Jul 3, 2008 6:59 am US/Central
In The Know: Sharing Infiltration Tips
(WCCO)
The Colombian government pulled off one of the most audacious rescues ever, freeing a kidnapped presidential candidate and three U.S. military contractors from rebel forces. Don Shelby said the Americans hostages were the longest held in U.S. history.
The enemy wasn't James Bond's nemesis, SPECTRE, but the Colombian rebels known as FARC. But, I'd swear James Bond was a Colombian. Government agents infiltrated the highest echelon of FARC's leadership.
The other day, they convinced the rebel chief, code-named Cesar, to turn over the four hostages to them to be transported to another guerilla leader.
Instead of flying the hostages to another rebel camp, they neutralized Cesar and landed safely in Bogota. After millions of dollars in assistance from the United States, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has shown he is made of tough stuff.
After 40 years of rebel mayhem, Uribe's troops have decimated the narco-rebels who use kidnapping as their number one bargaining chip. They still hold about 700 hostages, but if Uribe stays alive -- and as the head of state -- it might not be too long before all of them come home.
Now, in return for the millions we've given Colombia, maybe the country would share some of their infiltration tips. There's a guy in the mountains of Pakistan I'd give anything to "rescue" from his cave.
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