3 U.S. Hostages, Colombian Pol Are Rescued

Americans Held By Leftist Rebels Since 2003 Freed In Bold Rescue; 12 Other Hostages Also Liberated

(CBS/AP)  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.

"This was primarily a Colombian operation," one U.S. official told CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. "They did all of the heavy lifting and deserve the lion's share of the credit."

Betancourt, who was seized on the campaign trail six long years ago, appeared thin but surprisingly healthy as she strode down the stairs of a military plane in Bogota 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."

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reports that the American hostages - Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - are being taken by the military to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where they are expected to arrive late Wednesday night.

They had been the longest-held American hostages in the world.

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.

Santos said military intelligence agents infiltrated the guerrilla ranks and led the local commander in charge of the hostages, alias Cesar, to believe they were going to take them to Alfonso Cano, the guerrillas' supreme leader.

The hostages, who had been divided in three groups, were taken to a rendezvous where two disguised MI-17 helicopters piloted by Colombian military agents were waiting. Betancourt said her hands and feet were bound, which she called "humiliating."

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."

"We wanted to have it happen as it did today," added armed forces chief Gen. Freddy Padilla. "Without a single shot. Without anyone wounded. Absolutely safe and sound, without a scratch."

Although officials said everyone directly involved in the rescue were Colombians, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield said there was "close cooperation" from the Americans that included "exchange of intelligence" as well as "exchange of equipment, training advice and experiences of other operations. I will not enter into details."

Santos said Cesar and another rebel on board would face justice. The other rebel captors retreated into the jungle, he said, and the army let them escape "in hopes that they will free the rest of the hostages," believed to number about 700.

At a Bogota ceremony with top military commanders, the freed hostages walked up to a microphone one by one, identified themselves by name and rank, and thanked their rescuers. Some had been held for a dozen years, captured when rebels overran military outposts.

Last to speak was the French-Colombian Betancourt, who wore military fatigues and a floppy camouflage hat as she hugged her mother, Yolanda Pulecio, and her husband, Juan Carlos LeCompte. She removed her hat to reveal intricately braided dark hair, with plaits framing her face and a white flower.

Breaking into tears, Betancourt appealed to the FARC to release the remaining hostages and make peace.

She thanked Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, against whom she was running when she was kidnapped, and said he "has been a very good president."

However, she said, "I continue to aspire to serve Colombia as president."

For now, she added, "I'm just one more soldier."

In Paris, her son Lorenzo Delloye-Betancourt called her release "the most beautiful news of my life." He and other relatives were flying to Colombia to join her.

The Americans appeared healthy in a video shown on Colombian television, though Brownfield, who met with them at a provincial military base, said two of the three - he didn't specify which - were suffering from the jungle malady leishmaniasis and "looking forward to modern medical treatment."

Gonsalves' father George was mowing the yard of his Hebron, Connecticut, home when an excited neighbor relayed the news he had seen on television: "I didn't know how to stop my lawnmower. I was shocked. I couldn't believe it."

"We're still teary-eyed and not quite have our wits about us," said Stansell's stepmother Lynne in Miami.

And Howes' niece in Massachusetts, Amanda Howes, says the rescue "redefines the word miracle."

Santos renewed the government's offer to negotiate with the reeling rebel movement, who many believe is nearing the end of its four-decade fight. Battlefield losses and widespread desertions have cut rebel numbers in half to about 9,000 as the United States has poured billions of dollars in military aid into Colombia.

In March, historic leader Manuel Marulanda died of a reported heart attack, and two other top commanders were killed. The rest are hunkered down in remote jungle and mountain hideouts, unable to communicate effectively, their income from ransom kidnappings and the cocaine trade depleted by intense military operations.

Santos said Colombia had infiltrated the rebels' seven-man ruling secretariat, but did not elaborate.

"The government reiterates to them that if they want to enter into serious negotiations in good faith, we are offering a dignified peace," Santos said.

