Operation Jaque (Spanish: Operacin Jaque) " was named after the first letter of the month of the operation, July, and referencing check in chess, was a Colombian military operation that resulted in the successful rescue of 15 hostages, including former Colombian presidential candidate ngrid Betancourt. The hostages had been held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The operation took place on July 2, 2008, along the Apaporis River in the department of Guaviare.

The other hostages freed were Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, three American military contractors employed by Northrop Grumman and 11 Colombian military and police.[3] Two FARC members were arrested." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_JaqueLinks to an external site.

The news of this successful rescue was greeted with glowing praise:

"No battle victory no commando missile attack on a FARC camp, like the one that killed the FARC's No. 2 leader, Raul Reyes, last March could have dealt Colombia's once powerful guerrillas a more devastating blow than the liberation operation that took place along the Apaporis River in southern Guaviare province, long a FARC stronghold."

http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1819862,00.htmlLinks to an external site.

However, "on July 15, 2008, it was reported that according to unpublished photos and video footage viewed by CNN, which the network declined to buy from its source and whose authenticity it could not verify, Colombian military intelligence misused an official International Red Cross emblem during the rescue operation." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_JaqueLinks to an external site.

It was then confirmed in August that the Colombian military had duped the guerrillas by wearing Red Cross symbols. See http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/15/colombia.red.cross/Links to an external site.

"Such a use of the Red Cross emblem could constitute a "war crime" under the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law and could endanger humanitarian workers in the future, according to international legal expert Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association.

"It is clear that the conventions are very strict regarding use of the symbol because of what it represents: impartiality, neutrality. The fear is that any misuse of the symbol would weaken that neutrality and would weaken the [Red Cross]," Ellis said. Video Watch possible misuse of emblemLinks to an external site.

"If you use the emblem in a deceitful way, generally the conventions say it would be a breach. [Based on the information as explained to me,] the way that the images show the Red Cross emblem being used could be distinguished as a war crime, " he added.

Ultimately, President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia apologized for the incident.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-rebels/colombia-misused-red-cross-emblem-in-hostage-rescue-idUSN1643285220080716Links to an external site.

For this discussion, I want you to address the following issues in your response:

1) Make a comment regarding your judgment of the military's decision. Was it right or wrong? State why you think so.

2) Is International Humanitarian Law involved in this case? Why or why not? State why you think so.

3) USING THE INFORMATION FROM OUR IHL Materials, think about the two answers you gave above, and then describe your thinking in this case. What does your thinking reflect?