Something is wrong about this story. If he was kidnapped how could he call home? He said he was set free why did he not return home?
Who would be stupid enough to use their own credit cards is a covet operation. Who would use cell phones that can be monitored in a covert operation? Who in a covert operation would allow their pictures to be taken and their lodging location to be knows? Who would use open communications in a covert operation?
My guess is that "CIA" guys...were mainstream office dudes for the agency. They were given a task to show up and grab this guy. Unlike the experience pro's that used to be in the agency back in the 1950s and 1960s...we have mostly CIA wannabes today, and a handful of old Pro's.
As for the phones...they are likely the standard Tri-band, which people use if they travel internationally. They should have been issued CIA contracted phones...but I've heard that the CIA is getting awful cheap these days...so they may have had to buy their own phones and simply bill the agency for these overseas calls (as stupid as it sounds).
As for the credit cards...probably typical government Impact Card (Visa), and very likely to have "Jim Bob's" name on it because it has to be an authentic name and billing address. And yes, they probably checked into the best hotel they could...for the per diem they are paid for overseas travel (the agency like every government shop has a listing of the per diem and every government guy spends the limit when traveling).
If this all sounds stupid...stand back and look at the agency. They haven't exactly been hitting home runs for the past 10 years. And the amusing thing is that the Italians actually got smart enough to figure out this entire story. And that should make you start to think...if they can see through the green door...then so can the Russians, the Germans and the Chinese. And eventually, even the Iranians will be able to see through. I don't like dumping on these dudes...but if you operate a five and dime store...then your profits will be measured in pennies...and your competition will catch up.