Since taking office two and a half years ago, President Alvaro Uribe has appeared to enjoy much success against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Latin America's oldest and largest guerrilla army. Mr Uribe's "democratic security" policy is a concerted effort to retake territory for the state. The government has placed police in every municipality and beefed up the army with part-time "peasant soldiers" as well as new elite units which have taken the offensive against the guerrillas. Yet in the past few weeks, the FARC has finally hit back. In the bloodiest string of attacks since Mr Uribe took office, so far this month it has killed over 50 soldiers. Does this herald a new FARC offensive, or signify the failure of the government's security drive?
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