This is a wonderful day. Today we are receiving the news that three of our men that were taken hostage in February 2003 when their plane crashed while doing survellance and recon for the narco squad were finally freed. There was also a French presidential candidate among them, along with 11 Columbian police and military personnel.
The names of our three freed hostages are Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell. They were U.S. military contractors. I believe they also had prior military experience, but please don't quote me on that.
Marc Gonsalves' father was mowing the lawn when he learned of his son's release. He was in shock, so much so that he couldn't even turn off the lawn mower. Apparently he had forgotten how! His father lives in Hebron, Conn.
Thomas Howes is a native of Chatham, Mass, and his niece, Amanda Howes, proclaimed that this rescue redefines the word, 'Miracle'.
Keith Stansell's family lives in Miami, Fla. All together, they were taken to Lackland Air Force Base at around 11pm Tuesday night so they could receive medical treatment and answer some questions. Always with the questions, right? lol.
There was also a French woman by the name of Ingrid Betancourt who is the lady I referred to earlier as the lady who was a presidential candidate many years ago.
Many people were grumbling that we were not concerned, but little did they know all the efforts that were going on behind the scenes. President Bush has been working to bring our men home ever since their plane went down.
The Columbian president, A. Uribe, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, and some in the White House had been planning rescue for many years, but it was very dangerous. Sometimes they would have them in their eyes only to find that by the time the orders came, the FARC thugs had already disappeared into the jungle.
There are many great articles written already. One of them is 3 rescued US hostages arrive safely in Texas, of TriCityHerald.com by Elizabeth White. Theodore's Place also has post: Hostage Rescue from Columbia ~ 3 U.S. Defense Department Contract Workers and Others. The CounterTerrorismBlog also has news about this: Colombia Rescues Ingrid Betancourt and Three US Hostages. I highly recommend this one, because they do not need the AP for their information. They have their own knowledge and sources. This was written by Jonathan Winer.
This is truly a magnificant Independence Day gift, and it is a very remarkable job that the Columbia Army performed. Thank you, Columbia, from those of us with a sane brain in the US of A!
VIVA COLUMBIA! VIVA COLUMBIA! VIVA COLUMBIA!
May you walk with the LORD always, and when you cannot take another step, may He carry you the rest of the way until you can.
Cross-posted @ Rosemary's News and Ideas.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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