Why is this GOOD news so troubling?

Email Print posted by MedfordTim 07/02/2008 11:23:54 PM EST

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It's a great story - hostages held for years, including three Americans held longer than any other Americans rescued without a shot fired. I expect a major Hollywood movie has already been pitched. As usual, I have a question...

Here's a paragraph and a link:

"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." - Betancourt calls her rescue `a miracle'


Two more relevant quotes:

"Defense Minister Juan Manuel 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."

"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.""


Again, let me stress that I think their release is a wonderful, fantastic thing. Congratulations on a job well done. I have to ask, have you prepared for the reprisal?

There IS going to be payback from the rebels, no doubt about it. Their leaders were assassinated in Ecuador and now the Colombian and American officials are publicly mocking them. I understand why, but I can't help but think of the backyard bar-b-quer spraying lighter fluid on glowing hot coals.

I am 99 44/100% sure that FARC would not do anything here, but there are plenty of interests in Colombia they could cause havoc around. It's a machismo culture and their egos have been torn to shreds.

One thing to count on - any reprisal against U.S. or Colombian interests will be used by the Bush administration to try and further the "free trade" and "coalition of forces" politically. And, of course, somehow Hugo Chavez will be blamed for something.

It's a dangerous game, making fools of heavily armed people.
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Why is this GOOD news so troubling? | 27 comments (27 topical, 0 hidden)
Tim, please dont be naive... (none / 0)
Can you honestly tell me you believe what the media has fed you about the details of this rescue? And do you believe that it was just sheer coincidence that McCain just happened to be in Columbia when all this went down? Can you honestly tell me that this doesn't stink to high Hell??? We did this, our men extracted them and we have provoked FARC and all the other lefty nuts in South America... As our friend Happy would say - Just another day in paradise!!

by bobo1 on 07/03/2008 12:06:40 AM EST

What happened to Bobo? (none / 0)
?

by ihavenobias on 07/03/2008 12:42:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
What ever do you mean, bias... (none / 0)
I'm here, the same old grumpy anti Liberal, bunker living, ammo hoarding friend I have always been... I just find it fasinating that people seemingly smart like Tim still swallow what the MSM tells them on instances like this thing in Colombia - doesn't anyone here realize the "coincidence" of the matter? Doesn't it strike you odd that McCain just happened to be there THAT DAY!!! The Colombian army couldn't start a helicopter without picture instructions - we made the rescue - DUH!!! Scary what people will believe... ;)

by bobo1 on 07/03/2008 01:01:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
I totally agree (none / 0)

It sure as hell looks like this was orchestrated to make McCain look somehow heroic by proximity.

Didn't you wonder "Why the hell is McCain all the sudden going to Columbia?" when this trip was announced originally?  I did.

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 01:09:56 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Bobo theory (none / 0)
I think bobo has been taking his meds (albeit sporadically).  The post above must have been shortly after a dose.

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 01:07:35 PM EST

[ Parent ]
No meds... (none / 0)
I have been drinking a bit more, but that's because its summer, I'm in Phoenix so going outside is not an option, and I don't feel like prepping for the next school year quite yet - so I pass my time watching CNN, listening to Rush, Malloy, Maddow and TYT and (most importantly) irritating the Liberals here! :)

by bobo1 on 07/03/2008 01:20:13 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Just so you understand (none / 0)

You don't irritate us because you challenge our beliefs or make us work to argue.  You annoy us because you post annoying incoherent nonsense (most of the time).

You are kind of like kloud over karl with longer posts and more variety.

When you actually post coherent posts, I often agree with you (partially, if not entirely.)

Just so you know.

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 01:25:26 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Dont you dare... (none / 0)
Compare me with Chinese Democracy's new identity "kloud over karl" - he is blatantly disrespectful and rude (and should be removed for his abject stupidity). We might disagree on the status of the Messiah Obama and other political issues, Rich, but you must remember that I truly couldn't care less as to "making you work" to argue... I state my opinion, and if someone says something dumb or naïve I'm gonna call em on it. So please, you can disagree with me, but don't you dare lump me in with CD, Tiny, kloud or whatever he is calling himself now... That's just fucking rude and unacceptable. My apologies, MedfordTim, for the hijack - I just won't allow anyone to peg me as being the same as Chinese Democracy! :(

by bobo1 on 07/03/2008 01:39:45 PM EST

[ Parent ]
His name is "Tiny" (none / 0)
He uses that name in many of his nics like "Tiny", "Tiny Demon", "Tiny Dancer", "Tiny Termite", "Tiny Gay Guy", "Tiny BJ Artist", etc.

He's the "pastel green guy" on the right in this picture, so he really is kinda tiny.
tiny

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 02:02:54 PM EST

[ Parent ]
And that's you on the left, right? (none / 0)
Could be beelzebub or Satanisreal I suppose.

