Peru has been plagued by terrorist groups for decades. Recent crackdowns under the leadership of President Alberto Fujimori reduced terror-related incidents and decreased the efficacy of previously prominent groups including the Shining Path and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement: two of the most notorious and powerful Peruvian terrorist organizations. However, a 2002 car bomb near the United States embassy in the Peruvian capital has reignited fears of terrorist uprisings in the nation. Neither Shining Path nor Tupac Amaru has any known ties to al-Qaeda and their efforts and casualties remain primarily isolated to the nation of Peru. Moreover, Shining Path and Tupac Amaru remain ideologically opposed: the former is formed on Maoist communist principles whereas the latter retains ties to Cuban-style Marxist communism. Support for the terrorist organizations is weak within Peru, but their communist ideology appeals to many impoverished peasant farmers in rural regions of the nation. One potential reason for the minimal but continual support for terrorist groups in Peru is their control of the drug trade; some of Peru's farmers have profited from cooperation with black market interests. The staunch political and ideological differences between Shining Path and Tupac Amaru ensure the fragmentation of the Peruvian terrorist networks but fears of rebellion remain poignant political issues within the entire region. The American media might not rate the Peruvian groups as central targets in "war on terror" but any uprising could trigger concern.
             Militancy has been the hallmark of both Shining Path and Tupac Amaru, especially during the 1980s when their terrorist activities reached a peak. Together, the two groups have been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and billions of dollars of property damages in Peru ("Terrorism"). Yet the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru differ significantly in their goals, their his...