Posted by
Cary Wesberry on Saturday, July 05, 2008 7:56:44 PM
(CNSNews.com) - In a development highlighted by the McCain campaign, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee was briefed by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe before Wednesday's rescue of 15 hostages held by terrorists, including three Americans.
The rescue took place while Sen. John McCain was on a three-day visit to Latin America, although the Arizona senator told reporters that with the lengthy planning and coordination required, "there's no way possible that it could have had anything to do with our visit, that I could imagine."
Still, the timing was fortuitous for McCain. In a statement welcoming the freeing of the hostages he noted that Uribe and Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos had briefed him on Tuesday evening on the impending rescue, and again on Wednesday on its success.
The U.S.-backed Colombian military reportedly infiltrated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and tricked a rebel commander in charge of the hostages into thinking that they were being taken by helicopter to the group's top leader.
Onboard the helicopter, members of the military disguised as rebels overpowered the FARC members accompanying the hostages without a shot being fired before flying them to freedom, reported Santos, who said the operation's "audacity and effectiveness" would go down in history.
Among those rescued in time to celebrate July 4 in freedom were U.S. military contractors Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell, who were captured in early 2003 after their plane crashed in the jungle while on a counter-narcotics surveillance mission (FARC killed a fourth American, Tom Janis, and a Colombian intelligence officer who were on board). The others freed Wednesday were French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt, who was in captivity for six years, and 11 Colombian military officers.
The high-value hostages were among hundreds still believed to be held by FARC, and their loss to the Marxist group is the latest in a series of blows which some analysts predict could hasten the end of its bloody narcotics-funded armed campaign.
Though the U.S. hostages held by FARC in Colombia is a boost for freedom on this Independence Day, it's no boost for John McCain regardless of what the article above tells you. At best it's wishful thinking. McCain himself acknowledged the campaign basically stumbled into the right place at the right time and was able to greet the freed hostages after the rescue. I am thankful however that a U.S. Senator like McCain was there and able to meet with them after being freed. It simply will have zero effect and no boost for the McCain campaign.
If things were right with John McCain and his disorganized campaign, they would have arrived earlier, been briefed on the rescue, and managed to have taken at least some credit for the operation. McCain should have jumped on the chance, if there was one. He did not. Think of how great it would have been for John McCain to travel to Colombia and order an operation to rescue those hostages given his own background as a POW; and all leading up to Independence Day as a bonus. A huge contrast between McCain and Obama would have moved out into the light for undecided voters. I know, I know; it's fantasy world. It still would have been nice though.