Awesome hostage rescue in Colombia

[archibaldcrane]

I normally don't repost news articles, but I thought this was exceptionally sweet.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080703/...ombia_hostages

Highlights:

BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday in a daring helicopter rescue so successful that not a single shot was fired.

Eleven Colombian police and soldiers were also freed in the rescue, the most serious blow ever dealt to the 44-year-old Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which considered the four hostages their most valuable bargaining chips.

They had been the longest-held American hostages in the world, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said military intelligence agents infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and led the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, to believe they were going to take them to Alfonso Cano, the guerrillas' supreme leader.

The hostages, who had been divided in three groups, were taken to a rendezvous where two disguised MI-17 helicopters piloted by Colombian military agents were waiting. Betancourt said her hands and feet were bound, which she called "humiliating."

At first she thought the pilots were from a relief organization. Then she saw their Che Guevara shirts and assumed they were rebels.

Only when they were airborne did she notice that Cesar, who had treated her so cruelly for so many years, was naked and blindfolded on the floor.

God FARC has to feel fucking stupid.

[Ermac]

That's fuckin awesome i must say.

[Not Kuno]

Wow that's amazing. How long were they kidnapped for exactly?

[archibaldcrane]

Depends on who - Betancourt (the presidential candidate kidnapped on the campaign trail) was kidnapped 6 years ago. I don't know how long the Americans were held.

Edit: Held as hostages since 13 Feb 2003.
http://www.marc-gonsalves.com/2012428.jpg

[tyven]

that is so awesome

[pohibaba]

Saw this on the news today; very awesome news.

[Takeno]

Dude, I'm on my summer trip in Colombia right now. This just makes today, my birthday, even more amazing.

[Churchill]

I love how funny news articles are.

[SamanosukeShiva]

huh? i dont get it

did someone freed the hostage MGS style or something?

[Tomiko]

huh? i dont get it

did someone freed the hostage MGS style or something?

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said military intelligence agents infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and led the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, to believe they were going to take them to Alfonso Cano, the guerrillas' supreme leader.

Cliff notes (ffxi version): Some members of Colombia LS joined Rebel LS and got in good standing. They convinced a sackholder to let them use the LS's stolen lolSash. They then went back to Colombia LS and returned the lolSash to its rightful owner. Rebel LS /facepalm'd.

[guartz]

That just sounds interesting, I think in January one hostage just escaped and now all of them got rescued.

Farc is probably buying discount prison guards.


Or it sounds very fishy

[Norelco]

That just sounds interesting, I think in January one hostage just escaped and now all of them got rescued.

Farc is probably buying discount prison guards.


Or it sounds very fishy

I don't think "all" of them got rescued. The articles I read said there are something like 750 hostages spread all throughout Columbia. I guess the only ones that matter are the Americans.

[octopus]

Cliff notes (ffxi version): Some members of Colombia LS joined Rebel LS and got in good standing. They convinced a sackholder to let them use the LS's stolen lolSash. They then went back to Colombia LS and returned the lolSash to its rightful owner. Rebel LS /facepalm'd.

This post wins the thread!

[Silverbane]

That just sounds interesting, I think in January one hostage just escaped and now all of them got rescued.

Farc is probably buying discount prison guards.


Or it sounds very fishy

Not a conspiracy theorist but whole thing sounds fishy to me too. Especialy since McCain just happen to be there that day. But was nice to see Americans coming back home to their families.

[Kurgan]

The American contractors were held hostage for around 5 years!

This was an awesome rescue operation. Some of the information about how the rebels were infiltrated and instructed to march the hostages around 100 miles from 3 different camps to the rendezvous point is unbelievable. That hasn't been substantiated yet. Regardless, awesome operation.

I have no doubt a movie will be made about this.

[Mizango]

I don't think "all" of them got rescued. The articles I read said there are something like 750 hostages spread all throughout Columbia. I guess the only ones that matter are the Americans.

FUCK YEAH!



Yeah, something seems fishy to me also. It all seemed to be a bit too much for me, it seems like a lost episode of the A-team or something. All I need to see now is that Murdock was piloting the Chopper, Mr. T passed out in the back from fear of flying and that Face and Hannibal were in Columbian militia gear picking up hostages and mackin' up on some jungle honeyz .....

I mean maybe the cynic in me but I'm not buying it at face value.

[skurlover]

I'm not really sure what sounds fishy about this. Americans helped Colombian military spies infiltrate the FARC. Although the US involvement details are not known and probably because of national security, never will be, this is a shiny example of our intelligence community. Bravo!

[Silverbane]

I'm not really sure what sounds fishy about this. Americans helped Colombian military spies infiltrate the FARC. Although the US involvement details are not known and probably because of national security, never will be, this is a shiny example of our intelligence community. Bravo!

Guess what i was thinking is that just seem to be convinient politicaly. Election year; candidate who just happen to be a POW just left your country..... ahh dont wan to get into it im happy those Americans are home. Hope the other 700+ can be home soon also.

[Xavier]

The only reason this sounds fishy is because things so very rarely go this well. Badass.

[skurlover]

Guess what i was thinking is that just seem to be convinient politicaly. Election year; candidate who just happen to be a POW just left your country..... ahh dont wan to get into it im happy those Americans are home. Hope the other 700+ can be home soon also.

Sorry, but not everything has a conspiracy behind it.

The only reason this sounds fishy is because things so very rarely go this well. Badass.

This is true.