[PaulaB]

My husband is the TACAS (goodness I hope that is right) here in the NOC in Dallas Northrop...his freeper name is DesertSapper..I'm going to let him know about this post. :)

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Thanks PaulaB.

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U.S. Initiatives

U.S. ambassador to Colombia, William B. Wood, recently stated, "We have reached out to the FARC through many intermediaries, through the Catholic Church, through the Red Cross, through non-government organizations, and through third country governments to try and persuade them to release Tom, Keith, and Marc, and they haven't done so. So our policy is to keep trying to arrange some sort of solution to persuade the FARC to release them."

$5 Million Reward Offered

Wood recently announced that the government would offer up to $5 million, a U.S. visa, and protection to anyone who offered information that led to the capture of the heads of the Teófilo Forero front, or anyone directly responsible for the kidnapping. The money is in addition to a $325,000 reward offered in March.

Wood singled out three alleged members of the elite Forero front who are believed to have had direct participation in the kidnapping:

Carlos Alberto García Camargo, known as Hermides Buitrago, Oscar Montero and "el Paisa."
Marly Yuri Capera Quesada, alias ''la pilota'' -- the pilot.
Pedro González Perdomo, known as ''Alfredo Arenas'' or "Ignacio.''

It's also been reported that the embassy will launch a publicity campaign so that would-be tipsters know where to call and are aware of the benefits, including the relocation of the informant's family. The reward money comes from a 19-year-old federal program which has paid out $47 million to 29 people.

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Update:

I got a FReep-mail from someone that is in that part of the world who assures me these Americans are not forgotten. The person said that there are many obstacles to finding them both logistically and politically.