Colombian General Outlines U.S. Role In Hostage Rescue Mission

Bogota, Colombia (AHN) - Contrary to perceptions by the family of the three American hostages in Colombia that the U.S. government did nothing to rescue military contractors, a Colombian general provided details of U.S. participation in the rescue mission.

Colombian military chief of staff Gen. Freddy Padilla acknowledged the U.S. federal government provided Colombia equipment, intelligence and training. He said about 100 full-time staff of the American embassy in Bogota worked to secure the liberty of the three American hostages.

Spy cameras placed strategically along rivers where the rebels often traveled were provided by the U.S., as well as satellite images and technology to enable the Colombian rescue team to locate the FARC lairs. When the mission to free Ingrid Betancourt and other hostages was hatched, U.S. President George Bush gave his approval to the daring operation.

American Ambassador to Colombia William Brownfield confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that its Bogota staff had given training, equipment and people to Colombians for the past 5 1/2 years.

It was also the joint team of U.S. and Colombian troops that created a fake website to fool the FARC. Betancourt, now back in France after her six year ordeal, recounted she was mad when she saw the Mi-17 helicopter and its crew who had Che Guevara T-shirts on. She thought they would be used for a publicity gimmick.

Betancourt thanked the French and Colombian governments for freeing her from the rebels. With her celebrity status now, the former hostage who lived in Colombian wilderness for six years is scheduled to have a meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Pope Benedict.