Colombia resumes bombing missons against FARC rebels

(Vatican Radio) Colombia’s President, Juan Manuel Santos, ordered the resumption of bombing raids against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia – the FARC -  on Wednesday after a rebel attack killed 11 soldiers.

This development places severe pressure on  the two year peace talks, which are still continuing in Havana, Cuba.

Listen to the report by James Blears:

President Juan Manuel Santos has announced that bombing missions against the FARC will resume.  

He's stated: "Let it be very clear to the FARC,  I'm NOT going to pressured by vile acts like this!"  

But that's exactly what the FARC ambush has applied and brought about.  

Hard liners inside and outside of the Government are pointing to this deadly and fragrant breach of the FARC's self-declared unilateral ceasefire, which they declared in December,  stressing that they simply can't be trusted.  

This in turn jolts if not derails the peace talks in Havana and makes negotiations even more difficult, because the emotions of indignation and anger at being palpably being lied to and betrayed, affect even the most seasoned, suave and polished diplomat.
 
President Santos has tried to put a positive spin on a situation which threatens to spin out of control. 

He says that an action like this makes it all the more important and vital, to negotiate a way out of a fifty year conflict, which continues to bedevil  Colombia.

Like it or not,  it brings into serious question if not outright doubt, if the FARC has the power to order all of its units to eventually give up all of their weapons stockpiles and completly de-commission. 

President Santos confirms this lingering doubt, because he refuses to join the ceasefire, saying the FARC has previously and cynically lied on this score to re-invigorate. 

The key word here is trust....or the lack of it.