The BBC is reporting the breaking news that Colombian troops have freed Ingrid Betancourt from the FARC. She has been in captivity since 2024. It is a breaking story and no details are available at the moment.
More when I have it.
Update: NPR reports that three Americans were also rescued along with eleven others. I am having trouble accessing Colombian news sites at the moment.
Update II: CNN reports, Betancourt rescued from FARC kidnappers, Colombia says.
This is fantastic news and yet another blow to the FARC.
Update III: BBC World Service confirms 15 rescued. The rescue was in the department of Guaviare.
Update IV: The news interest in this story must be overwhelming the El Tiempo servers, as at the moment their home page consists simply of one story about the rescue: Rescatada Ingrid Betancourt, los 3 estadounidenses y otros 11 secuestrados de la Fuerza Pública
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As you mentioned below, Columbia doesn’t normally register so high on the American public’s radar. Nonetheless, McCain is down there, Uribe is probably more aligned with McCain’s politics than Obama’s–any connection in the timing of the rescue and McCain’s visit?
Comment by Ratoe — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 3:09 pm
My gut reaction is that it is a coincidence. But the thought had occurred to me.
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 3:14 pm
If Pres. Bush were down there he would undoubtedly call it a blow to Al Qaeda in Guaviare. It will be interesting to see how it’s spun by the campaigns.
Comment by Ratoe — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 3:25 pm
@Ratoe - You have to watch out for AQG!
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 3:27 pm
first off, how are 750 hostages held in the Jungles? I understand it is almost impossible to detect these people but still. How about sending like 5000 troops armed with blazing guns, to go track down the whole jungles of the fuckin south americas. This is stupid. I am sick of hearing kidnapping stories and all the gov. does is say we will negotiate. This tactic seems like the only thing left for them to do. It’s the reason why movies are movies. In real life, women get raped when they are captured, and usually killed right after. These south americans are crazy. Real talk. If i was a women, I would not want to live in South America. Why? Because you are subjected to getting captured and raped. Even tortured to the point of no return. Very sad. Indeed. How about the U.S. take 1 billion dollars of the 460billion they asked and got approved from the government to go use in Iraq, and go kill these crazy south americans. All I have to say is, this world is fucked up. So fucked up.
Comment by World isFUcked — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 7:38 pm
@World isFUcked - All I have to say is WOW. What an ignorant comment. Great idea to generalize all south americans and say that each and every south american is crazy/rapist/terrorist etc. I am not Southern American, but I am born of Central American parents from El Salvador. El Salvador is infamously known for its crime which is mostly linked with the MS 13 gang that has spread to the United States. Now if according to your logic of Southern Americans and if that applies to Salvadorans, that would make me, my siblings, my parents, and every friend, acquaintances, and the millions of Salvadorans across the world are all gangbangers trying to sell cocaine. Maybe I should make the generalized statement that all Americans are all white hicks with 50-in. waists that sit around watching Nascar with a beer in their hands. One of the sources of income for the FARC is the drug trade, mainly cocaine. What country is the biggest consumer of Cocaine? DING DING DING! The United States! And coincidentally the biggest supplier of cocaine to the United States comes form Columbia. Our dear country is always indirectly involved with situations like this. Maybe next time you and anyone else who has your similar ideas, should think and ponder before making such bigoted comments. But hey I’m only 17. What the hell do I know?
Comment by Daniel — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 8:06 pm
sorry double post
Comment by Daniel — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 8:06 pm
Look, I hate to be that guy who rains on everyone’s parade but, FARC is probably not going to let all of the other hostages free now, or even live.
For some reason, I don’t think just because Mccain went down there, that he has any idea how to stop Americans from buying illegal drugs, which fuels the damn conflict in the first place.
Solution: Legalize drugs and tax them.. watch all those idiots fight over cheaper prices.
Comment by Dan — Wednesday, July 2, 2024 @ 9:29 pm