Colombia’s new president, Juan Manuel Santos, who as defense minister in Uribe's second government was responsible for the army’s most spectacular exploits against the FARC, is probably the best-equipped politician to build on this success. An economist with an impeccable ministerial career behind him, and a statesman who made peace with Venezuela within three days of assuming office, thus both averting war and opening huge economic and commercial opportunities – Santos is bent on shifting Colombia’s course from to conflict to peace.