NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay. I'll be honest. I have no idea who this person is or why this is such a huge deal, but apparently it is since it's so plastered all over the BBC. So here's the article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7486552.stm

The Colombian authorities say they have rescued Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans held by rebels in Colombia.

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 Farc group has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for more than 40 years.

Colombian Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said no-one had been hurt in Wednesday's operation in the southern province of Guaviare and that the hostages were in relatively good health.

Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Ms Betancourt's son, Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt, told reporters in Paris that her release was "the most beautiful news of my life" and that it had filled him with "an indescribable joy".

Government 'success'

The Colombian military said some 15 hostages had been rescued in total, among them 11 members of the Colombian security forces who had been captured in various rebel attacks.


INGRID BETANCOURT
Born on 25 December 1961
Grows up in Paris
1989: Returns to Colombia
1994: Elected to lower house
1998: Becomes a senator
2002: Kidnapped by Farc rebels

The three Americans rescued were defence department contract workers captured after their light aircraft crashed in the Colombian jungle in 2003, the Colombian military said.

The BBC's Jeremy McDermott in Medellin says the successful operation by Colombian security forces is a political and military coup for the country's government.

As such, it will relieve the pressure on President Alvaro Uribe to negotiate with the Farc - the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - allowing him to continue with his US-backed military offensive against the group, our correspondent says.

The Farc had hoped to exchange some 60 political hostages for hundreds of rebels held by the Colombian government, he adds, but with Ms Betancourt's rescue they have lost a powerful negotiating tool.

The news is yet another blow to the once-mighty Farc, our correspondent adds, following the death of its legendary leader Manuel Marulanda in March, along with two other members of the guerrilla group's seven-man ruling body.

The Farc still holds more than 40 hostages.

Public sympathy

The news of Ms Betancourt's rescue will be welcomed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had made securing her release a foreign policy priority.

The AFP news agency reports that the French president's office has confirmed Ms Betancourt's release.

The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says the news has been greeted with great joy in France, where Ms Betancourt's plight has excited huge public attention and sympathy.

Video pictures released last November of her looking gaunt and frail, as well as the accounts of released hostages that she was in danger of dying, all heightened the sense of urgency surrounding her fate, our correspondent adds.

Ms Betancourt has dual citizenship as the result of marriage to a French diplomat - since dissolved - which produced two children, who have worked hard to keep her captivity in the spotlight.

The Vatican and the Spanish government have also welcomed news of her rescue, AFP reports.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner travelled to Latin America earlier this year to build ties with regional leaders who have been influential in securing hostage releases from Farc in the past.

Ms Betancourt was kidnapped in 2002. She is believed to suffer from serious liver problems.

Think this will change anything when it comes to Columbian politics?

just goes to show how wrong those who rebel against an American backed goverment are.

Very glad they saved those 3 Americans we should give them more military aid.

Okay. I'll be honest. I have no idea who this person is or why this is such a huge deal, but apparently it is since it's so plastered all over the BBC.
It's good news, and it made me happy to read it :)

I do like this. Seems like FARC is well on the way to the political graveyard it deserves.

I do like this. Seems like FARC is well on the way to the political graveyard it deserves.
Yep. Its leaders are being picked off like flies, they've been suffering huge military defeats and casualties at the hands of the Colombian army and even Chávez has left the sinking ship.

Now they've lost their last bargaining chip, so I'd expect the Colombians to step up military operations and break whatever's left of FARC once and for all. Amazingly enough, this seems to be one insurgency that might actually end with one side winning completely. Even if it took a few decades.

Good stuff.

*nod*

I´m very glad Ingrid Betancourt has been released after 6 years of having been kidnapped. It was about time!

As for this changing Colombian politics... we can only hope, but I doubt it´ll change much.

Okay. I'll be honest. I have no idea who this person is or why this is such a huge deal
She was a presidential candidate and kidnapped for six years. That's quite major.
Think this will change anything when it comes to Columbian politics?
No.

No.
Not while there's coca and trees in Columbia.

I wonder how much damage the world economy would suffer if someone unleashed a gen-modded killer rust on the Coca population..?

I wonder how much damage the world economy would suffer if someone unleashed a gen-modded killer rust on the Coca population..?
Lots. There we go.

I wonder how much damage the world economy would suffer if someone unleashed a gen-modded killer rust on the Coca population..?

