You Rock, Uribe & Co.
I couldn't believe it when I saw the news this morning. It nearly brought tears to my eyes when I heard that Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others were freed from the FARC's clutches. The government operation just astonished me and only served to confirm to me President Uribe's brilliance. I feel as if the fact that the Colombian government was able to undermine FARC forces and not have to cater to their interests promises a brighter future for the nation. Uribe had to put up with just entirely too much drama from Presidents Chavez (who had shady dealings with the FARC) and then Corea this year so he deserves a huge kudos for showing he can get stuff done.
I simply don't quite understand how FARC expects to be acknowledged as a legitimate political party when its members cut themselves off from civilisation by living in the jungle, plundering nearby villages, and even going as far as to kidnap innocent bystanders as well as influential political figures. It upsets me that there's around 500 people who remain kidnapped and now the FARC is going to be more attentive to intruders. I'm in awe how Operation Jaque worked.
Snagged from Wiki:
Operation Jaque was a Colombian military operation that rescued 15 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on July 2, 2008 along the Apaporis River in the department of Guaviare, including former presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt. They were released as a result of a trick played on FARC by Colombian Military Intelligence. The other hostages freed were three American military contractors employed by Northrop Grumman, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, and eleven Colombian military and police. Two FARC members were arrested. The operation's title comes from the Spanish word for check, as in checkmate. Íngrid Betancourt stated the operation had been "perfect".
The Guaviare Department was the area of operations.This operation began in February 2008 when Colombian intelligence agents infiltrated the FARC and eventually the Commanding Chain of the rebels, duping the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias César, according to Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos. According to Betancourt, the hostages were moved early on the morning of July 2 across the river to a landing zone where they were told by their captors that they were going to be moved to a different location.
Santos said the FARC rebels had been tricked into handing over the hostages by soldiers posing as members of a fictitious non-government organisation that supposedly would fly the captives to a camp to meet rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
Two Mi-17 helicopters came to the landing area in Guaviare, where one, carrying Colombian agents wearing shirts of Che Guevara, landed to pick up the hostages. In total the helicopter spent 22 minutes on the ground, during which time the hostages were handcuffed and loaded aboard; the pilot and copilot communicated with fellow security personnel in code.
Two rebels, including César, boarded the helicopters along with the hostages, persuaded to hand over their pistols, and were subdued in the air by Colombian forces. Once in the air the hostages were informed of their rescue, stating "Somos el Ejército Nacional. Ustedes están libres" (We are the national army, you are free).Betancourt later told a press conference she at first had had no idea she was being rescued until she saw her captor naked and blindfolded on the floor of the aircraft.
U.S. involvement: The United States reportedly provided a transport plane and a medical team for the liberated hostages. According to Der Spiegel, Colombian authorities had used American spy satellites to track the location of the hostages since the beginning of 2008.
International reactions
Chile: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet stated that "This is a victory for democracy, peace and freedom."
France: French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke by telephone with Álvaro Uribe on the night before the operation. He later thanked Uribe and gave a live news conference with the children and sister of Íngrid Betancourt on the night of July 2. Immediately after the family and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner boarded a French jet for Colombia. Various French political figures also expressed their relief with the rescue.In Paris some drivers honked their horns on the night of the rescue, and a public celebration is scheduled for July 3.
United States: U.S. President George W. Bush praised and thanked Uribe, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was delighted with the rescue of the three American hostages. Presidential candidate John McCain, on a trip to Colombia, praised the rescue effort and urged the release of all hostages.
Mexico: Mexican President Felipe Calderón telephoned President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe to congratulate him on the successful operation, hailing the strategy implemented to reinforce legality and order, which strengthens democratic life and social coexistence in Colombia.
Ecuador: Ecuadorian defense minister Javier Ponce stated that the liberation of the 15 hostages was something the world was waiting for, but also lamented the way it happened, saying "It is a pity it happened not as part of a peace process, but as a violent rescue by the Colombian Armed Forces." He claimed it diminishes the chances of a political resolution.
Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stated that "We are overjoyed at the liberation of those people ... and even happier to learn they were freed without spilling a drop of blood."
List of hostages rescued
Íngrid Betancourt
Marc Gonsalves
Keith Stansell
Thomas Howes
Lieutenant Juan Carlos Bermeo (Colombian Army)
Lieutenant Raimundo Malagón (Colombian Army)
Sergeant José Ricardo Marulanda (Colombian Army)
Sergeant Erasmo Romero (Colombian Army)
Corporal William Pérez (Colombian Army)
Corporal José Miguel Arteaga (Colombian Army)
Corporal Armando Florez (Colombian Army)
Lieutenant Vaney Rodríguez (Colombian National Police)
Corporal Jhon Jairo Durán (Colombian National Police)
Corporal Julio Buitrago (Colombian National Police)
Subintendente Armando Castellanos (Colombian National Police)
Chavez was at least fairly diplomatic about the incident, but Ecuador is still acting like an arse. I mean, this rescue mission is one of the government's most laudable feats; it managed to liberate its citizens without instigating a civil war. To add to that, it was extremely heart-warming to see Ingrid Betancourt reunited with her family. She endured all the perils and torture for over 6 years. I do hope Ingrid considers tastefully writing a book or allowing a decent movie to be made of her life.
