Thomas McNamara talks about Diplomacy and Transicioning in Colombia.

McNamara recalls on Colombian's period of time which he considers a Transicion had place, and has to do with how Colombian people and Government changed their mind from fighting the Guerrillas, to focus on Narcotics' problem. I'd like to write a brief of what McNamara said about our recently history.

First of all, Colombian turbulent transition had took place for him in 1986 to 1992. Colombia was less known around the globe, so he spoke on mid 80's background to explain his point of view. So, he considered three aspects: Geography, Economy and Politics. 

About Geography, he considers Colombia is as large as California and Texas together, and it is divided in regions, which he rehearsal, 95% of the population lives in the mountains and river valleys between them, while 5% of the population lives in "Los llanos". 

To consider the Economy and Political issues, he states on a political system unable to rule the country because of Guerrillas in this part of the country, he stablish there has been at least four periods of time where Government has fight with Guerrillas, main on at 50's, "La Violencia". And lately, Escobar had taken those "Llanos" looking for a way of delivering the drugs to the US.

Main Government consideration about Economy is that no matter the Narcotics Trade, Economy has bee well stablish, it does not have nothing to do with the "Carteles", which means "Mafias" in english. 

On Politics, ex-President Virgilio Barco recognized  a problem with Justice System, as well as a fight against Poverty. So, he contact the US Government, and ask McNamara, who had possicionated as Ambassador, for help to Washington, he needed some helicopters to move Army to fight Guerrilla, same as training for the Colombian soldiers. 

After four fantastic years of well relationship with the US, a crisis aroused because of an unexpected murder. On August 18th, 1989, Luis Carlos Galán was killed, he was virtually the next President of Colombia. 

The effect on Barco was to move Army toward Escobar, and Gacha, and to left behing the fight againts Guerrillas. Effect on the public conduits people to change their votation, a dramatic image on television showed Luis Carlos Galán's son taking the flags of his father, while standing Cesar Gaviria Trujillo as the new President of Colombia. 

This dramatic transicion has to do with the Government decision of fighting and negotiating at the same time. That same year, Colombians got a new Constitution, and conflict's background had changed forever.