U.S. President George Bush congratulated President Uribe by phone Wednesday afternoon, calling him a "strong leader," reports CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller. Uribe thanked Bush for his support and confidence in Colombia's government.

Rescue of the hostages gives Bush more ammunition in trying to get Congress to approve a free trade agreement with Colombia, reports Knoller. He says Uribe deserves U.S. support in fighting terror groups in his country such as FARC.

The rescue came as U.S. presidential candidate John McCain was visiting Colombia. McCain told the press on a flight from Colombia to Mexico that he was informed Tuesday night by Uribe that the rescue of the hostages was imminent, reports CBS News correspondent John Bentley.

"It's a very high-risk operation," he said. "I congratulate President Uribe, the military and the nation of Colombia." His rival, Barack Obama, issued a statement congratulating Uribe as well.

Betancourt, 46, was abducted in February 2002. The Americans were captured a year later when their drug surveillance plane went down in rebel-held jungle. In the five years since, their families had received only two "proof of life" videos, the latest in November.

That tape also showed the first images since 2003 of Betancourt. Along with letters and reports from other hostages, they showed a once-vibrant, confident woman slowly succumbing to Hepatitis B, tropical skin diseases and depression. One former hostage said Betancourt was kept chained to a tree after trying to escape.

[amazedd]

Thunderbirds are GO!

[faith_in_w]

Oh they are so good. They should get the free trade agreement now.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors..."

These mercenaries obviously had no legitimate business being there in the first place.

Not worth wasting many resources in their recovery.

Now we have to worry about these morally bankrupt mercs returning to the U.S.

That''s hardly good news.

[jack3213]

Indeed, Faith, funny, too, McCain was there just yesterday!
What perfect timing. :-)

[acolton1]

Yeah for the Rescue

[faith_in_w]

jack3213, I dont know why they just didnt say McCain freed the three hostages and show his head photoshopped on a buff body.

[latrocinor-2009]

Re: "Colombia said its military rescued former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. military contractors..."

Posted by FeelFree4U

......... ....

Well gee, big surprise, the terrorist FeelFree4U is disapointed.

That means this is a great story and marvelous news.

[xyno-2009]

McCain is a hero!!

[lovegetpeace]

Folks,
Interesting to know 3 Americans were held hostage since 2003 and we did not know. What other Americans we do not know?

[feelfree4u]

Re: "That means this is a great story and marvelous news."

Posted by Latrocinor


Only to craven imbeciles. You have clearly demonstrated this.

Funny that you would have to read my comment before you could voice your opinion of this story. Shows how helpless you are; lacking in reasoning skills of your own, and dependent on others to tell you what to think.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "The quickest and easiest way to find out what side of an issue to be on is to just see how the terrorist FeelFree4u feels, and just take the opposite side. What an ignorant, fat, ugly loser."

Posted by jerr111


It''s funny to watch the disgraced goose-stepping eunuchs attempt to hide their boobery behind spoofed screen-names of respectable contributors.

You guys are clearly in your final throes.

[eddieclark22]

FeelFree4U needs to borrow a clue, or go visit Colombia. I just got back. I have been working there for ten years--for wildlife, at least in the areas where FARC has not held entire regions hostage. These electronics and security technicians were helping to fight the drug trafficking that has nearly destroyed the wonderful country of Colombia--fueled by the coke tooters and crack heads in this country who are the real morally bankrupt villians. The FARC guerillas are nothing more than a band of traffickers and criminals who have long since lost any shred of political legitimacy they may once have had. This was a great move on the part of the Colombian government!! Ignorant, braying jackasses compensate for their lack of real knowledge with volume and venom. From the discussion its clear that FeelFree4U is often wrong, but never indecisive! BRAVO Colombia!

[incog-nito]

Senator McCain was reported to infiltrate and free the hostages himself, with the help of Sylvester Stallone. Still unclear is why nothing was known about the 3 U.S. hostages until now.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "From the discussion its clear that FeelFree4U is often wrong, but never indecisive!"

