Video: The Colombia hostage rescue
posted at 12:48 pm on July 5, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Not a word of it’s in English but that’s no barrier in this case. Just watch their expressions. The most ingenious part? The camera here was actually part of the deception:
Presenting the video at a news conference, Santos said that Wednesday’s elaborate ruse intentionally mimicked two hostage handovers brokered by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez earlier this year, when Venezuelan helicopters carrying International Red Cross observers picked up six hostages.
“In the last two handovers of hostages,” Santos told reporters, “there was always a cameraman sent by Chavez.”
The three-minute video presented at Colombia’s military headquarters showed the mission was modeled after the Venezuelan operations down to the red T-shirt worn by a supposed journalist, who poses questions to a rebel while hostages’ hands are bound with plastic handcuffs.
Follow the link and note the detail about acting lessons, right down to practicing different accents. I saw a report somewhere yesterday claiming that this was all a set-up to provide cover for a multimillion-dollar ransom payment from the Colombian government to FARC, but if so, it’s news to the ringleader “Cesar”: According to his lawyer he’s in a Bogota jail right now, having received a black eye and various “injections” while on the chopper. Exit question: It sure does feel like an Israeli operation, doesn’t it? Hmmm.
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Well if they had a hand in it that is great but it was Colombian troops and Colombian command who pulled it off. Nothing about their training can distract from their honor, courage, and professionalism(not saying you are Allah). It is a joy to see hard work payoff like this.
Limerick on July 5, 2008 at 12:56 PM
Here is what I don’t understand. When all the hostages were safely abosrd the helicopters and airborne, the Colombian air force didn’t napalm the entire camp?
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:01 PM
This episode will make a great movie some day.
flipflop on July 5, 2008 at 1:01 PM
Because they still hold up to 700 more hostages.
Limerick on July 5, 2008 at 1:02 PM
Not only that, and this is just a guess on my part, but FARC appears to be in serious decline with large numbers simply quitting the movement. I think the Colombian gov’t has switched somewhat to a “softer” campaign against FARC, encouraging the rank and file to just give up without penalty. A scorched earth policy would probably work contrary to those efforts.
flipflop on July 5, 2008 at 1:06 PM
Another take is that the methods used in this raid must leave the FARC playing the who-is/who-isn’t game with each other. I’m sure the FARC capos are having a grand time looking over their shoulders now.
Limerick on July 5, 2008 at 1:08 PM
OK, looked to be at least a 100 rebel troops standing around. One hundred prisoners of war to to negotiate with would have been nice. But it’s a war anyway, isn’t it? So the Colombian government does kill the enemy, right? Are you saying the 700 were right there? Then where was the battalion coming in to rescue them and effectively end the civil war? It’s all very strange to me.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Fear of a sudden violent death seems more persuasive.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:10 PM
I think the current Israeli regime could be accused of the same thing and they are in a world of trouble.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:13 PM
A lot of democrat picnics yesterday were somewhat dampened by this event.
whitetop on July 5, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Or just might make them redouble their efforts. They’re already at seriously diminished capacity:
Why engage them when they’re doing themselves in?
flipflop on July 5, 2008 at 1:15 PM
D
I don’t know,do you people taking your medicine as soon as they start feeling better? The enemies of civilization seem to be getting more and more brutal while leaders seem to think being nice to them will win them over. That’s pretty simplistic about world events but unfortunately it’s still a true statement in many situations.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:20 PM
do
youpeople takingI wasn’t trying to people confrontational.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:21 PM
What most people do not know is that John McCain personally swept into that rebel camp all Rambo-like and rescued the hostages by himself. As a man of modesty, however, he asked the Colombian government to not disclose that and instead to just say his visit was coincidental.
Barak took one look at the situation and promised to return the hostages to FARC within his first six months as President.
All kidding aside, got to love a happy ending. Here’s a bunch of folks that are very glad to be home.
JayHaw Phrenzie on July 5, 2008 at 1:21 PM
I don’t know,do
youpeople stop takingyourmedicine as soon as they start feeling better?Boy, that was some messed up typing.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 1:22 PM
Awesome.
Midas on July 5, 2008 at 1:22 PM
No problem there peacenproperity. My keyboard is part of a rebel movement also.
Limerick on July 5, 2008 at 1:23 PM
CNN Video about ISrael general’s involvement
William Amos on July 5, 2008 at 1:26 PM
They are trying to get FARC to give up. If they keep landing these body blows I dont know how much more FARC can take.
