Posted on 07/03/2008 8:44:57 AM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
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.”
The hostages were held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
McCain hailed the rescue as “great news.”
The Arizona senator’s rival for the presidency, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) also applauded the successful mission.
“I join with the families and the American people in celebrating the wonderful news that these three American citizens – Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell – have been released from the terrorist organization that held them hostage for so many years, along with former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and eleven other Colombian hostages,” Obama said.
“I strongly support Colombia’s steady strategy of making no concessions to the FARC, and its targeted use of intelligence, military, law enforcement, diplomatic, and political power to achieve important victories against terrorism,” Obama added. “I congratulate President Uribe and the Colombian government, express my gratitude for everyone who aided in this rescue, and will do everything that I can to assure the success of future efforts to free the FARC’s hostages and to defeat this terrorist organization.”
Good thing Uribe didn’t tell Obama or Rockefeller.
obama: what did he know and when did he know it?
did the president consult with him?
after all, he was a community organizer, might come in handy organizing rescue missions
(sarcasm)
Who is "us"?
If it includes any democrats, and the NY Times wasn't informed, they are going to be really ticked.
I am curious about the details of the mission; sounds like a “minor Entebbe”. But I’d rather not know if it helps the criminals-pretending-to-be-patriots...
> Only Whitey Knew!! Can’t Trust The Black Man?
I would trust black men Alan Keyes or J.C. Watts.
Not Obama or his ilk.
Uribe : Juan can you keep a secret ?
Juan: I am running for President .
Uribe: No , I mean can you keep a secret I tell you ?
J.C. Watts jumped ship. Last I read, he’s an Obama supporter now.
McCain’s visit was good cover for the mission. If Uribe and crew were involved with that..then maybe nothing else would be going on.
I hope that Chavez denounces McCain and further endorses Osbama.
There is no point in McCain in telling this. Some things are better left unsaid.
‘I strongly support Colombia’s steady strategy of making no concessions to the FARC.”
But I’m against our president’s Columbian free trade policy.
That’s not true.
J C Watts said he was disappointed in the Republican Party, and that he was not going to automatically vote for John McCain.
Same stuff a lot of people around here are spouting.
OK, correction on my post. I just checked, and Watts said he’s “thinking” about voting for Obama.
If Obama becomes president, the friendship with Colombia is over.
There is an article in one of the papers about it, I am surprised no one on FR has posted it.
Except, of course, to pass the trade agreement which would strengthen the pro-U.S. government.
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