Magazine content is available exclusively for TIME subscribers.Colombia Noble Battle, Terrible Toll
The army major was flabbergasted at the offer, delivered by an emissary of Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha: in return for destroying confiscated documents and computer disks that provided a detailed blueprint of Gacha's cocaine empire, the officer, whose monthly salary is $300, would receive $1.2 million. Cash. If he refused, the drug Mafia would hunt him down and slaughter him.
How many people would be strong enough to just say no? To reject immediate wealth and accept a relentless shadow of violent death? Yet the major did say no, and turned over the data to his superiors. His bravery is only...
Email, Password or Region is incorrect
A required form parameter was missing.
The System is currently down. Please try again in a few minutes.
Email Address is invalid
Password is blank
Most Popular »
- How Cash Keeps Poor People Poor
- E.T. Turns 30: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Our Favorite Extraterrestrial
- 15-Year-Old Creates Test for Pancreatic Cancer
- Nevada Ghosts: Rare Photos From an A-Bomb Test
- Euro Crisis: Why A Greek Exit Could Be Much Worse Than Expected
- Could a Fertility Gene Discovery Lead to New Male Contraception?
- 10 Dangerous Products You Might Have in Your Home
- Fourth Flesh-Eating-Bacteria Case Confirmed in Georgia, Possible Fifth
- Obama Stumbles? Why the President's Right to Talk About Bain
- Star Wars Turns 35: How TIME Covered the Film Phenomenon
- Researchers Probe the Potential Health Benefits of Palm Oil
- A Visit with Turkey's Controversial Religious Movement
- Feeding the Planet Without Destroying It
- Bubble on the Potomac
- Falcon's Liftoff: How a Private Firm Could Change Space Exploration
- The Fatal Flight of the Superjet 100: Why Did It Slam Into a Mountain?
- Learning That Works
- The Man Who Remade Motherhood
- Bibi's Choice
- Seoul: 10 Things to Do
More News from Our Partners
Top Stories on TIME.com
Quotes of the Day »
