Doubts about "daring" hostage rescue

By GottaLaff

Report:

But while [Ingrid Betancourt] was still in the air, the Swiss radio station RSR broadcast a report questioning the official version of the operation to free Ms Betancourt and 14 other hostages – saying that money, not cunning, had clinched their freedom.

According to Bogota, the hostages were freed in an elaborate ruse by Colombian intelligence agents who had infiltrated the Marxist Farc rebels holding them.

But RSR said that the 15 hostages “were in reality ransomed for a high price, and the whole operation afterwards was a set-up". Citing a source "close to the events, reliable and tested many times in recent years", it said that the United States – which had three citizens among those freed – was behind the deal and put the price at $20 million.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry furiously denied the allegations, with a spokesman calling them "completely false." He added: "They are lies". [...]

Before the allegations of a payments arose, Dana Perino, the White House spokeswoman, said the rescue “was conceived by the Colombians and executed by the Colombians with our full support,” while implying that Washington had provided intelligence and even operational help. The US has not responded to them.

The argument is, only a measly $20 million? Why would they bother? Besides, it's not nice to rain on their parade like the Swiss did, right? But the article caught my eye, so now you get to read about it too.