Was 20 Million Dollars Paid to Free Betancourt and 3 American Hostages in Colombia?

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".

Please note the plausible deniability in the statement of the Colombian Armed Forces Commander. One, if the U.S. paid the money, then he is correct to say that Colombia did not pay it. Two, the money may not have been paid directly to FARC, but paid through an intermediary, or paid as a bounty fee to defectors.

The rescue also comes at a curiously propitious time for the Bush Adminsitration and its "made man" in Colombia, President Alvaro Uribe. He is seeking to pass a plebiscite to allow him an unprecedented third term. Furthermore, Uribe is being used by the U.S. as a proxy opponent to Chavez in terms of leadership in South America. In addition, let's not forget that the controversial Columbia "Free Trade Pact" is stalled in Congress. Finally -- and most curiously -- John McCain inexplicably showed up in Colombia around the time of the "rescue."


Link for entire story: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4270844.ece

..... On the day McCain was in Columbia??????

..... Rebels who have been fighting for years turn over important assets and load them
onto 'copters that they had never seen before????????

........... Betancourt is on record as saying she never saw any weapons???????

........ the way our media has been selling the story ala Jessica Lynch???????

FARC no longer has the high ground (if they ever did) they are now common kidnappers in the long line of Colombian kidnapper. If a ransom was paid, cash, then sra. Betancourt and co were not hostages, they were kidnapped.

because, well, they hate Uribe and like other leaders who may provide assistance to them. this should officially dispell that myth. all I'm sayin'

How many millions (billions?) in Iranian assets were unfrozen way back when?

Oh but no... that was Reagan's tough talk. Not money. Heavens, no.

This is all over Europe. They are laughing.
Why do you think M$M has dropped this like a hot Quayle Potato.

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