Killing Escobar
The Ordeal in Pablo Escobar's Territory
The narrator recounts a painful experience in Pablo Escobar's territory, reflecting on how he ended up in that situation.
He recalls Catholic prayers for strength and honor in the face of death.
The Medellin Cartel and Pablo Escobar
Bogota bombings, attributed to drug cartels, killed 35 and injured 200, targeting the country's security police headquarters.
Presidential elections were marred by the assassinations of three candidates due to the drug war.
Pablo Escobar led the Medellin Cartel, becoming one of the world's richest men through cocaine dealing, responsible for 80% of the world's cocaine.
The Medellin and Cali cartels initially had an alliance before conflict arose over control of distribution territories. Cali in New York and Pablo in Miami.
The Cali cartel bombed Pablo Escobar's building, leading to vicious retaliation.
Involvement with the Cali Cartel
The narrator was invited to a meeting with Alberto Rodriguez of the Cali Cartel to discuss eliminating Pablo Escobar, framing it as survival for both families.
The Cali Cartel sought contact with ex-SAS forces in England through the narrator.
In 1989, Jorge Salcedo Cabrera contacted the narrator about working for businessmen in Cali to eliminate Pablo Escobar.
Enlisting the Expertise: Peter McAleese
Peter McAleese, with experience in Angola, was identified as the right person for the job.
Angola was in a state of civil war, attracting mercenaries.
McAleese defends his involvement in the Angolan war, citing the fight against communism.
He emphasizes the need to aid those defending against communist forces, regardless of the personal feelings against communism
He recalls the breakdown of order and the abundance of money in arms trading.
He justifies fighting against communism for both financial gain and ideological reasons.
Dave Tompkins describes McAleese as extremely brave.
Dave Tompkins: The Procurement Specialist
Dave Tompkins had experience in the security business, dealing with defense equipment, including bombs and missiles, shipping millions of dollars worth of arms to various entities.
Tompkins is described as suave and debonair, always well-dressed.
McAleese was impressed by Tompkins' demeanor and handling of himself.
Dave Tompkins and Peter met in Angola.
Dave Tompkins was interested in a job in Columbia and Peter accepted.
Assembling the Team in Cali
Peter and Dave flew to Cali and were met by Jorge Salcedo (aka Ricardo), who bypassed customs and immigration, indicating the cartel's power.
The mission was perceived to be sanctioned at the highest level.
They were taken to a private sports center owned by the cartel and met with the four Cali cartel leaders to negotiate. Dave videoed everything.
The negotiation involved highly skilled soldiers, with payment per month, bonuses, and expenses, indicating money was not an issue for the cartel.
One of the cartel leaders asked if they could kill Pablo Escobar.
The Morality of Assassination
McAleese had no moral qualms about killing Escobar, given the bounties on his head and the threat he posed to Colombia and its people.
He recalls when Escobar placed a bomb on a commercial airliner, killing 110 people, because he believed a presidential candidate was on that plane. The candidate was not on the plane.
He views it as eliminating a target, not murder.
McAleese recounts his first experience killing someone in Aden (Southern Yemen) in 1967, justifying it as part of his profession as a soldier.
He recalls feeling like he proved himself as a soldier.
Preparations and Planning: Hacienda Nápoles
Recalling a cold night, he cooked beans using hexamine blocks.
There were fears that Escobar could send people to kill him.
McAleese dreamt of Angola, seeing a man shot in the back of the head.
The Cali Cartel was confident that they could kill Escobar at one of his parties in his ranch.
The plan involved targeting Hacienda Nápoles, waiting for Escobar to come there.
McAleese conducted a reconnaissance flight over Hacienda Nápoles to assess the terrain, noting its zoo, museum with Al Capone's car, and airstrip.
Hacienda Nápoles was about 10,000 acres.
He considered medevac options and identified potential landing areas for an assault team. They knew where the guards were.
He found the area to be tailor-made for a complete assault team.
The mission was deemed a go, eliciting excitement and a sense of purpose.
A team of 12 special forces types was chosen for the mission.
Team Selection and Assembly
The selection process was based on prior acquaintance, recommendations, and willingness.
Alex Lennox, a former parachute regiment soldier, was recruited and excited about the opportunity and the money.
The team members arrived via circuitous routes to avoid detection.
Jorge secured them through passport and immigration.
The team was accommodated in a spacious and well-furnished apartment with armed security.
They were paid a month plus expenses, with McAleese receiving pounds a day.
McAleese briefed the team but withheld the identity of the target.
Maintaining Discipline
The team was tempted by the attractions of Cali, but McAleese emphasized discipline.
