More on Colombia

The story of the Colombian security forces' rescue of 15 FARC hostages is truly incredible. Read up on it yourself here, or here, or here. Two officers, pretending to be from an international aid group allied with the rebels, managed to get themselves tasked with transporting the 15 by helicopter on the FARC's behalf. After taking off, the security agents subdued the FARC guerrillas aboard, and flew the hostages to freedom.

The press conference last night of the Colombian authorities on CNN Español was surreal. It consisted of Alvaro Uribe holding court, with the 12 Colombian hostages to one side, big-shots from each branch of the armed forces opposite them, and the press in front. Uribe ceded the floor for several minutes to the army chief of staff (or something along those lines; I didn't catch the title), who was positively beaming. He reminded me of nothing so much as the unknown coach of a Cinderella final four team talking to reporters after a huge win. All the while, President Uribe would interrupt to ask detailed but kind of beside-the-point questions, which the ebullient general would answer with great enthusiasm. A rough example:

Uribe (interrupting): Hold on one second, let me be clear on this, since this is an important point. There was no military insignia on the helicopter?

General: No, Señor Presidente, there was definitely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, no insignia whatsoever on the aircraft. It was painted absolutely white.

Uribe (knowingly): Ummm-hm.

Unfortunately, I can't find it on Youtube, because it was at least a six million on Bill Simmons' unintentional comedy scale. In any event, the Colombian government deserves a bit of self-congratulation today. What a fantastic story.