Jul 02 2008
Rescued Hostages
Hallelujah! In a secret operation a U.S. official called “brilliant,” the Colombian military infiltrated rebel group FARC and deceived its members into giving up 15 hostages including former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, Colombia’s defense ministry said. Ingrid Betancourt had been in captivity in Colombia for more than six years. CNN online tells the story of how Betancourt, three American contractors and 11 other hostages who were Colombian police were rescued in Wednesday’s operation. Read the story to feel the excitement of all involved. I cannot imagine being held hostage for 6 years. Praise the Lord for their release.
One Response to “Rescued Hostages”
I live in France, and I sure am glad Bétancourt has finally been freed. It’s been 6 years now that here in France the media, many celebrities, and people in general have been making such a big deal about that woman (I guess because she has French citizenship and her kids live here). There hasn’t been one month passing without some major demonstration to ask for her release. A mega picture of her face has been hanging from a famous building in Paris. Several associations were created, tons of money collected, celebrity singers made songs for her, etc…
It’s time people understood that there are *many* hostages in the world, and each should be treated as equally importantly as the others.
Conversely, CNN and US officials are now tutting the horn of victory when in fact CNN has published no more than 3 minor papers about Bétancourt over her 6 horrific years of detention, while the US government has never done zip for her liberation, all too afraid to irritate Bush’s buddy Uribe.
At least the French officials moved their ass to get her out, including the president who held a special address to the nation in her honor a few months ago.
I’m willing to bet 95% of the French have heard of Bétancourt and the FARC for years, while 95% of the Americans watching the news just discovered it today. Too bad.