Freed hostage gets hero's welcome in France

Saturday 05th July, 04:53 AM JST

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yabits at 09:15 AM JST - 5th July

Freed Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt said Friday she owed her life to France, in an emotional visit to Paris where she received a hero’s welcome after her six-year hostage ordeal in the jungle.

Viva la France!
RedMeatKoolAid at 12:16 PM JST - 5th July

Great story. Not a shot fired. The Columbians spent years gathering intel, doing reconnaissance, finally infiltrating via a seemingly sympathetic group - and in absolutely brilliant disguise:

"The pilots, she said, were posing as members of a relief organization, but “they were dressed like clowns,” wearing Che Guevara shirts, so she assumed they were rebels.

But when they were airborne, she looked behind her and saw Cesar, who had treated her so cruelly for so many years, lying on the floor blindfolded.

“The chief of the operation said, ‘We’re the national army. You’re free,”‘ she said. “The helicopter almost fell from the sky because we were jumping up and down, yelling, crying, hugging one another. We couldn’t believe it.”

The operation, Santos said, “will go into history for its audacity and effectiveness.”

via MSNBC

So remember to ask the next sentimental Lefty you see sporting a Che Guevara t-shirt if he is with the Columbian Army.
PepinGalarga at 04:46 PM JST - 5th July

its so curious that the whole operation occured the same day that McCain was visiting there. I guess the current administration needs all the good news it can get about their replacement. I wouldn't be surprised if mounds of cash were offered to stage this.

anyway, FARC is going down. Colombians have broken free from stagnation and the economy is doing much better than before, so relations with the US are now seen as a major positive. I hope this carries over to neighboring countries that still live in the stone age under opressing regimes. Revolutionaries go back to your mountains in Venezuela, Cuba and Ecuador!
rajakumar at 05:39 PM JST - 5th July

Freed so many now, sammy al haj(aljazeera reporter), japanese tourist hostage in iran,betancourt in colombia jungles, and many others.

Many hostage affairs are coming to a close in many nations, time for freedom for hostages. Many guantanamo prisoners also freed.

Next may be only 22 year old Gilad shalit, of lebanon-israel conflict should be next, if negotiations and deals go through.

There is also palestinian prisoners in israel, that need to be freed,in proper manner in exchange, in deals of mutual benefits.
yabits at 07:57 PM JST - 5th July

“I am so happy to breathe the air of France. I owe France everything,” said Ms. Betancourt.

The faith and support that the French people kept up during the entire duration of her captivity is quite noteworthy.
rajakumar at 07:01 PM JST - 8th July

To be free, priceless gift of Ingrid Betancourt,returned.

Something we all take for granted. Many more hostages need to be freed,and to be returned their priceless gift, worldwide.