Success has come in one form, but due to the skill of Colombia's leadership as opposed to that of Bush I's War on Drugs or Bush II's War on Terror. During the last 8 years of the War on Terror, Uribe's Colombia has had a great deal of progress. In contrast to the US in Iraq and in Afghanistan, accusations against Venezuela of drug running, and Mexican drug wars slowing killing off anyone who opposes it at will, Colombia has captured many FARC leaders including the infamous "Karina" this past week, one of FARC's top leaders and most violent assassins.
Despite Uribe's success and over 70% support in Colombia, since 9/11 the US has alienated alot of the countries that traditionally supported it on the world stage. When a country like Colombia that has had more terrorism and economic hardships than any other US ally succeeds in the War on Terror and is rewarded with criticism when forming a trade agreement, it further moves the US away from a region that requires substantial and equitable support. It could be based on the lack of understanding in the US on Colombia, or perhaps a separation between trade, anti-drug enforcement and security policy, but it poorly reflects on the US with many of their neighbours worldwide. Trade is usually the issue where this takes place as seen with Clinton's attacks on NAFTA and its North American neighbours, but in this case the prime achievement of the War on Terror or whatever people wish to call it is Colombia's success against the FARC. With some of the highest rates of drug trafficking, internal refugees and poverty in the world, any progress by Uribe or leaders of Colombia must be included when creating a foreign policy towards Latin America.