If someone else has previously caught this, then, use the immortal advice of RoseAnn RoseAnnadanna: "never mind.:
However, apparently there are serious news organizations reporting that the recent "daring!" and "imaginative!" and "highly successful!" military operation in Columbia to rescue a group of hostages from an insurgent organization known as "FARC" was all a carefully choreographed sham and photo op - and that its success depended on something entirely different - payment of ransom:
http://www.forbes.com/...
My interest is what this story and the reporting on it my many media outlets here in America says about the state of "journalism" - more below
I hope everyone had a spectacular Independence Day weekend - and didn't overindulge - either calorically or by watching the saccharine, breathless coverage of the Columbia hostage "rescue." When I saw coverage it was routinely deferential - almost reverent - in its applause of the mission and its results. Certainly - it gave me the strong impression of a well executed plan to obtain freedom from a hostile and nasty group. It was - a victory for the good guys over the bad guys - we could all rejoice - moral clarity was here.
However, the reporting now indicates that the freedom of the hostages was purchased - for the low, low, price of $20 million. As the news report says, the:
"United States, which had three of its citizens among those freed, was behind the deal,
put the price of the ransom at some $20 million."
Now, if this is true - I don't think I am overstating the case to argue that the coverage of the rescue was completely wrong. If, in fact, the whole thing was staged, then the media who covered it the way I saw it - are either dupes or active participants in portraying facts that are essentially wrong (I know, I know, who could ever believe that).
So I am curious if anyone else perceived this entire episode the way I did. Moreover, if anyone has any more solid actual reporting on what transpired I would be interested. If, in fact, the hostages were just ransomed is that a minor detail that will slip away unnoticed in future reporting?