Keep in mind also that their co conspirators stayed behind to keep eyes on FARC
William Amos on July 5, 2008 at 1:28 PM
If you’re comparing the commie FARC rebels to Islamic jihadis (and I’m not sure if you are), I think that’s kind of an apples/oranges comparison. With idealogical whackos crazed with religious fervor, I think the only option is total, unrelenting and merciless application of violence until they’re defeated in detail. I’m not convinced the same policy is necessary with groups that are clearly in a state of self destruction.
flipflop on July 5, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Hugo’s gotta be gritting his teeth. They made their play based on his previous PR driven hostage release activity, so he was an unsuspecting setup man, and now the whole world knows it. I read that he offered congrats to the Colombian armed forces, but I imagine he had to chew at least a bale of cocoa leaf first.
a capella on July 5, 2008 at 1:37 PM
I think Ired that Hugo called today for FARC to give up. I think its more to save them than to end the violence.
William Amos on July 5, 2008 at 1:46 PM
I’m not sure how many have seen the jungles of Colombia and Panama. Not a nature tour, or a fly over, but walked them. This isn’t tank country we are talking about here. Primal is about the only word that comes close to describing them.
The clearings in the video are not giving a true picture of the terrain. You could be standing four feet from a man with a AK and never see each other. It is hardly an area that lends itself to lining up troops and slugging it out.
Limerick on July 5, 2008 at 1:46 PM
I’m down in Peru at the moment (yeah, I have an Argentine handle, but I’m in Peru) and this is the talk of the town. Everyone is simultaneously pleased, impressed, and hopeful that this is yet another nail in the coffin.
What amazing intelligence gathering, planning, and execution. This isn’t the work of a few people – it’s the work of hundreds working together, each doing their little part, over a period of at the very least several months. Kudos all around to any and everyone involved in this – you’ve done immeasurable good.
ChePibe on July 5, 2008 at 1:48 PM
Should add that the US military played an indirect role.
William Amos on July 5, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Here is the English to Spanish translation. I typed it up myself:
General Montoya: Reporter…and he is nearing the guerillas. There he is filming the guerillas that were guarding over the area where the helicopter landed. And, how it had been anticipated…there is the group of hostages…It is 1324..or 1:24 PM..This is “Alias” Cesar and this was anticipated, that we were going to try to distract him in this manner…It was anticipated in this manner, and next to him is his second, who is “Alias” Enrique Gafas…, who was in charge of the hostages. You can appreciate at this moment that we are trying to gain his confidence at this moment so he can see that this is a bona fide mission…There is Ingrid..very brave, very upset….because she does not want to once again be tied up with handcuffs. This North American is the first that offers himself to be tied up with handcuffs so that he may board the helicopter….He is the first….and see how we are putting them on…and after he allows himself, the rest also allow themselves…
[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]
Answer: Yes, yes..to the [female] guerilla…yes. The favor was aked of her because be mindful of what happens next…That the majority of guerillas that were in that area…were women. They had prepared it in that manner the guerillas.
[Inaudible Question]…[FEMALE VOICE][Crosstalk]…Once again the same, once again the same…
Here is Lieutenant Malagon, very brave…very upset, because he wants them to take a statement…It is now 1328…1:PM with 28 minutes…The time is running, he wants to be interviewed…We are taking advantage of the mission..We are taking advantage so as to gain more confidence…to keep boarding the rest on the helicopter.
On Screen: General Montoya explains how the rescue operation happened
There are the hostages….He continues very brave…Lt. Malagon…because they have handcuffed him. And the other officers and lower officers as well. Ingrid remains very brave, very upset…with her boots, very upset.
It is now 1330, 2 minutes have passed since the last take.
One of the [inaudible] of the mission.
The guerillas that were there. They were ready for that.
And here now, the moment where they are free. They are free in this moment, they are free, they are free, they are free…We were very careful to place the plastic handcuffs in such a way that with whatever movement, they could free themselves…They don’t know how to place them…
FEMALE VOICE: Well, now we will now start the question and answer session.
CapitalistPig on July 5, 2008 at 1:56 PM
So, Hugo has a penchant for reveling in his handiwork in the quiet of his private home movie theater. How big a library is it, I wonder. More video discs than Imelda had shoes?
Dusty on July 5, 2008 at 1:59 PM
Thanks for the translation, CapitalistPig.
Dusty on July 5, 2008 at 2:05 PM
OOPS..I meant Spanish to English…sorry
CapitalistPig on July 5, 2008 at 2:05 PM
Nothing should be believed beyond the realm, nothing is unrelated.To believe that the overthrow of Western democratic civilization is somehow the work of isolated unrelated groups is naive.
Liberals are still trying to say that there could never have been a connection between saddam and osama because they were of different sects but the overriding motivation for both was the destruction of the US and Western civilization.
