Luke LaManna

Salic kept pushing. He asked for information on other guerrillas still on the run, but Guevara only gave evasive answers. Salic wasn't deterred. He was going to keep up this interrogation until he got what he wanted. The next morning, on October 9, 1967, CIA operative Felix Rodriguez was standing outside the schoolhouse where Guevara was being held. His mind was reeling.

Salic kept pushing. He asked for information on other guerrillas still on the run, but Guevara only gave evasive answers. Salic wasn't deterred. He was going to keep up this interrogation until he got what he wanted. The next morning, on October 9, 1967, CIA operative Felix Rodriguez was standing outside the schoolhouse where Guevara was being held. His mind was reeling.

He'd arrived early with a group of high-ranking Bolivian military officials. When they landed, Rodriguez had gotten straight to work photographing documents that had been captured with Guevara. This was invaluable information on how the revolutionary leader thought and operated. It would be essential in combating other insurgencies.

He'd arrived early with a group of high-ranking Bolivian military officials. When they landed, Rodriguez had gotten straight to work photographing documents that had been captured with Guevara. This was invaluable information on how the revolutionary leader thought and operated. It would be essential in combating other insurgencies.

But moments ago, Colonel Centeno Anaja, the ranking officer on site, had received word that the Bolivian government was ordering Guevara to be executed. This was not what the United States wanted. The U.S. government felt that it would advance their cause further if Guevara was shown captured and weak, and they still hoped Guevara would reveal more information under interrogation.

But moments ago, Colonel Centeno Anaja, the ranking officer on site, had received word that the Bolivian government was ordering Guevara to be executed. This was not what the United States wanted. The U.S. government felt that it would advance their cause further if Guevara was shown captured and weak, and they still hoped Guevara would reveal more information under interrogation.

But Colonel Anaja was preparing to leave and bring the weapons and documents that had been captured to military command. Rodriguez knew that unless Anaja said something to contradict the order, Guevara would soon be executed and turned into a martyr. Rodriguez rushed over to Anaja. He urgently informed him that the United States wanted to keep Guevara alive no matter what.

But Colonel Anaja was preparing to leave and bring the weapons and documents that had been captured to military command. Rodriguez knew that unless Anaja said something to contradict the order, Guevara would soon be executed and turned into a martyr. Rodriguez rushed over to Anaja. He urgently informed him that the United States wanted to keep Guevara alive no matter what.

He told the colonel there were US aircraft standing by. They could evacuate Guevara to Panama and continue to interrogate him. He would be out of Bolivia's hands so they wouldn't have to worry about his escape. It was a win-win. Rodriguez studied Anaja's face. He knew that many in the Bolivian army agreed that it would be better to keep Guevara alive. Maybe the colonel thought so too.

He told the colonel there were US aircraft standing by. They could evacuate Guevara to Panama and continue to interrogate him. He would be out of Bolivia's hands so they wouldn't have to worry about his escape. It was a win-win. Rodriguez studied Anaja's face. He knew that many in the Bolivian army agreed that it would be better to keep Guevara alive. Maybe the colonel thought so too.

But after a moment, Anaja shook his head no. He told Rodriguez that he couldn't disobey an order that had come directly from the president of Bolivia and his Joint Chiefs of Staff.

But after a moment, Anaja shook his head no. He told Rodriguez that he couldn't disobey an order that had come directly from the president of Bolivia and his Joint Chiefs of Staff.

anaja looked rodriguez in the eye and told him that he would leave for 90 minutes and he expected che guevara to be dead by the time he returned as anaja flew away in his helicopter rodriguez debated his options he could disregard the orders and get guevara out on a u.s aircraft who knew what kind of information the united states would obtain if they were able to properly interrogate guevara this could be invaluable information to stop the spread of communism

anaja looked rodriguez in the eye and told him that he would leave for 90 minutes and he expected che guevara to be dead by the time he returned as anaja flew away in his helicopter rodriguez debated his options he could disregard the orders and get guevara out on a u.s aircraft who knew what kind of information the united states would obtain if they were able to properly interrogate guevara this could be invaluable information to stop the spread of communism

But whisking Guevara out of the country would risk starting a major international incident with Bolivia. The Bolivian government despised Guevara for all the soldiers he killed, and they wanted vengeance. Ultimately, Rodriguez decided he couldn't risk defying Inaja. For better or worse, he had to leave this decision in the hands of the Bolivians.

But whisking Guevara out of the country would risk starting a major international incident with Bolivia. The Bolivian government despised Guevara for all the soldiers he killed, and they wanted vengeance. Ultimately, Rodriguez decided he couldn't risk defying Inaja. For better or worse, he had to leave this decision in the hands of the Bolivians.

They had made their choice that Guevara must die, no matter how much Rodriguez and the American government disagreed. Shortly after the Colonel left, Rodriguez took a deep breath and went back inside the schoolhouse. He might have been proud at one point to kill the communist revolutionary, but now he looked at the wounded man and told him he was sorry.

They had made their choice that Guevara must die, no matter how much Rodriguez and the American government disagreed. Shortly after the Colonel left, Rodriguez took a deep breath and went back inside the schoolhouse. He might have been proud at one point to kill the communist revolutionary, but now he looked at the wounded man and told him he was sorry.

He told Guevara he had done everything he could, but orders had come from the highest levels of the Bolivian government. He didn't need to explain what those orders were. Guevara knew. He looked shocked for a moment, but then he nodded. He told Rodriguez it was better this way. He shouldn't have been captured alive. Guevara asked Rodriguez to pass messages on to Fidel Castro and to his wife.

He told Guevara he had done everything he could, but orders had come from the highest levels of the Bolivian government. He didn't need to explain what those orders were. Guevara knew. He looked shocked for a moment, but then he nodded. He told Rodriguez it was better this way. He shouldn't have been captured alive. Guevara asked Rodriguez to pass messages on to Fidel Castro and to his wife.