Colombia: Ingrid Betancourt Free after Seven Years as a FARC Hostage!!

Last night many Colombians at home and abroad stayed up into the late hours of the night to hear the first free words from the rescued FARC captive and former Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Ingrid was captured by the FARC seven years ago during her presidential campaign and has been used as a symbol of fear against the Colombian government and people ever since. Numerous attempts to negotiate via France, the US, Venezuela and Hugo Chavez and through Colombian leaders themselves had lead to numerous failures, until last night when a Colombian rescue operation used internal operatives and complex logistical planning and intelligence that resulted in a rescue that would outshine any of the four Rambo movies. Along with Ingrid, three American hostages were also freed and 14 other Colombian prisoners. The intelligence and raid that lead up to the rescue culminated over the last few months, beginning with Hugo Chavez obtaining the release of a handful of FARC hostages, rapidly leading to a heavy exchange of words between Chavez and Uribe. Increased tensions arose when Colombia took the fight against the FARC to a camp in Ecuador, killing one of their top leaders and a number of other leaders being captured or killed in the following weeks. Another significant event was the death of Marulanda, the top FARC commander dying of a heart attack. With the confusion in the FARC ranks and dozens of desertions, the command and control structure not only gave Colombian Special Forces the opportunity to win back the hostages, but also is slowly degrading the FARC from a force a few years ago of 18,000 members who were perched outside of Bogota, to an estimated force of 9,000 troops hiding in the jungles.

After the festivities subside and the Colombian military and FARC battle it out in ongoing skirmishes, the security and policy changes by this event will likely solidify policy decisions towards either a posture of negotiation with weakened terrorists, or a more likely position of increased military responses towards the FARC. With over 700 innocent captives still being held by the FARC, it is unlikely that such a military operation that was seen last night will be successfully used a second time without a significant reengineering of the strategy to maintain an unchallenged operation in the future. Politically, Uribe has been able to avoid much of the criticism of his government by becoming so successful in dealing with terrorism in his country. While he has made moves to centralize his authority and is trying to extend his presidency to a third term legally, albeit Ultra Vires the powers of the Colombian Constitution, the support he has gained and the successes he has achieved against internal threats in Colombia has produced a real opportunity for Colombia to achieve peace and prosperity after 40 years of war with the FARC.

Colombia in reality has created the only true victories of the last years of the War on Terror, and the previous War on Drugs that is likely the envy of any Bush to have served in the White House. With McCain actually being in Colombia during the events and Obama praising the activities of the Colombian military in rescuing the hostages, the way terrorism may be address in the future may take notes from Uribe's Colombia. Currently the US and NATO is mired in Afghanistan without an end in sight. Iraq and militants in the Middle East as a whole have not been successfully dealt with and often spring up after it is assumed that they have been defeated. Drug traffickers in Mexico, spurred on by money and control of the country are currently taking a page from the FARC, attacking Mexico's leaders and security officials in an effort to place the country and its citizens in fear. Negotiations, while bringing some progress to the situation in Colombia in the past are being heavily criticized in Israel this week as two pilots who are assumed dead are being exchanged for Hizbollah members in Israeli jails, one being a criminal who killed a police officer, a father and his daughter who had her head smashed against rocks in order to end her life. Actively pursuing the FARC has undoubtedly lead to progress towards freeing hostages and bringing peace to Colombia. Globally, unless negotiations in other regions lead to significant gains in the next while, it is likely that Uribe may become the face of successful anti-terrorism in the near future.

And what of Ingrid Betancourt? She may still run for president or simply become the world expert in hostage scenarios and the FARC, claiming she has earned her PhD in the FARC during her time in captivity. While being a compassionate person, it is likely that Ingrid will not have much sympathy for the FARC. Even if the causes of poverty and narcotics in Colombia have to be dealt with, Ingrid will likely acknowledge in her future work and possible presidential campaign that hostage taking, terror, violence and humiliation has no place in any political movement in Colombia or abroad. As for now, she is spending time with her now teenage children and family and recovering after 7 years as Colombia's most notable captive and representative of the soul of her country. For now, her and her daughter and supporters vow to work for the release of the others still sitting in FARC jails inside the Colombian jungle. She thanked Uribe personally last night in a press conference with him and may run again for President. But for nowWelcome Back Ingrid!

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