You ever heard of a little something called Coca-Cola? It's sort of a big deal these days. Just... throwing that out there.

You ever heard of a little something called Coca-Cola? It's sort of a big deal these days. Just... throwing that out there.
No longer contains coca IIRC.

No longer contains coca IIRC.

Apparently, the de-cocainised leaf is still used in flavouring, and also in Red Bull Cola.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/02/betancourt.colombia/index.html

According to the story on CNN, the whole thing was not just a strategic disaster for FARC, but absolutely humiliating.

Now they've lost their last bargaining chip, so I'd expect the Colombians to step up military operations and break whatever's left of FARC once and for all. Amazingly enough, this seems to be one insurgency that might actually end with one side winning completely. Even if it took a few decades.

moral of the story it will just take a few decades in Iraq.

Okay. I'll be honest. I have no idea who this person is or why this is such a huge deal, but apparently it is since it's so plastered all over the BBC. So here's the article:Can we get pictures of the rock you've been living under?

Yep. Its leaders are being picked off like flies, they've been suffering huge military defeats and casualties at the hands of the Colombian army and even Chávez has left the sinking ship.

Now they've lost their last bargaining chip, so I'd expect the Colombians to step up military operations and break whatever's left of FARC once and for all. Amazingly enough, this seems to be one insurgency that might actually end with one side winning completely. Even if it took a few decades.

When they were on the helicopter with the hostages, the army guys disarmed the two rebel captors who, up until that point, thought that everything was going their way.

I would pay money to see the looks on their faces when they found out that they were fucked.

Has Chavez commented on this yet?

On one hand, he likes the FARC, and on the other hand, he's been calling for the release of the hostages.

I would pay money to see the looks on their faces when they found out that they were fucked.I'd risk having my YouTube viewing habits divulged.

Gotta hand it to the planners. Faking being members to rescue the hostages was brillant.

I'm surprised two people haven't posted here by now. One to sing and spooge about how this is the Death of Socialism all across the world, and the other to play Baghdad Bob and say it's only a minor setback for The Revolution.

That said, FARC is losing a war of attrition. Reduce the pool of experienced members and what you have left over time are a bunch of greenhorns with no idea what's going on.

I'm surprised two people haven't posted here by now. One to sing and spooge about how this is the Death of Socialism all across the world, and the other to play Baghdad Bob and say it's only a minor setback for The Revolution.

That said, FARC is losing a war of attrition. Reduce the pool of experienced members and what you have left over time are a bunch of greenhorns with no idea what's going on.
It's also hard to gain popular support by kidnapping and extorting the populace...

Can we get pictures of the rock you've been living under?

To be fair, the Betancourt thing has had little to no media exposure in the United States. The only reason I'd heard of it is because I read a lot of French media.

To be fair, the Betancourt thing has had little to no media exposure in the United States. The only reason I'd heard of it is because I read a lot of French media.

That's because they are playing up the 3 americans that were also rescued after 5 years.

Gotta hand it to the planners. Faking being members to rescue the hostages was brillant.
Brilliant and blatantly obvious tactics are apparently the same thing.
They could've asked our D&D group this; that was our plan for a game weeks ago.


I have no idea who Betancourt is, just know that it is a cool name.

That's because they are playing up the 3 americans that were also rescued after 5 years.
Not really. They have been playing up the fact that they rescued Betancourt far more than the three Americans.
The media is all over the end of the story, but there was no coverage of the beginning to make it that important.

Okay. I'll be honest. I have no idea who this person is or why this is such a huge deal, but apparently it is since it's so plastered all over the BBC. So here's the article

The article says everything, even if you didn't know before, you should know now, if you read what you posted.

As Laerod said, I want a photo of that rock.

just goes to show how wrong those who rebel against an American backed goverment are.

Very glad they saved those 3 Americans we should give them more military aid.

How wrong the FARC are, in their methods.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/07/02/betancourt.colombia/index.html

According to the story on CNN, the whole thing was not just a strategic disaster for FARC, but absolutely humiliating.

Because of the way it was performed. Being defeated is one thing, being deceived and taken for an idiot is something else entirely. I don't think the middle men in the FARC will trust orders from their superiors anymore.

moral of the story it will just take a few decades in Iraq.

Do you REALLY think it is the same situation? You are more deluded than I oculd imagine. And yes, the liberation of a few american hostages will be worth 40 years of prostacted fighting in a Middle East country...