I simply don't quite understand how FARC expects to be acknowledged as a legitimate political party when its members cut themselves off from civilisation by living in the jungle, plundering nearby villages, and even going as far as to kidnap innocent bystanders as well as influential political figures. It upsets me that there's around 500 people who remain kidnapped and now the FARC is going to be more attentive to intruders. I'm in awe how Operation Jaque worked.
Snagged from Wiki:
Operation Jaque was a Colombian military operation that rescued 15 hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on July 2, 2008 along the Apaporis River in the department of Guaviare, including former presidential candidate Íngrid Betancourt. They were released as a result of a trick played on FARC by Colombian Military Intelligence. The other hostages freed were three American military contractors employed by Northrop Grumman, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, and eleven Colombian military and police. Two FARC members were arrested. The operation's title comes from the Spanish word for check, as in checkmate. Íngrid Betancourt stated the operation had been "perfect".
The Guaviare Department was the area of operations.This operation began in February 2008 when Colombian intelligence agents infiltrated the FARC and eventually the Commanding Chain of the rebels, duping the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias César, according to Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos. According to Betancourt, the hostages were moved early on the morning of July 2 across the river to a landing zone where they were told by their captors that they were going to be moved to a different location.
Santos said the FARC rebels had been tricked into handing over the hostages by soldiers posing as members of a fictitious non-government organisation that supposedly would fly the captives to a camp to meet rebel leader Alfonso Cano.
Two Mi-17 helicopters came to the landing area in Guaviare, where one, carrying Colombian agents wearing shirts of Che Guevara, landed to pick up the hostages. In total the helicopter spent 22 minutes on the ground, during which time the hostages were handcuffed and loaded aboard; the pilot and copilot communicated with fellow security personnel in code.
Two rebels, including César, boarded the helicopters along with the hostages, persuaded to hand over their pistols, and were subdued in the air by Colombian forces. Once in the air the hostages were informed of their rescue, stating "Somos el Ejército Nacional. Ustedes están libres" (We are the national army, you are free).Betancourt later told a press conference she at first had had no idea she was being rescued until she saw her captor naked and blindfolded on the floor of the aircraft.
U.S. involvement: The United States reportedly provided a transport plane and a medical team for the liberated hostages. According to Der Spiegel, Colombian authorities had used American spy satellites to track the location of the hostages since the beginning of 2008.
International reactions
Chile: Chilean President Michelle Bachelet stated that "This is a victory for democracy, peace and freedom."
France: French President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke by telephone with Álvaro Uribe on the night before the operation. He later thanked Uribe and gave a live news conference with the children and sister of Íngrid Betancourt on the night of July 2. Immediately after the family and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner boarded a French jet for Colombia. Various French political figures also expressed their relief with the rescue.In Paris some drivers honked their horns on the night of the rescue, and a public celebration is scheduled for July 3.
United States: U.S. President George W. Bush praised and thanked Uribe, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she was delighted with the rescue of the three American hostages. Presidential candidate John McCain, on a trip to Colombia, praised the rescue effort and urged the release of all hostages.
Mexico: Mexican President Felipe Calderón telephoned President of Colombia Alvaro Uribe to congratulate him on the successful operation, hailing the strategy implemented to reinforce legality and order, which strengthens democratic life and social coexistence in Colombia.
Ecuador: Ecuadorian defense minister Javier Ponce stated that the liberation of the 15 hostages was something the world was waiting for, but also lamented the way it happened, saying "It is a pity it happened not as part of a peace process, but as a violent rescue by the Colombian Armed Forces." He claimed it diminishes the chances of a political resolution.
Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stated that "We are overjoyed at the liberation of those people ... and even happier to learn they were freed without spilling a drop of blood."
List of hostages rescued
Íngrid Betancourt
Marc Gonsalves
Keith Stansell
Thomas Howes
Lieutenant Juan Carlos Bermeo (Colombian Army)
Lieutenant Raimundo Malagón (Colombian Army)
Sergeant José Ricardo Marulanda (Colombian Army)
Sergeant Erasmo Romero (Colombian Army)
Corporal William Pérez (Colombian Army)
Corporal José Miguel Arteaga (Colombian Army)
Corporal Armando Florez (Colombian Army)
Lieutenant Vaney Rodríguez (Colombian National Police)
Corporal Jhon Jairo Durán (Colombian National Police)
Corporal Julio Buitrago (Colombian National Police)
Subintendente Armando Castellanos (Colombian National Police)
Chavez was at least fairly diplomatic about the incident, but Ecuador is still acting like an arse. I mean, this rescue mission is one of the government's most laudable feats; it managed to liberate its citizens without instigating a civil war. To add to that, it was extremely heart-warming to see Ingrid Betancourt reunited with her family. She endured all the perils and torture for over 6 years. I do hope Ingrid considers tastefully writing a book or allowing a decent movie to be made of her life.