It reads like a Hollywood script—Colombian commandos descend into the jungle and exit with 15 hostages, including a former Colombian presidential candidate and three American Pentagon contractors who'd been held by anti-government guerillas. The hostages had been held for six long years. What a long time and what a relief.
The Pentagon's been getting great press for helping in the raid that released the hostages in Colombia. The Bush Administration was involved in the planning of the rescue and provided unspecified "specific support," according to the White House. As for John McCain, who admitted being briefed about the raid the night before it occurred -- some at Fox News Fox News are giving him props for possibly influencing the hostage release: "There really might be a connection between the high-level visit of the former prisoner of war, John McCain himself, and the release now of three American prisoners here in southern Colombia," said reporter Steve Harrigan.
John McCain, Bush and of course, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe are all too eager to cast the Uribe government in a heroic light. After all, there's another not-so "free" trade deal at stake.
It's always cause for celebration when hostages are released. But let’s not lose sight of which side the US has been on during Colombia's grim, dirty conflict.
Although the guerrillas get the coverage, it's not just the FARC that's up to nasty business in Colombia. Successive Colombian governments and their allies have waged brutal war on their critics -- and they've enjoyed support from successive US administrations.
What's Colombia got that McCain and Bush want? Resources and industry, although the place is overwhelmed with poverty. Those who'd relieve that poverty -- trade unionists, for example -- have been slaughtered by the score. Over 400 hundred labor organizers have been murdered under the Uribe regime alone. That's more than in the rest of the world combined -- in six long years. And for all those six years Washington has done deals with Colombia, including giving the military aid and more.
So yes, six years is an age -- but when it comes to blood-for-profit, it doesn't seem so long to Washington. And hostage-taking's wrong. If only hostages-to-poverty received the same generous sympathy accorded to the Pentagon-contractor kind.
The F Word is a daily commentary by Laura Flanders.
Thank you, Laura – CapeWind was great. Provocative piece.
By newtonusr on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 pm
W plans on making Colombia the anti-Venzuela, no doubt.
By eCAHNomics on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Let’s also not forget that the Uribe government’s paramilitary has been murdering trade unionists.
By David Neiwert on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
How is it that I had no idea anyone was even being held hostage there?
By TexBetsy on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
IIRC, there are many more hostages. Betancourt was the most famous.
By eCAHNomics on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I wonder how many months or years the hostages lived under such conditions until a “right” time to spring them. Just as I still wonder how many of our soldiers died in VietNam while Nixon waited for the “right” time to let it all unravel. Am I a cynic…..or maybe just an oberver?
By Dearie on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
New Ian Welsh
By egregious on July 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 pm
The panel discussion on what it means to a patriot was outstanding. I believe these panelists have a better understanding of what our country is about and what it needed to make things better. Continue the great work, Laura!
By vieravisionary on July 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Thanks VieraVisionary!!! It’s not what you’ll see elsewhere, that’s for sure!
By Laura Flanders on July 4th, 2008 at 12:27 pm