Posted on 07/02/2008 1:52:48 PM PDT by marron
14:20 | The Colombian Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos reported that the army had rescued 15 hostages, among them the former presidential candidate and three US citizens, during a military operation called "Operation Check".
Bogotá (EFE) .- The Colombian army rescued safe and sound ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three US citizens, and eleven soldiers held hostage by FARC in Guaviare department (south), announced today Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos.
The minister said in a press conference that the French-Colombian former presidential candidate, held captive since February of 2002, and US citizens Thomas Howes, Keith Stansell and Marc Gonsalves, kidnapped in 2003, were liberated from a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) camp.
He added that the freed hostages were traveling at that moment by helicopter to San José del Guaviare, the regional capital.
"This operation was called "Check", it has no precedents and shows very well the quality and professionalism of the Colombian military forces", said Santos.
"My most sincere congratulations to our men in Army Intelligence", he added and he congratulated Generals Freddy Padilla, commander of the Armed Forces, and Mario Montoya, commander of the army.
"This country and its loved ones can not begin to thank you for such a rescue operation", which took more than a year to carry out, he said.
Betancourt, the three US contractors and the eleven soldiers will be brought later to Tolemaida air base, in Tolima department, less than 190 kilometers from Bogota.
The Colombian army did a great job getting Ingred and the others out. I don’t know anyone involved in this operation but I wish I could personally thank each and everyone of them. Now that they are free all Hell is going to break loose and the smart money is NOT with the FARC. (sorry Hugo)
PS: Nice this could happen while John McCain was in country!
That must have been quite a moment. Ingrid Betancourt has been a hostage since 2002 or so. The others have also been there several years. This is going to be a great 4th for the Americans (and probably a good Bastille Day for Ingrid!).
By soldiers? How can that be?
Not by journalists?
Not by "activists"?
Not by "community organizers"?
By soldiers! May we should give peas < /sic> a chance. Did they read them their rites? < /sic>.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.