When they were on the helicopter with the hostages, the army guys disarmed the two rebel captors who, up until that point, thought that everything was going their way.

I would pay money to see the looks on their faces when they found out that they were fucked.

"We're army guys. The hostages are free and you are under arrest"

"What?!!"

*punches, kicks and grabs*

Yeah, I'm pretty sure it was funny as hell.

Has Chavez commented on this yet?

On one hand, he likes the FARC, and on the other hand, he's been calling for the release of the hostages.

A rather bland officcial communiqué from the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Nothing big, just saying they are happy and expect this to be another step towards peace. Nothing from Chávez except a simple "congrats".

Sorry, incoming a few minutes ago. Chávez is going to meet Uribe for a reconciliation next week. Link in spanish.

http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/07/03/pol_ava_cancilleria-desea-qu_03A1753959.shtml

To be fair, the Betancourt thing has had little to no media exposure in the United States. The only reason I'd heard of it is because I read a lot of French media.

Weird. Three american hostages involved, and McCain was with Uribe THIS WEEK. I guess the haircut of Obama's wife was more important than geopolitics. You americans are so trendy in your newsfeed...

Gotta hand it to the planners. Faking being members to rescue the hostages was brillant.

Read about the full plan. It was actually awesome and impressive. That was truly a shock and awe, more complex than a simple "disguise plan" of a D&D group. I suspect international support over there from a group of "true" international mediators from France and Switzerland. Great intelligence work.

Weird. Three american hostages involved, and McCain was with Uribe THIS WEEK. I guess the haircut of Obama's wife was more important than geopolitics. You americans are so trendy in your newsfeed...

I should clarify, I have no idea how the US media is covering the Betacourt thing at this particular moment, as I'm not currently in the US and haven't been for several months. However, I've been following it for years in the French media and never once heard anything about it in the US media before I saw it on cnn.com yesterday.

I should clarify, I have no idea how the US media is covering the Betacourt thing at this particular moment, as I'm not currently in the US and haven't been for several months. However, I've been following it for years in the French media and never once heard anything about it in the US media before I saw it on cnn.com yesterday.

I see ;)

Wasn't Venezuela mediating negotiations between the Colombian gov't and FARC? I am a cynical person, and I believe that this US-supported operation was a way to steal the thunder from Chavez, and fuck up the negotiations (which can later somehow be blamed on Venezuela). But that's just me, because I never believe the US doing anything in Colombia (even just a 'joint operation with the national forces') is without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose.

Though I still have to admit, the operation was mighty cool.

Wasn't Venezuela mediating negotiations between the Colombian gov't and FARC? I am a cynical person, and I believe that this US-supported operation was a way to steal the thunder from Chavez, and fuck up the negotiations (which can later somehow be blamed on Venezuela). But that's just me, because I never believe the US doing anything in Colombia (even just a 'joint operation with the national forces') is without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose.

Though I still have to admit, the operation was mighty cool.

I seriously doubt that a man who largely funded the FARC, and fed them intel, and sent them major arms, would be "seriously" negotiating.

I think that they got a lot of information off of those previously seized laptops, and this is the result. The FARC is royally fucked, and now Chavez is only in it for PR purposes - to get some hostages released (which he was never able to really pull off the way he wanted) - but he was more than willing to threaten Colombia with attack if they attacked FARC resources in Venezuela.

Obama doesn't have the military connections to get in on some good PR - and yes, McCain was there to show that he already has the connections to be in on secret missions that work out - the rumor in DC is that Obama wouldn't have the connections to pull off jack shit with the military (or any other military outside of Cuba and North Korea) if he was President.

Wasn't Venezuela mediating negotiations between the Colombian gov't and FARC? I am a cynical person, and I believe that this US-supported operation was a way to steal the thunder from Chavez, and fuck up the negotiations (which can later somehow be blamed on Venezuela). But that's just me, because I never believe the US doing anything in Colombia (even just a 'joint operation with the national forces') is without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose.

Though I still have to admit, the operation was mighty cool.

Was, indeed.

The negotiations were suspended a long time ago, several months, actually, and Venezuela stopped being a mediator. Chávez removed himself claiming that he wasn't able to negotiate with a corrupt goverment as the one of Uribe. So, it wasn't exactly a stealing of the credit...

