Red Cross Symbol Used In Hostage Rescue

Colombia President: Insignia Worn Without Permission By Nervous Member Of Rescue Team

(AP)  A member of the military mission that tricked Colombian rebels into freeing 15 hostages wore the insignia of the International Red Cross during the operation, President Alvaro Uribe said Wednesday.

Uribe said his government had apologized to the Red Cross for the incident, which he called an unauthorized error by a nervous soldier.

"An officer mistakenly and contrary to orders ... put a piece of cloth on his vest that carried the symbol of the International Committee of the Red Cross," Uribe said in a speech in Bogota.

A fleeting image of a portion of the cloth is visible in video taken of the operation by an agent posing as a cameraman that was officially released.

Use of the Red Cross symbol in such a military operation would appear to violate the Geneva Conventions that protect the relief organization's reputation for neutrality in conflicts.

In the July 2 rescue, a team of Colombian military intelligence agents posing as members of a fake international humanitarian group airlifted to safety hostages including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors.

They were removed from a rebel-controlled zone in a Colombian Mi-17 military helicopter that had been painted white. Aboard were unarmed Colombian agents dressed in civilian clothing, several wearing Che Guevara T-shirts.

CNN reported Tuesday that it had seen several still images of members of the team prior to the rescue operation and one of them wore a bib bearing the Red Cross symbol. The person who showed them to CNN was seeking to sell unauthorized images and video of the operation.

Uribe said a government investigation was ordered after first media reports late last week on the alleged use of the Red Cross logo in the operation.

Uribe said he received the results on Wednesday and said the the man who wore the symbol had confessed that "when the helicopter was about to land he saw such a quantity of guerrillas that it made him very nervous."

He said Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos and Colombia's top generals had met with the International Red Cross on Wednesday morning to offer an explanation and apologies.

The Red Cross could not immediately be reached for comment.

[barbaraf4]

So, let me get this straight. The Red Cross, who suffers from its worst approval rating in their entire history, is somehow offended that their insignia showed up on a jungle rescue? The rescue was a success with much favorable publicity. Why would the Red Cross object to being associated with that?

[ichabod57]

So what do they want us to do? Give the hostages back because somebody deceived the kidnappers?

[glidescube]

Do you think th e rescued hostage give a ***? I sure as hell would not.

[libsluv2spit]

I wonder if the liberal media WILL EVER expose military tactics from terrorists??
hell at the rate and direction these liberal media is going..terrorists, regimes and dictators does not have to spend money on intellgence agency..all they need to do is watch the liberal media..

[libsluv2spit]

I don''''t believe that the use of the Red Cross symbol was a random act. If you can create distrust and have people shooting at the Red Cross, you keep the Red Cross from being able to go in and bear witness to the American Empire''''s atrocities. Just another cynical tactic to keep the American public in the dark about the use of their tax dollars in worldwide oppression.


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Posted by tngreen at 07:49 PM : Jul 16, 2008
+ report abuse

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well let us read the FACT..

"In the July 2 rescue, a team of Colombian military intelligence agents posing as members of a fake international humanitarian group airlifted to safety hostages including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors"

it does not seem like is a US operation at all..but then again, for an anti-american liberal, it does not really matter..when you have a mindset that this country is evil..it could be anything at any point in history..they will always find something to whine about

[oneamerican-]

Looks like the liberals are having a hissy-fit that the FARC was duped into releasing hostages.

I doubt that these same liberals care that terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas have consistantly used Red Cross and Red Crescent ambulances to move weapons and terrorists in order to kill innocent civilians...

Nah, of course not. Liberals only care about very selective issues.

[oneamerican-]

Looks like the liberals are having a hissy-fit that the FARC was duped into releasing hostages.

I doubt that these same liberals care that terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas have consistantly used Red Cross and Red Crescent ambulances to move weapongs and terrorists in order to kill innocent civilians...

Nah, of course not. Liberals only care about very selective issues.

[tngreen]

I don''t believe that the use of the Red Cross symbol was a random act. If you can create distrust and have people shooting at the Red Cross, you keep the Red Cross from being able to go in and bear witness to the American Empire''s atrocities. Just another cynical tactic to keep the American public in the dark about the use of their tax dollars in worldwide oppression.

[Michael Arnold]

Like Washington torturing Iraqis and others, there will be long-term consequences for this down the road. Its why we used to be the "good-guys". We had rules. No longer. Using the Red Cross logo for this "rescue" is going to be bad news.

[dronemonk]

This is propaganda cover for the fact that the hostages release was paid for with several million dollars. It''s just not as exciting for the proles unless it looks like daring do. But it was a straight up cash for hostages deal...everything else is window dressing.

[cdfoxtrot1]

It''''s OK ... the Red Cross are crooks anyways. Most of the time, donations made aren''''t even used for that particular disaster. Poorly run organization ...

Posted by emelder

Moronic response.
The Red Cross has helped saved the lives of many people, including Americans, caught in dangerous situations. There is good reason for the use of the Red Cross symbol to be protected under the Geneva Convention. The Colombians should be condemned for using the Red Cross symbol. They have now put the lives of Red Cross personnel and the people they try to save, in jeopardy, in future conflicts. That may mean Americans, too! So don''t think this is something all you Americans can just sneer at, as usual.

[babooph]

The so called "legitimate" govts. seem to be using "any" methods to attack their enemies-why then are they "legitimate"?

[emelder]

It''s OK ... the Red Cross are crooks anyways. Most of the time, donations made aren''t even used for that particular disaster. Poorly run organization ...

[mytoosense]

This is a tough one to answer, Is it OK to lie to Kidnappers to gain the freedom of hostages?

[displeased]

While being outwardly helpful, remember its primary objective is to make a profit from a crisis.
Posted by yongamerica

Where do you get this nonsense? If you look at their financial statements, only 7% of their total expenses go to salaries and administration. Any non-for-profits with over 25% overhead are flagged. I''d say Red Cross falls well below this limit.

[yongamerica]

The Red Cross is a for profit corporation that takes advantage of people''s generosity during a humanitarian crisis. This fact was shown on several occasions during Hurricane Katrina with its management of donations for this disaster. This corporation has no real claim to the red cross as its been in use for centuries. It protects its trademark with the billions of dollars it collects from people trying to help people.

While being outwardly helpful, remember its primary objective is to make a profit from a crisis.

[libsluv2spit]

wow!!!!!!! that is a pretty good ''heads-up" for all those criminal regimes and terrorists..if you are no tusing the red cross as human shields..SHOOT THEM

thanks Associated Press..along with Osama bin Laden they want to thank you for providing valuable intel