From the select video images already released, the freeing of Ingrid Betancourt appears to be a staged event in which FARC was paid $20 million for the hostages and there was no daring rescue whatsoever.
Other news outlets have picked up on this and the original stories are diared in my story here and in
Phoenix Woman's diary here.
I will analyze 8 videos released by Reuters (linked above) to back up my point.
Before analyzing the 8 videos, let's keep in mind that the parties involved are well aware that their lie is being exposed and they are going to frantically try to manipulate video evidence to make everything look kosher. But there is video evidence already that suggests this was a payoff and not a daring rescue mission.
Begin by looking at video number 4 which is stamped July 2, 2008 at 1328:34. Timewise this is the earliest video. What you see are people with weapons and a plane apparently having just landed. You see a gun on the back of a rebel.
Go next to video number 3 (all videos are July 2, 2008) which is time stamped just six seconds later at 1328:40. At this point a line of people WITH THEIR EQUIPMENT, are already boarding the helicopter in a single line fashion. So the plane lands and everybody boards while a rebel trained to kill just lets them? No way.
Go next to video number 2 time stamped at 1329:11. Here we appear to see a bunch of "rebels" with weapons having a jolly old time. They could have shot at the plane within 3 seconds but didn't. Instead they are escorting a hostage onto the plane who is SMILING. The hostage knows he is being set free and the rebels know it.
Go next to video number 1 time stamped at 1329:31. Here we have Ingrid Betancourt with a fellow hostage giving a "thumbs up." Remember, this is BEFORE they took off. Thus it is clear, in conjunction with video number 2, that the hostages know they have been released and the rebels are facilitating that release.
Videos 5 and 6, time stamped at 1329:58 and 1330:01 simply show Ms. Betancourt boarding for the eventual photo op.
Videos 7 and 8 are untimed but appear to be taken while the plane is on the ground. You see the emotion of tears and a guy hugging Ms. Betancourt while the plane appears grounded.
Thus it appears that the story originally reported by a Swiss radio station and later picked up by numerous media outlets, including the Times Online, Buzzflash, and Forbes, is veracious. It appears that FARC was paid $20 million dollars by the US government for the release of the hostages with the ultra right wing Presidents of Colombia and France approving of this decision. There was no daring rescue, we simply saw an exchange of cash for hostages.
- It may, or may not have been, the right decision to pay the $20 million dollars to free the hostages. I am not criticizing the decision and I am happy for the families of the 15 hostages.
- We are entitled to know the truth. Was this operation staged or not?
- It's about hypocrisy. Bush says he doesn't negotiate with terrorists (all evidence to the contrary given Bushco's decision to fund Musharaf to protect Bin Laden, fund the Saudis, and support Alvaro Uribe who is a terrorist just like FARC members.) yet he does.
- Why did this happen just after McCain inexplicably went to Colombia when you think he'd be campaigning in Ohio or Indiana? Was McCain the bagman or the messenger? Was this an attempt by Karl Rove and others to try and give McCain a good photo-op for November? (If so this will backfire.)