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 02:26:43 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Yeah... (none / 0)
I was just about to post about this. Specifically McCain being in Columbia while this went down. It just looks good for him. Too good.

by Andrew Koenig on 07/03/2008 12:13:00 AM EST

Interesting quotes (none / 0)

from the LA Times article:

 

"In this election year it could also help the Bush administration and other Republicans who have strongly supported Uribe's efforts to curb Latin America's longest running leftist insurgency, which has been financed by money from the sale of illegal drugs mainly in the United States."

 

"Uribe has been attacked for what critics call a growing authoritarian bent since in his campaign against the independence of the judicial branch."

(who does that sound like?)

"The Supreme Court last week questioned the legitimacy of the 2006 election that Uribe won in an official landslide. Uribe has demanded the vote be held again and has made personal attacks on some judges.

The rescue also helps U.S. officials, who have sent money and materiel to fuel Uribe's campaign against the rebels and drugs."

""The two presidents spoke about the good news of the release of the hostages," Johndroe said. "President Bush congratulated President Uribe, telling him he is a strong leader."

"The action came hours after likely Republican presidential candidate John McCain completed a two-day visit to Colombia, where he called for the release of the American hostages.

"I would leave the modalities to the government of the country of Colombia, it is a sovereign nation," McCain said at a news conference before flying to his next stop, Mexico.

"But I intend to do everything I can to support and increase the capabilities to continue their success against FARC and bring about, as quickly as possible, the release of all hostages. They are in violation of all standards of conduct by any group," he said.

McCain, in a statement, congratulated Uribe and said he had been briefed about the rescue Tuesday night.

McCain is a strong supporter of extending free trade status to Colombia, a position opposed by likely Democratic candidate Barack Obama. U.S. trade unions, who have endorsed Obama, also oppose Uribe's crackdowns that have focused on local union leaders.
  "

 

by Andrew Koenig on 07/03/2008 12:40:11 AM EST

This is pretty much par for the course (none / 0)
I imagine most of the people here are at least somewhat aware of our rather dubious past in Central and South America and the Caribbean.  We have been running rough-shod over these countries for more than century now now.  We have been willing to support some of the most brutal people in the world when we perceive it to be in our interest.  The leftward leaning wave sweeping across Latin America is just the tip of the iceberg.  Our atrocious behavior is finally coming back to bite us.  An entire continent that should be one our natural allies in the world is going to turn firmly against us if we continue this behavior.  I'd love to write pages on this stuff but I have to shut the building down and go home.  have a good night guys.

by funkyspoon on 07/03/2008 01:59:11 AM EST

Where have I heard this before? (none / 0)
“It's a dangerous game, making fools of heavily armed people.”
“There IS going to be payback from the rebels, no doubt about it.”
“Our atrocious behavior is finally coming back to bite us.”
“We have been running rough-shod over these countries for more than century now.”
“The world is going to turn firmly against us if we continue this behavior.”

It’s the same mantra we hear from the left every time America’s national interest comes into conflict with a bunch of two bit thugs in some god forsaken corner of the globe. Liberals want us to remain absolutely isolationist when it comes to dealing with terrorists.

The only thing America is doing wrong is being too nice. We should rain terror down upon the heads of the terrorists. We should spare no cost in supporting indigenous forces who are bravely battling against global terrorists.
 
We should build and deploy hundreds of thousands of predator drones around the world. My God, those things are cool! From the comfort of a control center outside of Las Vegas, Air Force personnel monitor, track, and destroy terrorist operations around the globe.  
Does it piss off the terrorists? Who cares? We need to continue developing elegant, high tech ways to murder terrorists without even getting our hands dirty.

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 04:16:50 AM EST

This isn't how you fight terrorists (none / 0)

Its how you create them.

Do you know anything about the saga of Osama bin Laden?

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 12:54:13 PM EST

[ Parent ]
you're such a simpleton (none / 0)
I'm not even joking. Look at your comment again.

Really? How do you fight terrorists?

My proposal is to support indigieneous forces who are battling terrorists.

What is your proposal?

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 01:40:16 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Please explain Osama bin Laden's history (none / 0)

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 01:57:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
History of Bin Laden (none / 0)
Richard Clarke’s testimony was front and center in the findings of the 9/11 Commission.

The Clinton administration had as many as four chances to kill or capture bin Laden between December 1998 and July 1999, but all the operations were scuttled because of uncertain intelligence and fears that civilians or dignitaries might be killed. In one example, in May 1999, sources provided detailed reports about bin Laden's whereabouts in the Kandahar area over a period of five nights, but strikes were not ordered because the military was concerned about the accuracy of the reports and the risk of collateral damage, investigators found.

