France, Colombia and the United States rejoice in hostages' release

There are more dispatches from our staff around the world this morning on the rescue of 15 hostages in Colombia yesterday.

Geraldine Baum and Anne-Marie O'Connor of the L.A. Times report from Paris on the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian former presidential candidate.

"Ingrid Betancourt is a rare politician whose personal ordeal made her a heroine in two countries, a charismatic idealist whose endurance through six years of captivity created a shared sympathy between her native Colombia and France, where she grew up and held dual citizenship," they write.

Meanwhile, Erika Hayasaki in New York reports on the three American hostages who were among those liberated yesterday. She focuses on Jo Rosano, mother of Marc Gonsalves, who was one of the three American employees of Northrop Grumman Corp. taken hostage after their plane developed engine trouble and crashed during a drug surveillance mission in southern Colombia in February 2003.

"Rosano, a Bristol resident, had traveled to Colombia three times seeking her son's release and has visited Washington a dozen times to beg lawmakers to help.

"In September, she met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe at the United Nations," she writes.

And here's how the Colombian newspaper El Heraldo covered Betancourt's reunion with her children.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Photos: Top -- Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe pauses as former hostage Ingrid Betancourt wipes her eyes during a news conference at the presidential palace in Bogota on Wednesday. Fernando Vergara / Associated Press.
Bottom -- Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves and Thomas Howes inside an airplane after being rescued Wednesday. EPA/U.S. Embassy/Handout.

Comments

[Medellin Traveler]

It's good to know that the three American hostages will be coming back home after their 5 1/2 years ordeal in the Colombian jungle.

Visit Medellin, Colombia today, discover a world-class city in South America.

http://www.medellintraveler.com

Hopefully the other hostages also get released soon.

FARC is dead!
Vive Colombia!

[Derrick]

I think Ingrid is traveling to France friday, huge celebration expected there, can't wait to hear from the three americans about their ordeal.

[Klaus10]

Monty it is for sure you do not know anything about Colombia, you have never set foot in the Colombian jungle neither any airport, haven’t you. The rescue had not been carried out until now because conditions had not been favorable. More than once the Colombian army was near Americans and other hostages but they aborted the rescues because they did not want to put Americans and others' life at stake. Fortunately Americans that come to work in team with Colombians have the right amount of human touch for this sensitive job. It is such a serious and critical the situation in Colombia that nobody think about credits.

[Jack]

Dear Monty and why has the CIA not found Osama if they have all this T E C H N O L G Y YYYY. We should ask Colombia for some training on military intelligence that’s what got these poor hostages freed.

[Laura]

Congratulation! this rescue is amazing and praise-worthy. Not a single shot fired. Not a drop of blood spilled. To have beat such a diobolical and ruthless guerilla is legendary. Thank God. Thank Colombia. Thank Alvaro Uribe. Job magnificently well done. May Triumphs like this and Peace continue to make there way to Colombia, a country of love, passion, joy, faith, and hope.

[Monty Ousley Weddell]

A great job - and it is about time!!! These kidnapped prisoners had been previously located by the CIA in the past, but instead of seizing them then, the Colombian govt wanted the "tools and equip" owned by the CIA to produce their "own" capture and take credit. Results, delays for years over technology "secrets" that are today
well known by all security personnel in all countries involved. We wish the best for the released prisoners and hope they can get their lives back. Monty Ousley Weddell in Dallas, TX