Breaking: Colombian army frees Ingrid Betancourt, three Americans from FARC captivity
posted at 4:00 pm on July 2, 2008 by Allahpundit
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They had her locked up for six years.
Ms Betancourt, a French-Colombian politician, has been held for more than six years by the rebel Farc group and is said to be in very poor health.
She is the group’s highest-profile hostage and the French government has made securing her release a priority…
The Colombian military said some 15 hostages had been rescued in total on Wednesday, among them 11 Colombian soldiers.
McCain (foolishly) is in Colombia today himself, so let the paranoid far-left questioning of the timing begin!
Update: I won’t pretend to be familiar with the particulars of this story, but follow the saga of the negotiations for her release at Wikipedia for a sense of just how long it’s been.
Update: Spruiell, who is somewhat familiar with the particulars, credits Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for kicking ass and taking names over the past several months.
Update: Further to Spruiell’s point, Jonathan Winer at the Counterterrorism Blog points to the FARC laptops seized by Colombian troops back on March 1 as a likely source of the intel on Betancourt’s whereabouts. “With this rescue, which may well involve collaboration by defectors from within the FARC, the collapse of the FARC as a political, terrorist, and criminal force in Colombia, after 44 years, may be nearing.”
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Yeah, that’s something, I hope Uribe just finishes FARC off once and for all, he’s got them on the run and can probably do it, it’d be best to finish them off now lest they make a comeback.
doubleplusundead on July 2, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Hugo is crying into his borscht tonight
William Amos on July 2, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Eh, the Hysterilibs will claim that the Columbian army killed a few dozen nuns in the process.
Bishop on July 2, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Dude, if the whiff of his man-scent is all it takes, let’s send him into all the dark corners of the world. I’m sure the Israelis would like to borrow him Gilad and the 3.
Spirit of 1776 on July 2, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Way to go Uribe! Do us a favor and take out several hundred more FARC terrorists, and BTW please release more of the data on their fifth column supporters in Europe, Peru, Venezuela and the Democratic Party USA, that you got off the laptops.
Think_b4_speaking on July 2, 2008 at 4:12 PM
Maybe now Pelosi will put through the Free Trade Agreement? The abandonment of Uribe has been disgraceful. But that’s what she does, right?
Grantman on July 2, 2008 at 4:13 PM
Tough day for Obama. This should resurface the fact his name and mention of unidentified, affiliated gringos speaking for him with FARC were on the captured laptop. Maybe. If the media cared.
a capella on July 2, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Have American clothing companies started selling FARC tee shirts, yet?
I can’t wait to see them on the snot-nosed, punks in high school and college.
OhEssYouCowboys on July 2, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Makes sense to me. And the release of the captives could be a complete coincidence. McCain doesn’t strike me as an opportunistic grandstander, getting wind of an event like this and rushing down for a photo op.
RushBaby on July 2, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Uribe for VP?
Harry Schell on July 2, 2008 at 4:20 PM
great news!!
trailortrash on July 2, 2008 at 4:23 PM
They heard how McCain roughed up the Sandanista official many years ago, heard he was coming down and was PISSED! FARC begged Uribe to take the hostages away from them to avoid a McCain beatin’.
On a serious note, this is long overdue good news.
michaelo on July 2, 2008 at 4:25 PM
Now Obama’s got to decide whether this is good news or bad news.
Cicero43 on July 2, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Congratulations to the families of all the hostages on the return of their safety.
Schweet
Branch Rickey on July 2, 2008 at 4:29 PM
It’ll be both. Depending on who is calling him out on it.
OhEssYouCowboys on July 2, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Spirit of 1776 might be onto something. The Iranians liberated their hostages on the day Reagan was inaugurated.
McCain hasn’t been elected yet, and he goes to Colombia and hostages are liberated.
Coincidence? Maybe, but at least McCain knows who our friends are in foreign policy, and Uribe is one of them. Let’s make a deal!
When McCain goes to Brazil, he should definitely do a photo-op on an offshore drilling rig (the Brazilians, with their Socialist Prime Minister Lula da Silva, aren’t afraid to drill for oil near the beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro) and tell Americans “Yes We Can” drill for oil!
Then, if he was smart, he would spend the July 4 weekend in PA, OH, and MI, then a listening tour to the far north and its beautiful Governor Sarah Palin, for an education about pristine wilderness areas. Now, while there’s enough daylight for a photo-op–it’s too dark up there in October!
Steve Z on July 2, 2008 at 4:31 PM
awesome
William Amos on July 2, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Not only will Obama find a way to make this good news, he’ll find a way to take credit for it.
NeighborhoodCatLady on July 2, 2008 at 4:33 PM
Maybe “eco-nones”? I don’t think most of them care about this because it happened while Bush is president any nothing good come anywhere because 9/11 should have for Billy Blythe, a la Tingles Matthews…..
Branch Rickey on July 2, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Looks like I need to run out and put up the flags two days early!
Thanks Colombia!
Limerick on July 2, 2008 at 4:34 PM
I hope they caught some turncoat that will drop a dime on Chavez and his role in FARC.
William Amos on July 2, 2008 at 4:35 PM
This is great news!
upinak on July 2, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Readers may also be interested to know that among the released are three Americans, Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes and Keith Stansell, employees of Northrop Grumman who were kidnapped five years ago.
