¶ … Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the largest rebel group in Colombia and has been in constant battle with the government. For the longest time, there has been an unrelenting tug of war between the government and the leftist guerillas, with peace talks and cease fires coming into the picture in recent periods. One of the main themes perceived in three of the five articles is with regard to the goals, targets and tactics of the rebel group. Terrorist and rebel groups that have the capability to transform plans into considerable actions cultivate as part of the practice, resilient ideological practicalities, that offer guidance to the incentives and strategies of the organization. More so, at the end of the day, these ideologies largely influence the selection of targets by the terrorist groups, stirred in part by whom the organization's belief considers is culpable for its objections and complaints. In a number of instances, these philosophies espoused by the terrorist groups give them encouragement to target small groups or individuals who are devoted to a particular profile. On the other hand, in other instance, the ideologies enthuse them to target bigger groups of individuals with more roughly shared features. The following paper will analyze the three articles, taking this aspect into consideration and thereafter offer a comprehensive discussion of these elements combined with research undertaken. Article 1

According to the article by Brodzinsky (2012), one of the key elements that are in agreement is that kidnappings are part of the terrorist methods used by FARC to outline its revolutionary actions and criticisms. In addition, the aspects pointed out in the article are in agreement that majority of the kidnappings end in the hostages being returned safely to their homes. As Brodzinsky (2012) points out, the rebel group also declared that it would release the held prisoners of war, some of whom have been held for more than fourteen years. However, one disagreeing point is that the author comes to the conclusion that this might be history repeating itself as in the past, where in the 1980s the group asserted that it would put an end to the kidnappings but never actually did. The article agrees with the theme at hand in that the kidnappings are employed by the rebel and terrorist organizations to attain media coverage, ransom or the demands against certain political institutions. In this case, the rebel group, FARC, is using the release of the 14 years held hostages in exchange for cease fire and talks with the government and in particular, President Santos (Brodzinsky, 2012).

Article 4

What this particular article says about the theme and a point of agreement is that terrorism does function as an effective technique or implement to attain longstanding objectives. Groups that espouse terrorism as a strategy often do so, in part, for the reason that they have the conviction that they will substantiate to be the exception to the rule. This, in particular, is pointed out by LaFranchi (1996) in the article. The issue of the public-relations power struggle between the government and the leftist guerillas is delineated in the article. In particular, the guerilla armies are presently demanding to have the presence of the mothers of any prisoner at the time of their release. This is a move to upgrade their public image through the tearful reunions between the mothers and their sons. This is a tactic being used by the rebel group to attain a constructive image from the public as being considerate in the forthcoming between the peace talks of cease fire between the two parties. However, there is a point of disagreement regarding this tactic being used by the rebel group. The author deals with the problem by obtaining information from both sides of the aisle, which is, that of the army as well as that of the guerrilla groups. In conclusion, the author points out the great worry narco-guerillas will generate in the form of the United States reversing its ban on military aid to Columbia. More so, it is argued that the argument of narco-guerillas is simply not a move to improve the image of the army, but rather to improve the prospects for United States military aid (LaFranchi, 1996).

Article 5

The article is in agreement with the theme with regard to the goals, targets and tactics of the rebel group in that the FARC have been using a tactic of stopping kidnapping as a form of attaining it is longstanding objective. For instance, according...

This was a condition that the terrorist organization proclaimed in order for the cease fire not to come about. Nonetheless, this is a request that the government refused and said no to. This as a result, brought about a great deal of doubt as to whether the cease fire will take place or not. In particular, as pointed out by Brodzinsky (2012), FARC used this as a tactic to attain its longstanding objective and goal. In particular, by FARC instituting these conditions and circumstances on the cease fire, the terrorist organization has positioned the government of Colombia in a very tricky situation. This is for the reason that any invasive and attacking operation undertaken by the military against the FARC will be perceived by all and sundry as a move against the entire peace process and also against this indication of peace by the rebel organization. In this manner, the FARC is making an attempt to force the government into agreeing into a cease fire. However, the government is in disagreement as it incessantly refuses to accept the demands being forwarded by the rebel organization. The government proclaims that it has a constitutional duty to safeguard its citizens. More so, the government argues that the rebel organization will make the most of this official pardon to rearm and regroup (Brodzinsky, 2012).
Discussion and Perspective

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is the largest rebel group in Colombia and has accounted for a majority of the number of kidnappings, which have taken place in the nation. Throughout the conflict period in Colombia between the government and Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), kidnapping has come to be a common tactic used by the rebel organization to attain their objectives and air their grievances. The terrorist organization has used kidnapping of individuals, groups of people and also prominent persons such as politicians, for a certain ransom or for a certain political action to be undertaken. In the past four decades or so, this tactic has proved to be quite effective for the rebel group. For the longest time ever, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has made the most of kidnapping for the purposes of ransom, extortion, drug trafficking and also taking part and engaging in illegal mining. All these activities have been undertaken by the rebel group in order to finance their terrorist activities. However, in recent periods, the FARC has condemned and vowed to stop undertaking its practices of kidnapping for ransom, a prerequisite that was positioned by the government to start the peace talks that they had positioned.

From my perspective, this is an aspect that might not eventually come to life. This is largely for the reason that the government does not consider the terrorist group to fully keep their word. In general, the government is not bound to negotiate with terrorism. More so, giving into the demands being lodged by the terrorist group might hand them a major advantage. It is the duty of the government to ensure that the general public is fully protected. An additional aspect is that that handing pardons to the terrorist group implies that this might hand them a vantage point in that it might give them time and space to not only regroup, but also rearm themselves. Therefore, in the end, this might cause more conflict and give them more power compared to the amount they had before. Therefore, from my standpoint, it is imperative for the government to tread carefully in all of its actions and peace talks with the terrorist group. It is imperative to cautiously and thoroughly assess and evaluate any demands being lodged by the terrorist group, lest they become a powerful tool for them.

More so, this is for the reason that as pointed out in the articles, the terrorist organization has previously made this assertion and thereafter went right ahead and failed to honor its word. In mid 1980s period, the FARC rebel group gave a public statement that it would end its practice of kidnapping, but in the end did not. In fact, rather than that, the kidnapping practices of the group came to be all the more prevalent. More so, about two decades later, subsequent to having unsuccessful peace talks with the government, the rebel organization declared Law 002. This was a decree that verbalized that any individual or organization in operation within the nation and…