1 out of 2 from a critic.

Not bad.

Good luck to all the freedom fighters of Central and South America!

[babooph]

C
:
"Contractor",a new standard for mercenary"journalist"same old standard for propagandist.

[Syndicate]

Should have sent The Marines in long ago.

[latrocinor-2009]

Good luck to all the freedom fighters of Central and South America!

Posted by FeelFree4U
.. ... ..

Freedom from what? Oppression of their dope smuggling gangs of kidnappers? LOL.

Leave it up to FeelFree4U to always take the side of evil.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Leave it up to FeelFree4U to always take the side of evil."

Posted by Latrocinor


Non-fascists/Zionists don''t view freedom as evil.

[noaanhc]

I will just never understand why people post so much foolish comments on here.These people in Colombia have been freed from a horrific nightmare that none of us would ever want to go through.

We should all just rejoice at their freedom and leave our comments at that and nothing else.

[cfin5]

Thank you Columbia for getting those poor hostages free! Good news like this sure helps to forget about the bad we hear day in and day out. Persistence in Vigilance,.....how valuable a trait to have!

[feelfree4u]

Re: "We should all just rejoice at their freedom and leave our comments at that and nothing else."

Posted by noaanhc


I don''t rejoice at knowing that more mercenaries are now at large.

They are the worst of the worst.

[Michael Arnold]

Hoo-Ray for getting our private "thugs" out of yet another tough jam and another LOST WAR. What a laugh.

[ajarkoski]

This is awesome news. The rebels had 15 guys, at least we can agree that 12 of them were good guys. Kidnapping carries a very high penalty in the US. Those hostages suffered a great deal This is a very good day.

[barbaraf4]

"Rescue of the hostages gives Bush more ammunition in trying to get Congress to approve a free trade agreement with Colombia, reports Knoller. He says Uribe deserves U.S. support in fighting terror groups in his country such as FARC."
~~~~~~~
Why? Do we reward them for doing what they should? Shouldn''t Colombia have protected them in the first place?

[tawpdawg11]

Rescue of the hostages gives Bush more ammunition in trying to get Congress to approve a free trade agreement with Colombia, reports Knoller.


BUSH and MCBUSH : Great job on those hostages, Uribe!

Uribe: Thank you, Mr.President and Mr. President-elect.

BUSH and MCBUSH: Now Senor Uribe, what part of our economy would you like us to relinquish to you? These stupid, lazy American workers don''t have the ballz to get uptight about ANY of the *** we been giving them. You can''t have textiles, automaking, computers, ports, tech support, or widgets.....those have already been given away. But anything else is yours!

[godofredo29]

Feliz navidad!

[nick32708]

I am sure some very good brains were involved in the planning unlike the Iraq war. So glad no stains of blood.
Very brave..

[rowdywicca]

Good for whoever got them free! Today was a good day for them!

[floydzepp2]

"This, in no way possible, had anything to do with my visit," McCain said.

~~~~~

$1 to a dime that by next month he will be claiming that he was told in advance and he suggested that his trip would be a diversion...

"My military experience as a POW made me uniquely capable of planning this hostage rescue from Sunni, er. Iranian trained terrorists. Is that right, Joe?"

Regards,

Posted by Nancy_Naive at 07:15 PM : Jul 02, 2008
-----------

I''m chuckling very mirthfully here.... :^)

[captalistpig]

Remember thugs.

Uncle Sam never forgets.

[floydzepp2]

I am sure some very good brains were involved in the planning unlike the Iraq war. So glad no stains of blood.
Very brave..

Posted by nick32708 at 07:23 PM : Jul 02, 2008
----------

The Intelligence Gathering Success of this operation pretty much clinches it for me that Bush, McBush and their master Cheney twisted and invented the Intelligence for the Iraq Failure.

