How the rescue operation happened (FARC hostages)

http://www.miamiherald.com/1060/story/592126.html ^ | July 3, 2008

[nuconvert]

July 3, 2008

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said Colombian military intelligence managed to infiltrate the top hierarchy of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and arrange for a transfer of hostages purportedly to be handed over to Alfonso Cano, the rebel group's top leader.

A government mole arranged for the hostages to be brought from three locations to one camp, then taken to a helicopter the FARC believed belonged to a friendly aid group that would take the hostages to Cano.

Instead, the chopper was a military helicopter piloted by intelligence officers who whisked a total of 15 hostages to freedom, including three American defense contractors -- Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes and Marc Gonsalves -- and former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt.

The infiltration of the guerrilla group took place over a period of years, military sources told El Nuevo Herald.

Betancourt told Colombian radio that their last moments of captivity were tense. As she and the other hostages were being marched toward the helicopter, they were sure they were part of some international hostage deal. But then they saw the pilots dressed like guerrillas and their hopes were dashed.

''They tied our hands and feet,'' Betancourt said.

It was not until the hostages were aboard the helicopter and the pilots subdued the rebel commanders that they learned the truth. ' `We are with the army; you are free,' '' the pilots told the hostages, Betancourt recalled.

[Army Air Corps]

Hugito and Barry are saddened that their pals were “punked.”

[3AngelaD]

¿Alguien sabe cómo se dice ‘nanner, nanner, nanner’ en español?

[flying Elvis]

I wonder who the “friendly aid group” was supposed to have been?

[DesertSapper]

the pilots subdued the rebel commanders

For the FARC, I hope "subdued" later includes more chopper rides these vermin do not come back from.

[Bender2]

[sinanju]

This is really gonna be the nail in FARC’s coffin.

As word of how spectacularly they were tricked gets out, they will be the laughingstock of Latin America.

I like the line I heard on “Nightline” last night, that the Columbian special operators posing as the friendly “aid worker” pilots were wearing Che t-shirts for good measure.

[texas booster]

Concerned that these 15 were part of over 60 hostages that the narco-murderers are holding.

Prayers for the ones still in captivity.

Interesting that pariah groups like FARC and the Shining Path terrorists have a network of “aid” groups that keep them supplied with all the comforts of home, like heavy duty helicopters, weapons and cash.

It's like they were North Korea or Hamas.

Also wonder if the leadership has already had a purge among its ranks.

[Aquinasfan]

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said Colombian military intelligence managed to infiltrate the top hierarchy of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia

I hope this is disinformation. Does it make any sense to publicly explain how this happened?

[dennisw]

bttt

SCrew u HUgo!

[Aquinasfan]

I like the line I heard on “Nightline” last night, that the Columbian special operators posing as the friendly “aid worker” pilots were wearing Che t-shirts for good measure

Should have worn Obama T-shirts.

[Bigg Red]

...the Columbian special operators posing as the friendly “aid worker” pilots were wearing Che t-shirts for good measure.

&&&
Thanks for that info. I hope the word gets out there.

[SnakeDoctor]

I think there was an episode of The Unit that was almost exactly like that.

H

[popdonnelly]

A Jimmy Carter look-alike would also have been good cover.

[chuckles]

When this comes out I believe we will find out the laptop that was captured when the FARC big wig died gave all the names and phone numbers. What we need to know is why Obama’s people were working with FARC. Maybe this is the Oct surprise Hillary is waiting for.

[4woodenboats]

I hope this is disinformation. Does it make any sense to publicly explain how this happened?

FARC will be suspect of itself, wondering how many spies are still among them, and "aid workers" who have been aiding FARC will be more reluctant to do so.

Sow distrust of the heirarchy and the organization will begin to implode.

A second performance would speed this up tremendously.

[Rick.Donaldson]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Enchante]

"the Columbian special operators posing as the friendly “aid worker” pilots were wearing Che t-shirts for good measure"

Obama t-shirts would have worked just as well......

[McGruff]

...the pilots subdued the rebel commanders...

Well I certainly hope they let them go. While they were still in the air.

[Little Ray]

They need to find FARC’s “friendly aid group,” shut it down and “disappear” its leadership.