The True Story Of Killing Pablo Escobar

[Tinto]

An interesting ten part series from the History Channel on YouTube taken from the book, Killing Pablo, by author Mark Bowden.

Here is PART 1 for all you history aficionados.

[GrizGator]

I'll have to read it. My wife says that many Colombians (not her, though) believe that he is still alive. I doubt it, but it's not unlike those in the U.S. who believe that Elvis is still alive, etc.

Griz

[Tinto]

Pablo is dead as a door nail.

One of the things I like about that ten part series are the old photos and videos they dug up. In part 1 (@ 1.53) you'll see a photo of Pablo after his shooting death with a bunch of guys posing around him like he was some big game elk.

I wonder how many of those guys ended up the same fate by retaliation killings later.

One thing that impressed me in watching the series was the danger factor then was much worse than it is today. It reminds me of the Wild West or Capone gangster type era.

[Cap'n Jib]

What many people do not understand about Pablo Escobar and his world view, is he used his street smarts (and he was definitely smart as well as ruthless) and ‘ruled’ by rather simple tenants. Nearest comparison would be Saddam Hussein.

Pablo’s basic position was you are either with me or against me (i.e. George Bush).

First, the bribe then the bullet (plomo o plata). Not an ineffective negotiating technique in my opinion.

Next, indiscriminate bombing was employed. Not exactly a proven process of separating the wheat from the chafe.

Next, appealing to the law and using the legal system to obtain one’s rights. Ninety–three judges were murdered in a year and a half. Understandably this opened up new opportunities for employment as a judge. Also understandably the ‘pool’ of candidates eager for promotion shrank with each new judge killed.

But the view that Pablo seemed to express and identify with most was he, Pablo Escobar, was in direct completion with the government. Don’t know how he could have gotten this nutty idea. Maybe, the estimate that at one time over 30% of high government officials were on his payroll to some extent clouded his judgment. And if they weren’t on his then they must on Cali’s or another group. He saw his killings of other narcotrafficers as nothing more than internal business dealings. If the government was trying to interfere with these business dealings, then the government was trying to muscle in on the action. Pablo had employed this tactic many times in the past so he knew how it worked.



“….it's not unlike those in the U.S. who believe that Elvis is still alive, etc.” – Griz

Sorry to disagree with Griz and Tinto, but I saw the movie “Men In Black” and “K” (Tommy Lee Jones) said that Elvis was NOT dead, he just went home. If you have a higher authority than that, I am open to changing my mind.

[Tinto]

Originally Posted by Cap'n Jib

Sorry to disagree with Griz and Tinto, but I saw the movie “Men In Black” and “K” (Tommy Lee Jones) said that Elvis was NOT dead, he just went home. If you have a higher authority than that, I am open to changing my mind.

I think Pablo's new home is much hotter than it was in the city of Eternal Spring.