I do not believe the US makes anything outside its border without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose, too. But as far as I know, the US actual support for this operation was minimal. It was more an intelligence procedure than an actual force action, and it was almost entirely planned and executed by colombians, not exactly a "joint operation". Perhaps the US forces gave them some satellital or GPS data, and that was it...

Was, indeed.

The negotiations were suspended a long time ago, several months, actually, and Venezuela stopped being a mediator. Chávez removed himself claiming that he wasn't able to negotiate with a corrupt goverment as the one of Uribe. So, it wasn't exactly a stealing of the credit...


By corrupt Chavez means non socialist goverment. Unwilling to become a socialist goverment to stop an insurgency.

Was, indeed.

The negotiations were suspended a long time ago, several months, actually, and Venezuela stopped being a mediator. Chávez removed himself claiming that he wasn't able to negotiate with a corrupt goverment as the one of Uribe. So, it wasn't exactly a stealing of the credit... Thank you for some actual information on the subject :)

I do not believe the US makes anything outside its border without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose, too. But as far as I know, the US actual support for this operation was minimal. It was more an intelligence procedure than an actual force action, and it was almost entirely planned and executed by colombians, not exactly a "joint operation". Perhaps the US forces gave them some satellital or GPS data, and that was it...

Ugh, to hear the CBC tell it, Bush himself told them how to do it:rolleyes:

I seriously doubt that a man who largely funded the FARC, and fed them intel, and sent them major arms, would be "seriously" negotiating.

I don't love the man, but so far that is just speculating.

I think that they got a lot of information off of those previously seized laptops, and this is the result. The FARC is royally fucked, and now Chavez is only in it for PR purposes - to get some hostages released (which he was never able to really pull off the way he wanted) - but he was more than willing to threaten Colombia with attack if they attacked FARC resources in Venezuela.

Informant's reports were more important than what they got from the laptops, as far as I know. The FARC is royally fucked, and that is a good thing.

Obama doesn't have the military connections to get in on some good PR - and yes, McCain was there to show that he already has the connections to be in on secret missions that work out - the rumor in DC is that Obama wouldn't have the connections to pull off jack shit with the military (or any other military outside of Cuba and North Korea) if he was President.

I am wondering if:

a) McCain knew something, and if Uribe told him about it.

I don't think McCain, or the US military leadership, knew a lot about the operation. As I said, it was made mostly by colombian planners and operatives.

By corrupt Chavez means non socialist goverment. Unwilling to become a socialist goverment to stop an insurgency.

I am aware. It's his view, although.



Ugh, to hear the CBC tell it, Bush himself told them how to do it:rolleyes:

:rolleyes: Yeah, sure. Sorry, I don't want to be anti-american, but your intelligence operations hasn't been exactly succesfull lately.

Watch the mess you did with the prisoners of Guantánamo, the WMD's in Iraq, amongst other stupidities. And I'm not mentioning that Osama is either dead by natural causes, or free somewhere else.

And you are welcome, I'm trying to remain as objective (impossible task anyway), as possible. At least, I try to warn people about my personal bias...

:rolleyes: Yeah, sure. Sorry, I don't want to be anti-american, but your intelligence operations hasn't been exactly succesfull lately.

Watch the mess you did with the prisoners of Guantánamo, the WMD's in Iraq, amongst other stupidities. And I'm not mentioning that Osama is either dead by natural causes, or free somewhere else.

And you are welcome, I'm trying to remain as objective (impossible task anyway), as possible. At least, I try to warn people about my personal bias...

Wait, you think Neesika is from the US?

*giggles*

:rolleyes: Yeah, sure. Sorry, I don't want to be anti-american, but your intelligence operations hasn't been exactly succesfull lately.

Watch the mess you did with the prisoners of Guantánamo, the WMD's in Iraq, amongst other stupidities. And I'm not mentioning that Osama is either dead by natural causes, or free somewhere else.

And you are welcome, I'm trying to remain as objective (impossible task anyway), as possible. At least, I try to warn people about my personal bias...
Just to clarify, CBC stands for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...wouldn't want you thinking I was USian :D

Wait, you think Neesika is from the US?

*giggles*

Sorry...