"Having a chance to get [bin Laden] three times in 36 hours and foregoing the chance each time has made me a bit angry," a CIA unit chief wrote to a colleague, adding that Tenet "finds himself alone at the table, with the other princip[als] basically saying 'we'll go along with your decision Mr. Director,' and implicitly saying that the Agency will hang alone if the attack doesn't get [bin Laden]."

The Clinton Administration’s failure to act to protect the nation was so grossly egregious, that Sandy “Scissorhands” Berger actually stole documents from the National Archives in attempt to cover up the truth.

The movie, Path To 9/11 is a dramatization of the failures of Bill Clinton.

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 02:31:19 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Thanks for the backup Ken (none / 0)

This post shows us precisely why Ken and the Bushies will never be able to field an effective terrorism policy.

Because they think "history" begins in 1997 and revolves around what they think Clinton did wrong.

I could not have illustrated your ignorance better if I typed your post myself.

Thanks, again, for being my sock puppet.

by ProfRich on 07/03/2008 03:11:17 PM EST

[ Parent ]
The question was YOUR strategy. (none / 0)
And as usual, you avoided the question. You don't have a strategy to battle terrorism. Neither does the Democrat Party.

The country of Columbia is a close ally of America in the War on (Narco) Terror. We support them as they battle FARC.

The country of Afghanistan is a close ally of America in the War on Terror. We support them as they battle the Taliban. 

The country of Iraq is a close ally of America in the War on Terror. We support them as they battle al Qaeda and the Quds Force.

The country of Israel is a close ally of America in the War on Terror. We support them as they battle Hamas and Hezbollah.

The GOP strategy is to support allies when they fight against terrorists. What the fuck is your strategy?

Columbia just had a major victory in the War against FARC. Instead of celebrating, you liberals are crying. Look at the tone of this thread.

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 04:54:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
speaking of "history" (none / 0)

"The movie, Path To 9/11 is a dramatization of the failures of Bill Clinton."

You ask about the personal history of Bin Laden and he quotes you a made-for-tv movie.  That's too funny.  Do you suppose he learned his history of the Vietnam war from Chuck Norris in "Missing in Action"?

by bfaul on 07/03/2008 04:54:48 PM EST

[ Parent ]
too funny!! (none / 0)

by desertpear on 07/03/2008 05:13:04 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Who said anything about "terrorists"? (none / 0)
I was talking about FARC members and Colombia. To whom are YOU referring?

Maybe you should pull over to the side of the road and take a nap. You've been driving so long you're hallucinating again and seeing more of those invisible "terrorists". Need a lullaby?

by MedfordTim on 07/03/2008 07:45:52 PM EST

[ Parent ]
FARC: international terrorist organization (none / 0)
The European Union considers FARC a terrorist organization.
FARC even has weapons of mass destruction.
FARC even has plans for attacks on other countries.
Here are 557 reasons why FARC is internationally recognized as a terrorist organization.
Hugo Chavez doesn’t consider FARC as terrorist, but then Osama Bin Laden doesn’t consider Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Hey, if they’re not a bunch of terrorists, then we should have no fear when we piss ‘em off. And yet, fear of making FARC angry is the very theme of your thread.

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 09:59:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Fear didn't enter into it. (none / 0)
I asked if we were ready to accept the consequences of our actions this time. Of course they'll be angry, who wouldn't be? But I also made it clear that America would not be a physical target. I have no fear of them, but then again, I have no fear of Al Qaeda. I am much more worried about the terroristas of the Bush administration and the Democrats who back him in his bid to turn the country into a police state.

We already know your position - if Uribe asks, we send in Da Troops!

Doesn't matter that Uribe is as bad as any FARC member - we'll back him right up until we can't use him anymore, then change his name to "Saddam" and tell him to watch his ass.

That's the American Way.

Oh, and I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to quote what came off the "recovered notebook" as fact. Whether it's plans for bombs in Spain or the takeover of Venus, chances are the "emails" originated in a CIA bunker somewhere.

Do you consider Mossad a terrorist organization? The CIA? MI6? Why not, because their reigns of terror are sponsored by a government? I guess that makes the U.S., Britain, and Israel "state sponsors of terror."

Or was this another exercise of having it both ways?

by MedfordTim on 07/03/2008 10:30:58 PM EST

[ Parent ]
send the drones (none / 0)
Not the troops

by KenTX on 07/03/2008 11:02:54 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Hey Tim! (none / 0)
The hostages are reporting that FARC is a terrorist organization. I guess they would know.

by KenTX on 07/08/2008 04:54:27 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Why is this GOOD news so troubling? | 27 comments (27 topical, 0 hidden)
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