Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan UPDATED

by Hollede, Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 06:35:11 PM EST

Why is McCain in Columbia today? My mother wants to know. Was McCain informed ahead of time of the rescue of three Americans, that have been held for over five years by Farc. Who told McCain? And why wasn't Obama told?

Oh crap, here I go again, Rage posting with very limited information. Sorry about the short diary.

UPDATE Just out of curiosity, why did CNN do wall to wall coverage on this last night and into the morning? I did think the heroic shots of McCain were a nice touch. Oh, and Mom says that John McCain knew about this for two weeks and Obama knew nothing.(Mom is a registered source, but since I know some will ask, I will now look for the link.) Better yet, perhaps I will do a diary on the favorite campaign tool of the Republican's. Iran hostage crisis, build up to the Iraq war in 2003, and let us not forget the bombing of Libya, just in time for the evening news. Oh and the media wet dream that Desert Storm was. Hmmm. Iran anyone?




Tags: McCain, FARC, Obama, POT by implication (all tags)

Display:
Permalink :: 28 Comments :: Post a Comment


Re: Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan (2.00 / 2)

My mother keeps her eye on CNN for me ;-).


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 06:47:02 PM EST

Re: Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan (2.00 / 1)

Just watching the BBC and wondering about the super wealthy ministries. Makes ya think...


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 06:49:48 PM EST

PLEASE (2.00 / 2)

add links to the info. Maybe a cut and paste of some of the story.


Washington Woman

Progressive Blue

by kevin22262 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:05:17 PM EST

WSJ (2.00 / 3)

WSJ preview, rest behind sub firewall:

Colombia's military said it has rescued 15 hostages, including former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. military contractors, from leftist rebels.

Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos made the announcement at a news conference in Bogota on Wednesday.

Mr. Santos said no one was hurt in Wednesday's 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.

Mr. Santos said the other 11 hostages freed were Colombian soldiers and police. Ms. Betancourt, Americans Marc Gonsalves, Thomas ...


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:29:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: WSJ (none / 0)

So how do I read the whole thing?


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:31:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: WSJ (none / 0)

what is a sub fire wall


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:33:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Subscription Firewall (2.00 / 1)

Firewall is not the correct term. It just means you must pay to subscribe to get a username and password that will allow you to read the entire article. Some WSJ are visible for free in their entirety.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:35:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Subscription Firewall (none / 0)

yeah, didn't want to pay. I will look and try to do something technical.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:37:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Pay $$ - I'll find a free story (2.00 / 2)

We get the dead tree edition here in the office. The story just broke so it's probably on google news somewhere...


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:33:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PLEASE (none / 0)

Damn


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:32:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: PLEASE (none / 0)

must wait to post diaries. must wait...


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:36:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You can edit this diary (2.00 / 1)

and add to the content. The "Edit" link should be in upper left corner.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 08:03:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: You can edit this diary (none / 0)

I know, I still have to take the time to learn how to make active links and I feel silly copying entire articles. I will add to this after I find some good links. Or maybe just write another if (when) more pops up later.


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 09:03:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Nice catch - wondered the same (2.00 / 1)

There's a fascinating article on Hugo Chavez in last week's New Yorker. Lots of Chavez-Uribe tension right now.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:27:38 PM EST

Colombia more right wing than (2.00 / 2)

Colombia's govt. is more right-wing than that of its neighbors. They do these staged hostage releases all the time lately.

So this happens the same time McCain is down there talking up CAFTA, and he's even running a web campaign ad talking about creating jobs "on both sides of the border" so people will not have to migrate el norte. Pretty interesting.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:32:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Colombia more right wing than (none / 0)

Kind of an astonishing coincidence


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:34:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Certainly is ... (2.00 / 1)

I didn't make the connection til your diary.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:38:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

WaPo: An APPARENT Coincidence (2.00 / 2)

WaPo:

In an apparent coincidence, the rescue operation came shortly after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the presumptive GOP candidate for president in the November elections, concluded a visit to Colombia. He met with Uribe last night and said he received assurances that every effort was being made to secure the release of the American hostages.

In a subsequent statement, McCain said he had been briefed by Uribe and the Colombian defense minister last night about today's operation. He said he spoke with Uribe today by telephone and learned some of the details of the rescue.

"I'm pleased with the success of this very high-risk operation," McCain said. "Now we must renew our efforts to free all of the other innocent people held hostage."

The FARC, which has waged a guerrilla war against the Colombia government for four decades, has been losing strength in recent months, with fighters deserting in droves. It has lost three of its top seven commanders since March, and Colombian forces have captured a number of sensitive documents and computer records.

The group began its campaign in the 1960s as a Marxist rebellion, but it later became heavily involved in cocaine production, drug trafficking and kidnapping. The United States, the European Union and Colombia have labeled the group a terrorist organization.

The 15 freed hostages were among about 40 high-profile captives held by FARC in hopes of exchanging them for jailed rebels. In all, the group was estimated to be holding more than 700 hostages.

Staff writers Josh White, Glenn Kessler, Carol D. Leonnig and Michael Shear in Washington cotributed to this report.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:43:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Colombia more right wing than (2.00 / 3)

seeing that their major crops are coffee and coke I really lean toward thinking they do these staged kidnappings as well...that would make it closer to Reagan


by zerosumgame on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:58:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan (2.00 / 2)

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/mcca in-says-he-knew-of-colombia-rescue-attem pt-2008-07-02.html

-is this what you're talking about?


by alyssa chaos on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:42:23 PM EST

Re: Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan (2.00 / 1)

Yes. Much better than CNN. I called my mother and she was watching CNN and wondered why McCain was down there. I tried watching CNN but I watch BBC on NPR, and although I missed quite a bit, they didn't talk about McCain.

I guess I am not trying to say that McCain is making secret deals with the Columbian government, but it does seem odd to me. And crass in a way. I might just be kinda crabby today and may have this blogging disease I just heard about on another thread. heh. ;-S


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:52:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan (none / 0)

me and aliveandkicking


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:53:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's entirely possible (2.00 / 2)

or it's just possible that Uriba (of Colombia) is more right-wing, and wanted to make McCain look good.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:56:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's entirely possible (none / 0)

Agreed


The Moose is on the loose. "And I scream at the top of my lungs, what's going on?"
by Hollede on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 08:12:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Yes - though this is not covert Contra-level stuff (2.00 / 2)

Not that I can see, though Chavez and Achmenedijad are friendly. Too weird.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Wednesday that he was given the heads up by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe about a military strike that freed 15 hostages, including three Americans and a former Colombian presidential candidate.

"Last night, President Uribe and the defense minister did brief us that the operation was going to take place today," said McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, who was visiting Colombia Wednesday to promote a free trade agreement and to discuss drug trafficking.

"Today, I spoke by phone to President Uribe. He told me some of the details of the dramatic rescue of the people who were held hostage. Three Americans are now free and Ingrid Betancourt is now in good condition," said McCain. "I'm pleased with the success of this very high-risk operation."


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 07:53:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Does anybody care? (none / 0)

Guess not.


by catfish2 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 08:10:02 PM EST

to be honest with you- (none / 0)

im not even sure what this means. maybe im just being slow. it might dawn on me later/


by alyssa chaos on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 08:44:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Three American's rescued, shades of Reagan (none / 0)

I sort of got that vibe, but I don't think that it will get the same play.


by rfahey22 on Wed Jul 02, 2008 at 10:27:20 PM EST


You are not logged in.

In order to post a comment, you must be logged in. If you have a member account, please log in to comment.

If not, you can make an account right here. It's quick and free.

Login
Username:

Password: