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

[hillaryj]

I am so happy they are free......­..........­.....but I do smell a rat. McCain being there is a little too coincidental!
"Georgie and The Boys" are working some of their campaign magic for the elderly guy and his aging Barbie....­..........­..

[AdamND]

Yea Fox news tried to say something like they were released because of McCains visit.

[JustSaying]

CNN said McLames name every other word during this story today. They said he was informed during his flight about this mission. It has been speculated about why he was going there for the last week on various blogs. Now we know. Just like taking credit for the Webb bill they will spin this as a triumph even though he didn't do anything. The 17%ers will buy it though. And yes it does remind one of the Reagan Iran hostage bull hockey.

[carlgt1]

The timing with McCain there does sound a lot like the old Reagan/Ollie North/Iran/Contra & Iran hostages released scam. I'm glad the FARC hostages are free though.

[JoDeeVa]

My thoughts exactly. The long piece also mentions "neutralizing Cesar and one other rebel". Does that mean what I think it does?..and­, why?

My thoughts are with Ingrid Betancourt and the other freed hostages. I wish them well after this unbelievably long ordeal. Beautiful news...

[Bluesue]

Wonderful they've beeb rescued but I wonder about the timing. I wonder how McCain will use this.

[darthdarcy]

It's about time, it took them long enough...

[aztecdiva]

October surprise just a little early but enough to boost july polls. Glad to see she is free, sad to see the repubs use this as a forum exploit.

[SmootyBooty]

FARC retains 700+ hostages..­.

[HopeandChange]

Notice the bad guys are referred to as leftist? Just like America.

[philinmedford]

You did realize that leftist means communist right?

[DumbDad]

Wull do yuh think this is somebody our allies in Colombia are real glad to see loose again and maybe they knew where-all she wuz and youknow mebbe the fix is in for more antipot money with McCaint as the Prez of the US ?

[Tages72]

Ingrid Betancourt's captivity brought back sad memories of Terry Anderson, Father Lawrence Jenco, Reverend Bejamin Weir, and the many other hostages held in Beirut during the 1980's. As a kid, I
remember seeing their pictures in Newsweek and learning as they were slowly released or in at least one case, executed. Anderson was the last one to be freed and was there the longest.

To think that these people have been prisoners since before the Iraq invasion began is sickening. Thankfully, their nightmare is finally over.

[Paladine]

Great news!

and, golly, JUST in time for McCains Columbian visit!

Would he be so low as to milk this for political gain?...

I bet he does.

[SheepleShepherd]

Yeah, something smells. Betancourt accused the Colombian government of being "in bed" with the FARC during her run for the Columbian presidency. She gets kidnapped by FARC, is kept out of the way for over five years, and the Columbian government , all of a sudden during a McBush visit, "rescues" Betancourt and the American contractors.
Fishy. Watch the MSM fawn over anything McBush has to say about it. I'll be interested to see if any news outlet looks at it with even a modest amount of suspicion, or at least asks if this is just too big a coincidence.

[Hagrid]

Why didn't he bring the Americans back in his plane???
Do you think he is afraid that they would run for president, too?

[lmab]

McCain is in Colombia. Now he is going to speak with the press about the rescue. He knew about it. GEE! He is great at combating terror. What a bunch of bunk. What an opportunist. Why is he connected to this. I am starting to think that his whole trip was part of this strategy. Obama and the Democrats better wake up or they will be left sucking their thumbs while McCain waltzes into the White House.

[CruzDelSur]

I totally agree with you. Specially when you read that there was no one hurt in either side. Something stinks here. Now we have to wait and see what the hostages have to say...
But it is great that they recover their freedom.

[Laserbeam]

FINALLY! I'm very happy and relieved for her and her family and friends. Ingrid, may you have a long and happy life from here on out!

[escher123]

As a Colombian I am extremely happy to know that Ingrid Betancourt, the 3 American contractors, and the 11 members of the Colombian army are now free. The operation has been completely handled by the Colombian army since more than 3 months ago and there is no way that it had anything to do to influence the American election. I am a strong Obama supporter and these news don't affect my belief in his great presidency. It is also a great day for the families of the 3 Americans that have been away for such a long time and can finally reunite. The celebrations across Colombia are again a message to the FARC and the other drug-financed entities that the people of Colombia celebrate the gift of freedom.

[carlgt1]

whew thank god they're out!

[StopCensoringMe]

Fantastic news. Simply fantastic. Took too long but success with no loss of life.