McAleese caught two team members drinking, fined them each, and administered anti-abuse tablets to prevent further alcohol consumption.
The team's presence became noticeable, prompting a move to a colder, more isolated location.
Personal Reflections
McAleese reflected on his mistakes, his marriage, and his childhood while shivering in the cold.
He reminisced about his upbringing in Glasgow, his absent father, and his experiences with violence.
His father was incarcerated in Berlini Prison.
McAleese recalled his father getting attacked and his grandfather putting his father on a training regime for the comeback fight.
He recalled when his father broke his nose and how it made him think that he could never let any body beat him.
He sought to channel his aggression and left Glasgow.
Training and Preparation
The team was moved to a ranch called Pennsylvania for training, equipped with weapons smuggled from the United States.
The ranch had a hundred acres of mountaintop retreat with chinese gardens, a bowling alley, swimming pools, a sauna, a weight room, stables, horses, quad bikes, and guard dogs.
The weapons included dynamics, M16s, AR15s, anti-tank rockets, Spas 12 shotguns, machine pistols, Uzis, Zulu grenades, 66-millimeter anti-tank laws rockets, 60 kilos of C4 explosives, and anti-personnel mines.
The team's mentality shifted as they focused on the mission.
Isolation and Reflection
During his time in isolation, McAleese reflected on his life, his regrets, and his troubled past.
He acknowledged his shortcomings as a husband and father.
He had carried an awful anger within him, which may have come from his father.
He drifted from job to job and felt lost after leaving the British Army.
He found himself in jail for assault and blamed himself.
Mercenary Experience
He used his special forces experience as a mercenary in Angola, Rhodesia, and South Africa.
He recalls that the discipline that they are talking about as they are gonna fight back, that is the fucking difference.
He stated that nobody can touch them together as a team.
Doubts and Departures
As Han had a tomato and Roy had a carrot, Terry Tagny expressed fear and a desire to leave, posing a security risk.
Revealing the Target
The team was informed that their target was Pablo Escobar, leading to shock and determination.
Cepi Londono offered Dave Tompkins a million dollars for Escobar's head.
Final Preparations
McAleese planned another flight over the route to the target area, noting the presence of 80 men on the premises with limited ammunition.
He felt they had the tactical advantage and the firepower.
Media Exposure and Compromise
A Sunday Times reporter, James Adams, threatened to publish a story on the mission, potentially jeopardizing it.
Adams accessed flight information, indicating his connections.
A bargain was struck, granting Adams exclusive rights to the story after the operation in exchange for withholding publication.
The Cali cartel wanted to kill Adams but Dave refused.
The radio telephoned the Cali Cartel, and Dave said for them to get a move on with this operation. Otherwise it's not gonna come off due to the world press getting on to what is actually happening here.
The Mission Begins
The radio burst into life with a message in Spanish that Pablo is there now around the swimming pool having a meeting, prompting the team to mobilize. Go now. He's there. Go. Go.
The team, fueled by adrenaline and extensive training, boarded the helicopters, determined to eliminate Escobar.
They flew low to avoid radar detection, exploiting the corruption of military personnel on Escobar's payroll.
Oleg prayed for protection as they flew towards the target.
The Crash
Heavy cloud cover forced the helicopters to split up, leading to disorientation and a crash.
The helicopter crashed into the trees. McAleese was severely injured, but he managed to escape and disarm the bombs on board.
He found Peter and other survivors, but the pilot, Tiger, was mortally wounded.
The other helicopter crashed also.
Aborted Mission and Survival
The mission was aborted due to the crash, and the focus shifted to survival and evacuation.
Peter was badly injured. McAleese took photographs of Peter. McAleese had his head busted.
The helicopter located them hovering above them, however they smashed up fairly badly.
McAleese made a mistake of leaving Peter.
Dave, helicopter, Peter and then the modus operandi is survival in the area of Pablo Escobar.
McAleese, injured and alone, faced the threat of Escobar's men.
He crawled in search of food and water, shivering in the cold, and prepared for a potential confrontation.
He thought of dying.
He heard voices and prepared to defend himself, but they turned out to be friendly forces.
They chopped down a long thin tree and they slid him down the tree.
Every step he took, it was just pain like he's never known in his life.\n
Rescue and Reflection
McAleese was rescued by friendly forces after days of hardship and was taken to Cali.
He reflected on his life, his regrets, and his spiritual journey.
He reached a state of peace and clarity.
Aftermath
McAleese acknowledges his failure to achieve the mission due to the crash.
While his physical health deteriorated, he found mental and spiritual peace.
He attributed his personal growth to his past experiences.
He learned a lot on the side of the Andes. It was the beginning of him growing up.