Chapters 2-3 Summary and Analysis

Chapter Two: The First War 1989-1991

Assigned to the task of taking down Escobar, Colonel Hugo Martinez ate, slept and drank every activity that involved Escobar. Martinez, a member of the PNC, knew everything there was to know about the powerful drug lord. Like most people, Escobar had different personas for different situations. While most people only saw one side of Escobar, Martinez saw them all.

On the same day Galán was assassinated, Escobar's men killed Waldemar Franklin, a friend and colleague of Martinez's at the PNC. Franklin died because he could not be bought or bullied. It was Franklin that came the closest to capturing Escobar.

Galán's death prompted President Barco to declare war on the cartel. Escobar and many other drug lords had already been indicted by the US Justice Department, some more than once...