Colombia: The Mutual Benefits of Disarmament Talks

Formal disarmament talks are scheduled to begin July 1 between the government of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez and the top 10 commanders of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary organization. Both sides likely realize the negotiations are destined to fail because of unrelenting U.S. demands for the arrest and extradition of AUC chieftains on drug-related charges. For the next year or two, they might decide it is more advantageous to negotiate than to fight.