Without firing a shot, Colombian forces have rescued Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages from the narcoterrorist group FARC.
Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said the Colombian military had infiltrated the FARC leadership and arranged for the hostages to be taken to the south of the country, where they were to be picked up by helicopters that the rebels believed were controlled by another group.
The Colombian military helicopters flew the 15 away without violence.
Despite his ineffectual plea for Betancourt’s release, Hugo Chavez had nothing to do with it. I can’t wait for his reaction.
Update: Reuters reports:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a self-styled socialist revolutionary who has been at odds with Uribe over his support for the rebels, called the Colombian leader to congratulate him on the successful operation, Venezuelan state television said.
What else could he do?