[elibi-2009]

Mrs Betancourt said in her first official speech after her release:
"LET US ALL HAVE COMPASSION FOR OUR ENEMIES"
On the French France inter, i heard the following: "The U.S. has nothing to do whatsoever with the release of Ingrid Betancourt".
Let us all be have compassion for our enemies!

[pvperson]

Funny Nancy_Naive, really funny, but I bet your prediction is all to true.

[floydzepp2]

Remember thugs.

Uncle Sam never forgets.

Posted by captalistpig at 07:32 PM : Jul 02, 2008
---------
Blah, blah, blah. Put your Flag and Budweiser away. The people in the Intel Community that achieved this success laugh at bumpkins like you. Very Intelligent People. Probably all Moderate Republican and Democrat too.

[nssherlock1]

Sooooooo, now the hostages are unFARCed?

[bagdadshere2]

"3 U.S. Hostages, Colombian Pol Are Rescued"

This is a serious blow to terrorist apologists such as FlodZepp,hungry1968,j-whitman,MCVet and others.

[toolmangler-2009]

"This, in no way possible, had anything to do with my visit," McCain said.

Now the guy is more than just a loose cannon, He is a liar also.

[sistatee-2009]

Ingrid looks a lot like John Lennon.

[zerato-2009]

It is great to have the US cia operatives back, we can now put them to work finding Bin Laden. It sounded like a smooth operation. But now we have 3 more candidates qualified for the presidency.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "This is one thing that the a$$hole Chavez the little ******** can''t take credit for. It was taken out right from under neather his fat a44! There are still 700 moreto go, these cowards of Chavez should be exterminated!"

Posted by zgomer


Your frothy remark leaves you looking like the one that requires containment.

[demwatcher]

""This, in no way possible, had anything to do with my visit," McCain said.

Now the guy is more than just a loose cannon, He is a liar also.

Posted by ToolMangler at 07:52 PM : Jul 02, 2008"

Go mangle your tool, jerkwad.

[kennedy7955]

What great news!

[zerato-2009]

Go mangle your tool, jerkwad.
Posted by DemWatcher

Wow most of the insults and name calling are grade school level, I believe we found one at a middle school level.

[latrocinor-2009]

Go mangle your tool, jerkwad.
Posted by DemWatcher

Wow most of the insults and name calling are grade school level, I believe we found one at a middle school level.

Posted by Zerato
............

Maybe it''s Zepp''s kid

[latrocinor-2009]

Good luck to all the freedom fighters of Central and South America!

Posted by FeelFree4U
.. ... ..

Freedom from what? Oppression of their dope smuggling gangs of kidnappers? LOL.

Leave it up to FeelFree4U to always take the side of evil.

[toolmangler-2009]

DemWatcher Is trying to hurt my feelings, LOL He needs to grow up first, Kids aren''t supposed disrespect their elders.

[starleo146]

Go mangle your tool, jerkwad.
Posted by DemWatcher

Temper, temper demwatcher you can be a McBush fan without acting like him can''t you? Count to 10

[toolmangler-2009]

The only difference between Terrorists and freedom fighters is P.O.V. (point of view)

[toolmangler-2009]

Only the most evil or cynical person would even try to find anything negative in this story.
Posted by jerr111 at 08:49 PM : Jul 02, 2008



I am neither, I just call it the way I see it. I am very glad the people are back safely. But they are just the tip of the ''iceberg'' in this game of politics. there are over 700 still missing, where is their rescue?

[gce65]

"This was primarily a Colombian operation..."???

You bet the US was in on this!

It''s also strange the story has changed little by little as the news day has progressed. We''ll probably never get the true version of events. Remember Jessica Lynch? Remember Pat Tillman? This will probably end up as a made-for-TV movie and no doubt John McCain or his people will try to imply some connection to the rescue. Very suspicious timing, that he would just coincidentally be down there on his 4th of July weekend.