Thread:Bluerock/@comment-44626702-20191208220655/@comment-1672596-20191209134652

In the Darkness of Shadow Moses did indicate that the Patriots at least knew enough about the mission that they orchestrated most of it, including Meryl's captured status to blackmail Roy Campbell, due to Richard Ames' involvement and it including a scene where Ames threatened Roy into compliance by reminding him of Meryl's current endangered status. More like than not, the Patriots lost control when Donald Anderson ended up killed (which was not likely to be part of their plans due to his being a key member of the Patriots).

Besides, it wouldn't be the last time they simultaneously did and did not have involvement in something. Let's not forget that Otacon claimed that the Patriots did not approve of RAY's development and partly orchestrated the Tanker Incident specifically to halt its development, and yet Ocelot ended up claiming that he was there to "take [RAY] back", which implied that the Patriots DID in fact approve of RAY's development, albeit secretly. Not to mention how their conversation towards Raiden implied that, contrary to what Ocelot stated, they even anticipated Snake's arrival on the Big Shell (basically, when Raiden claimed that he can decide for himself, they asked if he came up with it himself, or if Snake taught it for him in a very calm manner, that and their claiming it was a resounding success without any indication that they had a close call towards it nearly failing due to Snake's interference.).