WHAT TIMING. McCAIN VISITS COLOMBIA TO TALK TRADE AND JUST BY COINCIDENCE IMPRISONED AMERICANS ARE RELEASED FROM COLOMBIAN MARXIST GUERRILLAS.

Americans rescued from guerrillas
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombian soldiers rescued Ingrid Betancourt and three American hostages from Marxist guerrillas Wednesday, ending a six-year ordeal for the former presidential candidate and highlighting Colombia's claim that it is winning its war despite guerrilla claims to the contrary.

"In a special intelligence operation designed and executed by our military, 15 of the hostages in the FARC's hands were rescued safe and sound.

"Among those kidnapped [victims] rescued are Ingrid Bentancourt, the 3 American citizens, and 11 members of our [military]," Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told reporters.

Mrs. Betancourt was kidnapped in 2002 and three American contractors working for the U.S. Defense Department were seized the following year.

Yesterday's rescue came as presidential candidate Sen. John McCain visited Colombia to discuss free trade, the war on drugs and efforts to defeat the four-decade insurgency by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Mr. Santos told reporters the hostages were freed in a helicopter-borne operation by elite Colombian forces.

There had been concerns over Mrs. Betancourt's health since the release of a video tape by guerrillas late last year to prove that she, the three Americans and other Colombian hostages were still alive.

Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt (right) is kissed by her mother Yolanda Pulecio after arriving at a military base in Bogota. Associated Press

Just days before Wednesday's rescue was announced, a reporter for The Washington Times -- riding on a horse over 13,000 foot mountain passes -- managed to reach and interview FARC guerrillas.

FARC guerrillas denied their insurgency was on the ropes, insisting that they were prepared to fight on "as long as it takes."

They also claimed Mrs. Betancourt was in good shape.

"Ingrid is in good health, and so are the Americans," one guerrilla told The Times on condition of anonymity.

The guerrilla said he didn't think that the hostages looked unhealthy in the video, in contrast to an aghast reaction by Colombian, American and French officials, who said Mrs. Betancourt looked emaciated and haggard.

Images of the Americans showed them to be in relatively good health and faring better than Mrs. Betancourt.

The three Americans, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell,

FARC guerrillas said they held 37 "political prisoners," or, in the case of the Americans, "prisoners of war."

If the figures are accurate, at least 22 political hostages remain in captivity. FARC hopes to trade its hostages for jailed comrades.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and the guerrillas have been at an impasse over conditions needed to begin negotiations over a swap.

FARC holds hundreds of other hostages, but their fate is believed tied to ransom payments, Colombian authorities say.

Mr. Santos, the defense minister, said that the freed hostages were being flown Tolemaida Army base in central Colombia.

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