Colombia’s Raid into Ecuador Sparks International Debate on the Bush Doctrine, Hot Pursuit, and Preemptive Self-Defense

On March 1, 2008, Colombian military forces launched a cross-border airstrike and ground operation into Ecuador to attack a jungle encampment occupied by high ranking members of the Colombian guerrilla army known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The specific target of the air attack was Luis Edgar Devia Silva, a.k.a. Raul Reyes, the FARC?s number two in command and one of Latin America?s longest enduring guerrilla leaders. Reyes and several cohorts were killed. The Colombian forces retrieved Reyes?s body and forensic evidence, including his laptop computer, and retreated back across the frontier, leaving the Ecuadorian military to deal with the aftermath and attend to a lone survivor...[more]