The United States Discovers its Three "Forgotten Hostages"

When the three American hostages liberated from FARC arrived in San Antonio, Texas, Wednesday night around 11:15 PM, they suddenly appeared in the eyes of Americans, who, for the most part, had no idea of their existence. Far from the mobilization organized by France and Colombia, their families complained of the government’s inaction and refusal to negotiate with a group on its list of terrorist organizations.

Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Golsalves, three veterans under contract to a subsidiary of Northrop Grunman, were participating in a surveillance mission of coca fields in the province of Caqueta, South of Bogotá, when their single-engine Cessna failed and crashed on February 12, 2003. Surrounded by rebels, they were led into the jungle, while their pilot, Tom Janis, and their Colombian guide, Luis Alcides Cruz, were executed on the spot. Their detention lasted more than five years, four times more than the American diplomats held in Tehran in 1979.

George Bush never invited or welcomed the families to the White House.

During all this time, media pressure and public efforts to obtain their freedom were more than discreet. A documentary filmed in 2004, three articles in the Washington Post, a modest reward of $340,000 offered by the Department of State in exchange for information – that’s about it.

Not only does the United States have a rule to never negotiate with hostage-takers, figuring that would encourage other abductions, but for a long time it has supported the Colombian government in its fight against guerillas and drug traffickers. Congress has allotted $6.2 billion to Bogotá for this since 2000. Numerous American military personnel and 400 civilians under contract to the Pentagon (the maximum allowed by law) participate in this struggle.

Wednesday, George W. Bush “was informed in advance and supported” the rescue operation, according to a White House spokesperson. “He then called President Uribe to congratulate him, calling him a strong ruler.” The United States are said to have given “specific support” to the freeing of the hostages, apparently helping to locate them with satellite images and radio interceptions. Once they were brought back to the United States, the three Americans were taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for tests. Two were diagnosed with Hepatitis and parasitic illnesses.

The Republican candidate for President, John McCain, who was “coincidentally” in Colombia Wednesday to talk about free trade and anti-drug efforts, was briefed around 4 PM (local time) by President Uribe. He was only informed about the success of the operation one hour after his plane took off for Mexico. Senator Joe Lieberman, who was with him, said that “the communication of this highly confidential information was a proof of confidence.”

Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for the White House, also rejoiced in the “excellent news” of the operation. He seized the occasion to align himself with the traditional American position: “I strongly support the resolute strategy of Colombia of making no concessions to FARC. I will also do my best to assure the success of future efforts against this terrorist organization.”