DoD's Future Role in the Andean Region's Counter Narco-Insurgency

To combat the illicit drug trade is to combat a catalyst that leads to conditions ripe for weak and failing states. It is for this reason the United States government must take an active role in western hemisphere affairs. This endeavor is not solely a military responsibility. A diplomatic, information and economic piece have to be addressed as well. However, for the purposes of this monograph, the Department of Defense and its interaction with other U.S. governmental agencies and host nation entities will be the primary focus. Given the complexities of the narco-terrorism dilemma and the threat it poses to democracies, the Department of Defense must be prepared to engage in a counter narco-insurgency in the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility while continuing to be a relevant partner in an interagency framework that promotes and solidifies democratic institutions in Latin America and Caribbean nation-states.