Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 64621 / 251,287

Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen Thailand

Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05 2011/06 2011/07 2011/08

Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08BOGOTA2404, COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES AND

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BOGOTA2404.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BOGOTA2404 2008-07-03 00:34 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Bogota 
VZCZCXYZ0003
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2404 1850034
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030034Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3440
INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0645
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL 9537
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 6324
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 1956
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1332
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 6996
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4483
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1550
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
 
UNCLAS BOGOTA 002404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PTER PREL PREF PHUM FR CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIAN MILITARY RESCUES AMERICAN HOSTAGES AND 
INGRID BETANCOURT 
 
ΒΆ1.  Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos announced on July 
2 that the Colombian military had rescued American hostages 
Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, along with 
Ingrid Betancourt and eleven members of the Colombian 
security forces, from the FARC.  Military intelligence 
rescued the hostages from an area south of San Jose de 
Guaviare in an operation titled "Operation Jaque."  Santos 
said the unprecedented operation incurred no injuries or 
deaths. He added that the Colombian military had 
"infiltrated" the FARC Secretariat, as well as the FARC's 
First Front which was holding the hostages, as part of the 
operation.  Santos called on all FARC to lay down their arms 
and demobilize. The Colombian military also captured two FARC 
members, including First Front commander Gerardo Antonio 
Aguilar, alias "Cesar," and Alexander Farfan, alias "Enrique 
Gafas."  Santos said the military would hand "Cesar" over to 
Colombian judicial authorities.  The American hostages are 
wheels up at 6:15 PM en route to the United States tonight. 
BROWNFIELD