Anybody else watching the live coverage of the press conference?

The ENTIRE operation was recorded on video...

At least it is now an admitted FACT that the U.S. was aware of and supported the whole thing.

Which to me means it was totally a joint operation from the getgo.

Thoughts?

Its no secret that it was a joint U.S. Columbian operation from the get go.

The operation was a smashing success and no lives were lost. The world is celebrating a welcome bit of good news.

Why are you having such a problem with that?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...ia.43061cc.html

I guess your upset because bush can't be blamed for a screwed up operation.

Considering such past deceptions as Reagan's Iran/Contra scam and the Jessica Lynch "rescue" ruse in Iraq, how can you even implicitly criticize anyone for being cynical and suspicious?

My suspicion is that some clandestine compromise was arranged to enable this "rescue." In view of the events cited above, combined with an endless list of devious deceptions by the existing and previous administrations, it will take a lot to convince me that this "rescue" took place without some form of "October Surprise" collusion executed for purely political purposes. The most elementary scenario being a CIA operation in which some form of bribe has been tendered.

Unless BushCo is planning to suspend the November election and finalize its political coup, the GOP must by now be desperately seeking to repair its badly damaged image by any means necessary -- and I believe this to be one calculated effort in that direction.

I agree completely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w892VAMBLig...feature=related
YouTube - School of the Americas 2 - clip from Plan Colombia

I think that point has been openly admitted to from the start. and I imagine there's always a delicate balancing act. If the US had little to do with the intelligence, planning and implementation, the administration would like to milk the success a bit making it appear they played a more significant role than they did. If the US was an equal or leading player, then they want to play that down and let the Colombians look like the geniuses - you know, the folks with whom GW wants us to sign a trade pact and continue handing over big bucks for "drug eradication" programs.

The cameras having been along were also explained early on. In short, a previous voluntary hand over by FARC was documented by FARC beginning to end, as are a lot of FARC operations. and they were trying to duplicate the way the process is handled so the entire process was familiar to the FARC folks involved.

A great many FARC communications in recent years have come in the form of videos of the hostages and views of their lives and circumstances. Having camera operators was 1. SOP for FARC and 2. An excuse to have more "undercover" government commandos on hand and part of the process.

From an PA story:


LINK

Point of curiosity for me - the three "contractors" from Northrop Grumman held for more than 5 years looked in remarkably good condition, especially compared to Betancourt. I was surprised to note the men - who were ostensibly just being moved to meet with the FARC's new No. 1, had haircuts similar to those seen in their employee photos from five years ago.

Especially because of the Lynch bullshit, had this been portrayed as a US operation I'd have been much more suspicious of what had really taken place.

Keep going...you're getting there...

I can hear those bushwa brains whirring away from here...

Of course...that's why it isn't portrayed as a US operation...

Whirrrrr.........

I guess you're upset because they didn't have $300 John Edwards haircuts.


"Those who are known to be idiots never disappoint." ---Tao Jones

No day 1825 of the hostages, all of a sudden we hear about this just before July 4th, ya I am cynical of the whole thing.

Some of you guys are gettng too smart for the neoCONS. I suppose it's just a coincidence that the Bush crime family is in bed with Uribe, that they want "trade" with Columbia, that John McCain just happened to be there at the time and that Charlie Black, who has lobbied for Columbia, was NOT there.

Those Republican bastards sure are "lucky".