There Are Currently 61 Foreign Terrorist Organizations Desig

There Are Currently 61 Foreign Terrorist Organizations Designed By The

There are currently 61 foreign terrorist organizations designated by the U.S. Secretary of State and described in the 2017 country reports on Terrorism. Your assigned foreign terrorist organization is the National Liberation Army (ELN). Your term paper project is to answer the following questions about this specific foreign terrorist organization. The paper should be approximately 15 pages, including cover and bibliography, and formatted according to APA guidelines with 12-point Times New Roman font.

Questions to address include:

  • Who comprises the organization, including any identified leaders and member counts?
  • What are their targets and the level of their activity?
  • Where do they primarily operate, and do they operate in more than one country?
  • When and where were they founded? Have they maintained continuous existence? Are they an offshoot or splinter group from another organization?
  • How do they operate, and what are their signature tactics?
  • Do they receive assistance or aid from other countries? If so, which countries?
  • Are they involved in activities outside of terrorism?
  • Why do they exist? What are their stated goals, or what can be inferred as their goals based on their actions?

Paper For Above instruction

The National Liberation Army (ELN) is a designated foreign terrorist organization, recognized by the U.S. Department of State as a significant insurgent group operating primarily in Colombia. The ELN was founded in 1964, influenced by Marxist revolutionary ideologies and inspired by other liberation movements worldwide. Its origins are rooted in peasant-led resistance against governmental neglect and military oppression, initially gaining support among rural populations sympathetic to its revolutionary aims. Over the decades, ELN has evolved into a formidable insurgent group notorious for guerrilla tactics, kidnappings, bombings, and attacks on both civilian and military targets.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

The ELN comprises a decentralized network of units, with a leadership core that sets strategic direction and operational mandates. As of recent reports, the organization has been led by a clandestine command structure that communicates covertly to evade government detection. While the precise number of members fluctuates, estimates suggest that the ELN has several thousand fighters, with organizational strength peaking around 2,500 to 3,000 active militants. The leadership has experienced periodic arrests and internal disputes, impacting the group's cohesion but not its operational capacity.

Targets and Activities

The ELN's targets include Colombian government officials, military personnel, infrastructure, and foreign interests. The group is known for its use of roadside bombs, ambushes, and kidnappings to secure ransom payments or political leverage. Besides violent attacks, the ELN engages in illegal economic activities such as drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal mining, which fund their insurgency efforts. Their attacks are often aimed at demonstrating resistance to government policies perceived as oppressive or pro-capitalist.

Geographical Presence and Operational Scope

Primarily operating in Colombia, particularly in the rural regions of the Amazon and Andes, the ELN maintains a significant presence in areas where state security is weak. Although Colombia remains their main operational hub, reports indicate that the group has maintained contacts and occasional operations in neighboring countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador. Their geographical scope varies with shifts in control and military pressure, but they remain a persistent threat in Colombia's border regions.

Historical Formation and Evolution

The ELN was officially founded in 1964 in Bogotá, Colombia, inspired by the Cuban Revolution and fueled by Cold War ideological battles. Its initial formation involved rural communities seeking land reform and social justice, aligning with Marxist-Leninist principles. Over time, the group transitioned from a primarily ideological movement to a pragmatic insurgency engaging in criminal enterprise. The ELN has experienced splits and splinter groups, such as the "Rafael" faction, which have pursued different operational strategies but share core ideological commitments.

Operational Tactics and Signature Attacks

The ELN's signature tactics include the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide bombings, and kidnapping for ransom. Their attacks often target military convoys, police stations, and infrastructure projects, especially those linked to economic development or foreign investors. The group also employs asymmetric warfare, guerrilla ambushes, and political propaganda to sustain their influence. They tend to avoid civilian casualties when possible but have engaged in acts that produce high civilian casualties, aiming to attract attention to their political causes.

External Support and Alliances

While the ELN operates primarily within Colombia, there are reports suggesting that the group has received support from sympathizers and clandestine state actors in Venezuela and Iran. Venezuela, in particular, has been accused of harboring ELN members and facilitating clandestine activities across borders, though official denials complicate this picture. The group has also benefited from the porous borders in the region, enabling smuggling, logistics, and safe havens.

Non-Terrorist Activities and Broader Operations

Beyond their terrorist activities, the ELN has engaged in community work and social programs in rural areas, aiming to garner local support and legitimacy. They operate makeshift clinics, distribute aid, and conduct political education to claim they are fighting for social justice. Nonetheless, these activities coexist with violent insurgency efforts, highlighting the complex nature of their operational landscape.

Existence and Goals

The ELN's core purpose is rooted in overthrowing the Colombian government and establishing a Marxist-Leninist state aligned with revolutionary ideology. Their stated goal is to fight against economic inequality, foreign domination, and imperialism—principles widely shared with other liberation movements. Although official statements emphasize social justice, their actions—armed assaults, kidnappings, and attacks—often suggest an insurgent effort to control territory and resources. Their goals also include influencing regional politics and resisting multinational corporations’ exploitation of local resources.

The persistence of the ELN can be attributed to their ability to adapt operationally, maintain local support, and exploit regional political instability. Despite ongoing peace negotiations and military pressures, their ideological motivation and survival strategies keep them active. They symbolize a complex challenge for Colombia’s peace process, representing both ideological resistance and criminal enterprise.

References

  • U.S. Department of State. (2017). country reports on terrorism: Colombia. https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2017/282604.htm
  • Carroll, T. (2018). Colombia’s insurgent groups: From guerrillas to criminal enterprises. Journal of Latin American Studies, 50(3), 589-607.
  • Regional Security Studies. (2019). The evolving threat of the ELN in Colombia: An analysis. Journal of Strategic Security, 12(4), 45-62.
  • BBC News. (2020). Colombia peace process and the ELN insurgency. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54493636
  • International Crisis Group. (2021). Colombia’s ELN insurgency: Challenges and prospects. Latin America Report N°84.
  • Vargas, P. (2019). Radicalization and insurgency: A case study of ELN tactics. Journal of Conflict Studies, 39(2), 133-150.
  • Smith, J. (2020). Cross-border operations of Colombian insurgent groups. Small Wars & Insurgencies, 31(2), 334-353.
  • Perkins, R. (2018). Insurgency, criminality, and peace processes in Colombia. Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
  • Morales, A. (2021). Social support and insurgency in rural Colombia. Latin American Politics & Society, 63(1), 88-105.
  • Hernández, L. (2019). The role of ideology in insurgent movements: The case of ELN. Journal of Political Ideologies, 24(3), 265-278.

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