executing stability operations, the military would support state agencies to ensure the population well being and therefore be able to bring to Colombia long-standing peace. Establishing Colombian stability operations doctrine based on successful U.S. doctrine, and modified by the Colombian environment and experience, could create synergy in the Colombian government's efforts towards meeting the needs of security and state governance. The importance of stability operations is more noticeable in current conflicts not only the one in Colombia but also the ones faced by the U.S. and coalition Forces. Today's conflicts are among the population and not only against a well-structured and defined enemy. The essence of stability operations is because they bring safety and security to a beleaguered populace. Executing stability operations will support to restore basic public order and a semblance of normalcy to life and time to rebuild the institutions of government and market economy that provide the foundations for enduring peace and stability. By implementing in other countries the proposed model for stability operations in Colombia, the U.S. and allies could reduce their military presence abroad and focus on economic support and development. Military support would focus on equipment, intelligence and advisers. Home country military and governmental agencies would be the "face" of the operations in their own countries and therefore the transition would be easier than the actual transition in Iraq.

ADA 522933   Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)