Reform U.S. Policy in Colombia!

Snapshot--In my opinion, a renewed focus on resolving the internal Colombian conflict and increasing direct foreign investment would be beneficial to the U.S. Colombia is the gateway to an increasingly anti-U.S. South America, and an internal crisis within the country remains a potential threat to National Security. The latter threats include, but are not limited to, drug trafficking organizations and narco-terrorists. Increasing direct assistance and support to the Colombian government's war with leftist guerrillas and narco-traffickers will reduce the above immediate threats to the U.S. The latter should also be coupled with an equally robust investment in the country's economy and infrastructure in tandem with U.S. political pressure on reducing foreign aide by various outside actors to Colombia's insurgent groups. Resolving the conflict will allow an influx of foreign investments into Colombia that will continue to support the country into the 21st century. Such measures will act to reduce the flow of illegal immigration to the U.S. and provide a positive example to neighboring nations. Furthermore, a stronger Colombia will counteract the resurgence of Marxist/Leninist/Maoist ideologies in the southern hemisphere today.