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 2:10 PM
In ‘87, I and 4 other guys went a hundred miles up the Orinoco River in Venezuela, leaving a little frontier town named Puerto Arachucha with some native boatmen, then hiked back into the rain forest for a week. Very little flat terrain, water filled ravines between every set of hills, vines, dim light because of the forest canopy, constantly wet feet and clothes, full body insect bites, etc. It would be a nightmare for a military operation,..no lines of supply, very few areas a helicopter could land, no docks, booby trap heaven, and 2 inch cloudbursts daily. I’m amazed the hostages lived as long as they did. Interestingly, during that same time period, I did a lecture series, and had just begun a talk in Lima when Sendero Luminoso blew up all the electrical pylon towers into the city. I was a bit worried but the audience treated it as just another annoyance,..they were used to it.
a capella on July 5, 2008 at 2:11 PM
Whats going on with the shining path guerillas these days?
peacenprosperity on July 5, 2008 at 2:13 PM
On the 32nd anniversary of Entebbe no less.
RobCon on July 5, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Baby Hugo must be soiling himself in outrage. LOL
RobCon on July 5, 2008 at 2:27 PM
The Colombian government and military can stand with pride after this, and yet Pelosi and the House Democrats continue to slap Colombia in the face.
Aw, to heck with them and Viva Colombia!
irishspy on July 5, 2008 at 2:42 PM
Possibably from a link in your previous post…?
J_Gocht on July 5, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Not the slightest bit of evidence or credibility that this is true.
Just a newspaper article quoting a swiss Radio Station, quoting an unidentified source. For all we know, the source is Markos Moulitsos.
There are thin sources and thin sources, but this one is anorexic.
It doesn’t matter, though, Democrats don’t need accuracy to hate their own country. They swallow up crap like this and then say , “See! I told you! It’s all confirmed.”
This story is about as thin as Obama’s resume.
JayHaw Phrenzie on July 5, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Jimmy Carter is looking into investigating this as a violation of FARC’s constitutional rights — taking of property w/o just compensation. He heard that Justice Kennedy thinks the US Constitution applies to FARC members o/s the US.
Labamigo on July 5, 2008 at 3:23 PM
The war on terror in all its forms is supposed to be an international operation. This was the number one message and the bedrock of American policy laid out in an emergency state of the union to both houses of congress & the world. If colombia employed that strategy and used Israeli & American assets, including planning & experience or American support that makes Colombians smart people, all the credit is clearly theirs.
United we stand, and divided we will fall. Maybe Israel is small like Colombia so we could fall first since terror is always around us, but anyone who thinks that only the 1st domino goes and doesn’t see all the others that will tumble after it, is probably a fool. It is in all our interests to fight terror everywhere, be it Bogota, or Beirut.
saus on July 5, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Uribe!
pat on July 5, 2008 at 6:20 PM
Colombia makes another SCORE.
Limerick on July 5, 2008 at 8:30 PM
Just the sound of crickets over at the left wing blogs about this episode. Pathetic.
Hummer53 on July 5, 2008 at 8:34 PM
404 at this time. A little digging revealed this site: Rescue video shows duped rebels, elated hostages. I wonder if it is unique for all logins. I drilled through “Workd & Nation”.
It’s an astounding story!
{^_^}
herself on July 6, 2008 at 3:33 AM
Perino’s statement is the difference between yin and yang!
I just luv the “dipo cover speak” of the govmint!
Your taxpayer dollars at work, J_H_P…!
could op-help included your greenback…?
J_Gocht on July 6, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Déjà vu all over again…!
“Dipo speak for ransom”…?
An olde President spoke…?
How far have we gone since he spoke…?
Ms Dana Perino…you say…?
An olde soldier sends…!
J_Gocht on July 6, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Your comment is most welcome “gas guzzler…
Get outta that hummer and into a yugo…!
Dinkus…!
J_Gocht on July 6, 2008 at 3:52 PM
I know I am coming in on this very late, but I am just back in Colombia…I was in transit when this was released.
What I want to mention is the attitude of Sgt Malagon. At the moment he was being filmed, he believed he was still in FARC custoday, as he had been for over 10 years. Yet he was defiant and uncooperative with his captors. He wanted to have his say, and his say was that he was Sargeant Malagon of the
. This took courage and pride, given what he believed his circumstances to be.
My point is that I remember the British guys captured over a year ago by the Iranians, and how quick they were to say whatever the Iranians wanted to hear.
Their snivelling doesn´t compare very well, in my opinion, with the courage displayed by Sgt Malagon, whose captivity was not measured in days but decades.
This was reflected in the words of the rescued soldiers following their release. To a man they expressed pride in their uniform and their country, a belief in their cause ad a desire to continue as members of the public forces.
I have to say that the British can learn something about esprit de corps from their Colombian colleagues.
Blaise on July 7, 2008 at 2:08 PM
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