Harsh Economic Situation Forces Colombian Rebels To Seek Alternate Income.

What is the world coming to?! The economies of major countries are still reeling from the economic meltdown of a few years back, there still seems to be no end in sight.

But with all the larger states suffering, we can’t forget the smaller economies that are feeling the pinch too. By “smaller economies” I mean drug dealers, organized crime syndicates and even rebel factions, of course. Even they’re suffering.

Case in point, due to continued strikes against the Colombian drug trade by the Government, the country’s decades old militant group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, aka FARC, haven’t been able to enjoy the cushy funding they once did from their the illicit drug trade.

Why? Well blame Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for one. He has proven that he doesn’t give a FARC and for years, he has struck some serious blows against the group.  Last year he added another notch to his belt with the killing of Alfonso Cano, FARC’s leader.

But some of the hardest hits he’s dealt the rebels in the last few years have been in the wallet. Now, he says FARC appears to be on the ropes as the Colombian Government’s war on the country’s infamous drug trade seems to be making some dents. The same drug trade that has been the primary source of funding for FARC.

But those FARC’ers aren’t going down easy and it looks like they’ve found a way to subsidize their income. As the President explains:

The FARC is designing a complete strategy to counter the problem of lack of financing … due to the blows to their funding sources, especially drug trafficking. One of the orders was to sell cattle to get more resources.

That’s right! Their drug trade has become too  treacherous in recent times so they now have to resorted to selling cattle in order to finance their revolution.

I'm actually pro-government. But they didn't ask me… They never ask me anything.

I’m willing to bet those guys over at FARC aren’t too happy about this. I mean radical guerrilla insurgents not being able to deal drugs? Sheesh! Kinda takes some of the fun out of it, don’t you think?

And cows? Is this what it’s come to? Best to just pack it in and become full-time farmers. I bet their popularity points with the girls just took  a major nose dive. The guys over at al-Qaeda must be laughing their heads off.

Well… at least they’re stealing the cows. That’s got to count for something.

Can’t an honest militant make a decent living anymore?!

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