Colombia Rescues Ingrid Betancourt, Americans From FARC

***UPDATED 9:21pm ET -- July 2, 2008***

Colombia - Colombian spies tricked leftist rebels into handing over kidnapped presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors Wednesday in a daring helicopter rescue so successful that not a single shot was fired.

Betancourt, who was seized on the campaign trail six long years ago, appeared thin but healthy as she strode down the stairs of a military plane and held her mother in a long embrace. She said she still aspires to the presidency.

"God, this is a miracle," Betancourt said. "Such a perfect operation is unprecedented."

Eleven Colombian police and soldiers were also freed in the rescue, the most serious blow ever dealt to the 44-year-old Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, which considered the four hostages their most valuable bargaining chips. The FARC is already reeling from the deaths of key commanders and the loss of much of the territory it once held.

The Americans -- Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell -- were flying directly to the United States to reunite with their families, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said. They had been the longest-held American hostages in the world.

***EARLIER***

Colombia - Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors and 11 other hostages from leftist rebels on Wednesday.

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Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos says no one was hurt in the operation in eastern Colombia.

He said army commandos captured rebels manning a security ring around the hostages and got them to persuade their comrades to turn over the captives, without any loss of life.

Santos says the other 11 hostages freed were Colombian soldiers and police.

Betancourt, the Americans Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell, and the other hostages were taken to a military base.

In Paris, Betancourt's son Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt called her release after six years of captivity, "if true, the most beautiful news of my life."

There was no answer at the homes of American families of the three U.S. hostages.

Read more here.

Scroll down for photos of Betancourt before and after she was taken hostage.

BEFORE AFTER

Comments

[pixy242a]

It is widely reported in the European press that a ransom/bribe of 10 mil pounds or $20 mill was paid and the release staged. of course all the governments involved, colombian, france and US deny it.

[WilliamPilgrim]

Let me get this straight, Americans have been held hostage in a foreign country for the last 6 years, on Bush's watch and this is essentially the first time anyone has heard obout it. The MSM has virtually ignored this story. It's funny during the Carter Administration hostages were held for 1 year and during that year the MSM had this on front page news every friggin day with their hostage crisis banners and daily coundown . Oh yeah and its just incredible that McCain and his posse show up in Columbia the day they are set free.
Cooincidence.... I think not.

[meanguy]

maybe it's the first YOU'VE heard of it...sounds like you may have been a bit testy that the MSM reminded the public daily of our hostages being held for 444 days...did you consider it a reminder of the impotence and ineptitude of the carter administration?

[raywyatt]

I am deeply suspicious that this coincided with McCain's visit.

[TheOneironaut]

So I guess next is the inevitable capture of Ben Laden right?

[chromodynamics]

I wonder which Mercenary outfit these three men worked for. Blackwater? The article doesn't say. But I do notice a disturbing trend in the news to whitewash all soilders of fortune serving in private armies as U.S. military contractors.

[TurnerBurn]

NORTHRUP GRUMMAN

Want to know what they're doing down there? Check out this Wiki entry. Scroll down to "other services" and you'll get your answer... I guess what ever cartel doesn't have a working relationship w/ the CIA gets the Northrup treatment! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrup_Grumman

**No doubt this was coordinated w/ McCain's visit!! The irony that the famous p.o.w. would be there during this is non-existent. Total staged event. This also drums up support for the free trade agreement that Bush and Co. have been trying to ram into existence. Wake up people! I know this is an Obama crowd, right? How's that FISA deal working through your brain right now? How's all of the past and present Clinton aides joining his team have you feeling? Wasn't he the one talking up "page-turning"? What a load... We are in so much trouble. McCain is totally corrupt and dysfunctional, Obama is an epic deception...

Hug your kids, store some food and water, and get friendly w/ your neighbors. The country is in such poor shape, and because of that you'll see staged events to distract you from reality. Get out of the false left-right paradigm.

Happy Independence Day!

[pixy242a]

CNN said Northrup Grumman employees

[onegandolf1]

How were they "tricked" into releasing her? Like CocteausTwin and vinca, I'm skeptical of serendipitous events like this one. Guess I've also been lied to much too often. I'ts made me cynical.

[ADR]

They were tricked because the rescuers wore Che Guevera t-shirts -- the hero of the American Left, Obama supporters, and HuffPo readers!

Viva Che Guevera!!!

[Kenji]

Huh? You have no idea what this piece is about, do you?

[pixy242a]

REmember Jessica Lynch ?

[meanguy]

a little warm this time of year to be donning the tinfoil hat, don't you think?

[liberalissima]

PLEASE, PLEASE, I AM REALLY ENRAGED AT THE ILLITERATE PEOPLE THE AMERICANS ARE; THE NAME OF THE COUNTRY IS """"COLOMBIA""" WITH AN O COLUMBIA IS DIFFERENT; IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT, PLEASE CONSULT A MAP

[ADR]

And if you don't know how to post a message without all caps or can't use proper grammar I'd suggest you consult an English teacher.