Hannibal Smith on July 2, 2008 at 4:39 PM
I won’t hold my breath if you won’t! :)
Branch Rickey on July 2, 2008 at 4:39 PM
“They heard how McCain roughed up the Sandanista official many years ago, heard he was coming down and was PISSED! FARC begged Uribe to take the hostages away from them to avoid a McCain beatin’.”
Now THAT is a line we need to keep pushing. McCain goes to Columbia. Freedom happens. Go figure and on the same day 21 year history emerges like it was yesterday (at least in the headlines). Go figure.
I’m giving McCain’s presence credit.
ilitigant on July 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Excuse me, I should have said rescued, not “released.” Credit to the Colombian military and leadership for taking an active role.
Hannibal Smith on July 2, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Yeah but gay marriage still isn’t legal in Columbia yet, so this means nothing.
Bishop on July 2, 2008 at 4:41 PM
I heard something that Northrup was still paying (the salaries) the families of the American Hostages.
Of course a rumor, but a very good company if it is true.
upinak on July 2, 2008 at 4:42 PM
I read recently that Betancourt was a pain in the rear to the rebels. Must be the French ancestry.
davod on July 2, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Bet she praises her captors.
Blake on July 2, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Really, we should be very glad that McCain was there, because otherwise this momentous event might have gone completely unnoticed here in the U.S.
This sure does paint Nancy Pelosi into a corner on CFTA.
rockmom on July 2, 2008 at 5:03 PM
This is fantastic news.
gabriel sutherland on July 2, 2008 at 5:04 PM
OMG!!!
This is fantastic!!
Failed rescue attempt in 2003
http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0509/p07s02-woam.html
Texas Gal on July 2, 2008 at 5:11 PM
I hope McCain’s got a huge, appreciative smile on his face when he gets his picture taken shaking hands with Uribe. It’s like they’re already working together!
Hannibal Smith on July 2, 2008 at 5:11 PM
There is hope in the world………
Seven Percent Solution on July 2, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Less than a year ago, Urbie said, “For us, the military path is just as valid as the path of negotiation.” His vindication is now complete.
Uribe’s popularity was 84% in Colombia yesterday. Just imagine what it is right now. Take a look at how he has brought Colombia back from the brink in the space of 6 years, it’s nothing short of miraculous. He is, without a doubt, the greatest elected leader on the planet.
Uribe’s pimp hand is strong!!
Golden Boy on July 2, 2008 at 6:20 PM
McCain had nothing to do with the release of these hostages. Next.
Dave Rywall on July 2, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Obama wanted to talk to the terrorists first.
This spoils his non-preconditional plans.
Until his reverses position.
5…4…3…2…
profitsbeard on July 2, 2008 at 6:50 PM
This is a major story.
Ingrid Betancourt took the microphone…
“Thank you God. Thank you Virgin Mary. We are all free.”
She went on to say that she is praying that the men and women that were duped by the rescue operation are not harmed for their mistake.
God…Virgin Mary…relief for her captors.
gabriel sutherland on July 2, 2008 at 7:29 PM
Funny, we don’t hear much about South America in the news nowadays. You’d be surprised with how much is going on there.
Send_Me on July 2, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Go Colombia!
aengus on July 2, 2008 at 8:30 PM
YEA I got back from Colombia last week! Its double party time in my Colombian household! We got our American hostages back! Happy Independence day everyone! and Viva Bush! Viva Uribe! hermano anti communista! Viva Plan Colombia! Viva Estados Unidos! Viva Colombia!. VIVA MCCAIN!!!! MUERTE A COMUNISTAS! MUERTE A LA IZQUERDA! MUERTE A LAS FARC! MUERTE A CHAVEZ!
Lets get serious and ask Obama what his campaign had to discuss with the FARC last February at the hemispheric leftist meetings that took place in Quito, Ecuador. Those laptops had the Communists wish list when their ally Obama got into power. Better yet send Obama to our Colombian anti communist brethren they know what to do with Marxist scum!!!!!!!!!
Happy Independence Day HA! !!!
elduende on July 2, 2008 at 9:46 PM
Oh and please keep the approx. 700 hostages still in the hands of the FARC in your prayers folks.
elduende on July 2, 2008 at 9:57 PM
I was also watching that. She also said that she felt pity for her captor who was stripped naked and bound with tape. Does anyone else suspect a little touch of Stockholm Syndrome? It’ll be interesting to keep a close eye on that. Allahpundit, please keep us updated.
Western_Civ on July 2, 2008 at 11:02 PM
WTF is up with the Drudge Report? This story isn’t even a blip there…
pseudonominus on July 2, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Once again the Colombian military has pulled off quite an operation…those guys are good. Ingid Betancourt was effusive in her praise for them (that part of the clip was, of course, ommitted from the BBC report) and rightfully so.
Blaise on July 3, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Not a single shot fired. Best rescue in some time.
koolbrease on July 3, 2008 at 1:57 AM
Sounds like someone pissed in drywall’s cheerios this morning.
MarkTheGreat on July 3, 2008 at 7:18 AM
Poor Ingrid. I can’t begin to imagine what that woman has gone through. Praing for her captors? Stockholm Syndrome or not, she is amazing. As she said, “Praise God.”
Mrs. Happy Housewife on July 3, 2008 at 8:38 AM
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