Just to clarify, CBC stands for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...wouldn't want you thinking I was USian :D

I remember you have some cool Native American background from some ethnic group in North America, (If the term "Native American" is somewhat offensive, give blame to my ignorance on the topic in particular and the english language in general, and not to a specific purpose), so I realized you were from the United States...But yeah, I guess Canada is the explanation.

If you give me the actual name of your "ascendancy", (spelling check?) I'll remember it forever.

Wasn't Venezuela mediating negotiations between the Colombian gov't and FARC? I am a cynical person, and I believe that this US-supported operation was a way to steal the thunder from Chavez, and fuck up the negotiations (which can later somehow be blamed on Venezuela). But that's just me, because I never believe the US doing anything in Colombia (even just a 'joint operation with the national forces') is without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose.

Though I still have to admit, the operation was mighty cool.

Well, apparently the extent of the US support was a thumbs up, basically. Our government or armed forces didn't take any part in the planning or execution of this rather... brilliant plan. At least apparently.

Sorry...



I remember you have some cool Native American background from some ethnic group in North America, (If the term "Native American" is somewhat offensive, give blame to my ignorance on the topic in particular and the english language in general, and not to a specific purpose), so I realized you were from the United States...But yeah, I guess Canada is the explanation.

If you give me the actual name of your "ascendancy", (spelling check?) I'll remember it forever.

No worries, and I'm of Cree background:)

I'm just embarrased that my country seems to go along with the US spin on things a little too often. Oh, and we say First Nations here, but it's not a huge deal unless you're a huge douche. Which you aren't. If you were though, it would be a huge deal.:p

Wasn't Venezuela mediating negotiations between the Colombian gov't and FARC? I am a cynical person, and I believe that this US-supported operation was a way to steal the thunder from Chavez, and fuck up the negotiations (which can later somehow be blamed on Venezuela). But that's just me, because I never believe the US doing anything in Colombia (even just a 'joint operation with the national forces') is without some mighty strings attached or self-serving purpose.

Though I still have to admit, the operation was mighty cool.

Novel interpretation. People have ascribed so many motives to this operation that it's most of the way to comic. Personally, I doubt getting mud on Chavez's face had anything to do with it.

Now that I have educated myself more on the subject, I have to say this is very good news , and it's good that Betancourt and the other hostages were reunited with their loved ones. That's always a good thing.

As for FARC, my hope is that their organization soon collapses. I'm not a huge fan of terrorist organizations, no matter what their ideology.

When they were on the helicopter with the hostages, the army guys disarmed the two rebel captors who, up until that point, thought that everything was going their way.

I would pay money to see the looks on their faces when they found out that they were fucked.espeically when you realize that the group didn't own any helicopters. :p

CNN reported that the riskiest part of the operation was piloting the choppers in and someone in the camp questioning the fact that they had helicopters.

Gotta hand it to the planners. Faking being members to rescue the hostages was brillant.The infiltration took years to cultivate. I hope the agent inside can foist the blame to someone else and keep his role going. he/she can do alot of damage on the inside.

Wait, you think Neesika is from the US?

*giggles*I've actually been mistaken for a Canadian recently. It sucks...

they need to focus on the Americans more then this Betancourt lady.
the Americans likely will contribute more to the world society.

FARC just got pwned. Badly. And I would pay money to see the expressions on the faces of the guys who got captured in the process - or the ground troops who handed them over.

*Scene: FARC rebels are watching the news*
Rebel 1: Hey, they're talking about the freed hostages!
Rebel 2: Turn it up! This is important!
News Anchor: ...disguised as humanitarian workers and FARC guerillas working for another commander...
Rebel 2: That sounds like what happened to us...
Rebel 1: Shut up, Cesar wouldn't be THAT stupid.
News Anchor: ...subdued a rebel commander who went by the name "Cesar" and was duped into coming along...
*Rebels look at each other*

Colombia, that was awesome.

they need to focus on the Americans more then this Betancourt lady.
the Americans likely will contribute more to the world society.

What's with you?

What's with you?

His trollfu is weakening.

I smell a rat.... -.-

I've actually been mistaken for a Canadian recently. It sucks...

Happens to me all the time. I've sort of gotten used to it.

I've actually been mistaken for a Canadian recently. It sucks...

I get mistaken for a Canadian quite often, but it's understandable because the only real differences between a Michigander and a Canadian are that we have guns and they have universal healthcare.

What's with you?You haven't figured out yet that he's groping for attention?