[ADR]

I'd also suggest that if you become easily enraged over a misspelling that you consult a therapist immediately.

[oracleatdelphi]

Coincidently John McCain just happened to be in Columbia. He will probably try to take credit for this. I'm sure someone in the State Department told him this would be happening on this date.

[msmaggie]

This story is the headline in every paper in the country. And it should be. Here on Huffpo, I had to search to find it. What is it with you people?

[definitelyNOTmisterRIGHT]

why are you searching when it's on the huffpo FRONT PAGE? DUH!

[msmaggie]

Below the fold, way below the fold. Which is different from "the headline". Duh indeed.

[Bulbul]

Very good news, free at last.
My curiosity as a woman, Ingrid in captive in the jungle for all these years . Her skin looks flawless, polished . Women wold give anything to get that kind of look, what gives Ingrid ? How ?

[Bulbul]

women would...typo

[liberalissima]

BULBUL, YOU SEEM TO BE ONLY INTERESTED IN WHAT TYPE OF BEAUTY CREAM SHE USED ALL THESE YEARS; WHAT AN EMPTY HEAD. THE LADY WENT THROUGH HELL AND YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HER SKIN.

[Bulbul]

No caps necessary, somehow yours got locked.
It was a complement to Ingrid , you missed my point....go get your coffee....

[ByersL]

I am very happy for the hostages and their families, I'm sure this was a very trying time. HOWEVER, I also would like to know what kind of "contractors" these people were, why they were suddenly rescued, and the timing of this rescue and the Colombian Free Trade Agreement vote, as well as the fact that several of John McCain's campaign people are Colombian lobbyists, and oh btw, he just happened to be there on the day they were rescued....COME ON PEOPLE, this is such a farce! This is straight out a Chuck Norris' movie, FOR REAL. MSM, PLEASE do your job and follow up on this!

[msmaggie]

Not everything is about us. The Columbian govt has been at work for quite a while trying to topple FARC, this is just a natural outcome of that.

McCain being there, well yeah, that is highly coincidental. The only reason I wouldn't believe it was planned is it is just too "Chuch Norris" as you put it; then again these are the wonderful folks who brought us "Mission Accomplished". Oy.

[pixy242a]

they brought us the Jessica Lynch rescue video too.

[pixy242a]

Great news for the capitves and their loved ones, after all tthis time.

I dont like to sound cynical, but ,,it looks a bit choreographed -- the recapture without resistance -- captives look fresh, well groomed and dressed. Was there a ransom involved ? theres more to it especially the timing, etc. than what has been given to the news.

[MsLiz]

Perhaps the captives were allowed to bathe, change clothes, and eat a decent meal before being made availble to photographers. The photographers weren't along for the ride during the rescue.

[pixy242a]

i heard the CNN say that they are employes of Northrup Grumman.

[trudem2]

They look pretty good for captives all those years. They were not mistreated.

[drec1500Madrid]

No, not at all....it was like Club Med I'm sure...

[Vinca]

It seems strange to me that the hostages were freed at approximately the same time McCain went over there, I HEAR REAGAN MADE A DEAL

[Kenji]

Your special insight into their condition is so valuable. Thanks!

[meanguy]

why are all these hostage experts wasting their time on PuffHo?

[StephenBarry]

Did you see the footage of her family reunion at the airport tarmac ? Every time the husband tried to hug or kiss her she withdrew as if she could'nt stand him !! He tried two or three times and then gave up. On the other hand, she kissed and hugged her mother so often and so passionately that I was waiting for her to slip Mom the toungue. Did anyone else notice this ?

[thisoldbroad]

Kinda like a rape victim?????

[NeoStar9]

Good possibility.

[msmaggie]

Others may have noticed it. Happily most other people have a filter that activates on the principle that not all thoughts should be expressed. Have a little dignity and allow her to have hers.

[Kenji]

Thanks for those thoughts. It's great that you care so much -- for an utter ignoramus!

[meanguy]

don't let it throw you...these are the same kind of people who think they can psychoanalyze people they've never met...entry level stalkers in training-just give them enought tinfoil to fix up their hats and they'll wander off to dennis kucinich's back yard to await messages from the mother ship

[Kim445588]

I don't want to have to dust off my tin hat, but I am not buying that after 6 years, these poor people just happen to get freed now that the Columbian Trade agreement is about to be shoved down our throats.

[starrianna]

What I need to know is...

was her hair really really long, like Alanis Morrisette?.
or was it super short like that girl from the Go-Gos?

i'm very confused.

[PandeiroMan]

Excellent query- Her hair is long, a lá Alanis Morrisette. It is just pulled into a tight ass pony tail, so it looks butch. I believe it might be the heretofore relatively unknown Jungle Mullet.
But seriously, terrible, just terrible...