US knew of Colombian hostage plan, did not 'green light'

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States knew of Colombia's daring hostage rescue in its planning stages, but Bogota did not need Washington's "green light" for the operation, the White House said Thursday.

"We were aware in its planning stages, but this was an operation that was conceived by the Colombians and executed by the Colombians with our full support. But they did not need a green light from us," she said.

Perino said the United States had been working with Colombia even since the hostages were taken and implied that Washington had provided intelligence and even operational help -- while insisting that Bogota would have to decide how much of the US role to reveal.

"We'd also been working with the Colombian government ever since the hostages were taken...