BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: GUEST,beachcomber
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 06:54 PM

Why and how did FARC begin anyway? anyone?

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: Teribus
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 05:14 AM

Ah yes alanabit, FARC or more correctly FARC-EP, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army, a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary guerrilla organization, established in the 1960s as the military wing of the Colombian Communist Party.

Recognized as a terrorist group by the Colombian government, the United States Department of State, Canada and the European Union. However, Cuba, Venezuela, and other socialist countries are more sympathetic with the FARC, now I wonder why that should be?

This just another of those organisations that have hijacked and besmirched the good name of "socialism" alanabit? There does seem to be rather a lot of them dotted about the world for it all to coincidence.

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: GUEST,William of tigersoft.com
Date: 13 Jul 08 - 04:48 AM

What exactly were the contractors doing being engaged in a civil war in Columbia? American imperialism? No one is talking about what they were doing there. This silence tells the story!

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 05:12 PM

It's a net gain for those rescued, a loss of face for the rebels, and, yes, I would agree that the remaining hostages are now more endangered.

The rescue was bloodless which is amazing. My cynical side wonders if someone was bribed as well. I do favor bribery over fire fights and collateral damage.

The fact that Presidential candidate McCain was touring Columbia at the time was probably a coincidence. If he were photographed on the rescue heliocopter my cynical side might just kick in.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: alanabit
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 09:31 AM

Point taken Rapaire. However, no one is denying that everything possible has to be done to rescue hostages. The fact that no kidnappers were killed or seriously hurt should at least make reprisals less likely. It is hard to see how the kidnappers can gain any kudos at all by hurting their prisoners. Of course, it is always going to be hard to second guess these people. They don't think like you and I do.

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 09:24 AM

Ah, but what are the FARC doing with the rest of their hostages now? Not like I'm not happy about this, but the families of the hostages had been begging people NOT to attempt rescues out of fear of the inevitable retaliation.

But bully for the freed ones!

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 08:42 AM

I'm afraid that those who might remain are now in greater danger. The hostage-takers (call them "kidnappers") have lost face.

But I'm happy for those rescued and especially for their families.

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: alanabit
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 03:13 AM

It is particularly gratifying to see that the whole operation was pulled off without any killing or wounding. Hostage taking is always indefensible. I think everyone will be glad that these hostages were freed without causing any addtional danger to those who remain in captivity.

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: Ernest
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 02:15 AM

Good news indeed!

And for those "rebels": FARC OFF!

;0)
Ernest

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: Amos
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 12:32 AM

That's a win for everyone.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 12:26 AM

Terrific news...it can be done!

Subject: BS: Yes! Hostages rescued in Columbia!
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 11:20 PM

Colombia's military yesterday rescued the most prominent of several hundred hostages held by Marxist rebels, a group of 15 that included the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three American Defense Department contractors who had been imprisoned in remote jungle camps since 2003. From HERE.

I have followed the story of Ingrid Betancourt, mostly through stories on NPR, for several years now and am so very, very glad she is now safe, as well as the other 14 hostages who were rescued, today. Sometimes good things DO happen!