Harry’s Place

Particularly classily done too. The old helicopter hoax trick.

The Mugabeite dictator Chavez has been foiled again.

“Despite his ineffectual plea for Betancourt’s release, Hugo Chavez had nothing to do with it. I can’t wait for his reaction.”

I can’t wait Flanker’s reaction either.

Yes, very good news, Gene, perhaps the best all week. And like the Israeli rescue at Entebbe, just in time for the Fourth of July. I pray that all the hostages especially Ingrid Betancourt who is apparently in poor health after being held hostage for six years, make full and complete recoveries both emotionally and physically.

Here is the CBS on line report at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/02/world/main4228714.shtml .

And Flanker, come out come out where ever you are and take your lumps like a good little chavezite!

David

He’s waiting for Chavez to make his official statement so he ensures that his position is in line with it. :)

geez I never felt so loved, too bad you don’t report on your boy Uribe trying to topple the Supreme Court though. I am a human being, and was equally happy when this happened just like I was in Jan when the other hostages were released, unlike you.

Why have the Guardian no been screaming about this absolute abuse of human rights? Taking civilian hostages is a war crime, supporting war criminals is a war crime. Who is at fault? The Zionists or Americans or colonialism.

Good news. I guess the FARC Supreme Court ruled affirmatively on their habeus corpus petition.

No Mesquito the Colombian Supreme Court is about to be toppled

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/27/news/Colombia-New-Elections.php

But this faux “leftwing” site is not concerned about the hostages, nor of the Colombian consititution, but of making Chavez look foolish in his ineffectual pleas, which surprise surprise is what this same site does everyday and fails equally as bad at it.

tootles

From the Telegraph:

“We have infiltrated the Secretariat (Farc’s ruling seven-man body) and military intelligence gave us the location of the hostages,” said Gen Padilla as he pointed on a map to the remote area of Tomachipan in Guaviare, where the hostages were found.

It emerged that commandoes had managed to trick the rebels into handing over the hostages.

A government agent managed to infiltrate the rebel group, apparently earning their trust, paving the way for the rescue.

Undercover Colombian commandoes flew to the jungle camp in a civilian helicopter, claiming to be from a fictitious non-government organisation.

They claimed they had orders to fly the hostages by helicopter to a camp to meet with rebel leader Alfonso Cano.

“The helicopters, which in reality were from the army, picked up the hostages in Guaviare and flew them to freedom,” Juan Manuel Santos, the defence minister, said.

More from Telegraph:

“The operation was absolutely impeccable,” Ms Betancourt told Colombian radio just hours after she was freed, as she described the ruse played by Colombian soldiers on the FARC rebels.

“They spoke and dressed like the guerrillas,” she said, adding the operation began at dawn, when the hostages were told they were being transferred.

Some of the elite Colombian soldiers who took part in the operation had disguised themselves as rebels, even wearing T-shirts bearing the picture of legendary reolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara, she said.

The hostages only realised that they were being rescued when they were in the air and one of the soldiers pretending to be a guerrilla shouted out: “We are the Army of Colombia, you are free.”

Har! Che t-shirts!

Never mind Flanker. I sure this is all a big bummer. And I was wondering about the FARC supreme court.

Nice Banksy image Flanker … is it ironic or are you really that much of a tosser?

C’mon Flanker

when are you going to mention that McCain was in Colombia at the same time?

-must be a “neocon” conspiracy…

Needless to say, Flanker’s link does not claim what he says it does

OT but nearby: Prince Williams helps his ship, the HMS Iron Duke, (yes, that is the ship’s name) intercept a speedboat full of cocaine. See “Prince William’s Ship Makes Drug Bust” at http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/02/world/main4227844.shtml .
Good show, lads, and as a reward ….

Flanker:
As usual you claim to have more important news, and exaggerate them for effect. “about to be toppled” What a joke.

Uribe still remains elected by landslide vote, and the confrontation between him and the court, although not good, pretty much sums it up as a diversified government where public officials are from different backgrounds, some can be opposed to Uribe, instead of appointed and in the president’s pocket like in Chavez’s government.

To make the rescue even better, actually 4 members of the Farc were persuaded to get into the helicopter and subsequently captured.

No Mesquito the Colombian Supreme Court is about to be toppled

???

At least the Colombian Supreme Court, unlike its Venezuelan counterpart, dares to stand up to the president on a fundamental issue.

Chavez’s “ineffectual pleas” resulted in the release of four hostages, all former members of the Colombian Congress.

That’s four more than the hugely effective pleas of the Harry’s Place Pinochetistas. Gene, of course, being one of the HP writers who describes the 2002 coup plotters as “persecuted democracy activists”. He even went as far as to say how happy he was that one of the coupsters who signed the decree that abolished parliament and the judicary was meeting with George Bush! I am not making this up.

Sorry to rain on your parade, but Chavez worked for several months for the unconditional release of Ingrid Betancourt. Her family, and the families of the other hostages, have publically and consistently supported the efforts of Venezuela to negotiate hostage releases and an end to the confict. I think you should listen to them.

You might also want to consider that the Colombian government you are supporting routinely employs death squads to silence trade unions and the left, and the president you support is linked to the drugs cartels.

But hey, don’t let the dead bodies of a few thousand workers get in the way of your hatred for Hugo Chavez (and the facts).

Ah, Flanker and Zin– the gang’s all here. We missed you guys on the 400-banned-candidates thread.

My post didn’t even mention Uribe or trade unions. I dealt with that here, among other posts. But this is another subject. You’d think that the nonviolent rescue of the hostages would get at least a grunt of approval from the chavistas.

Death squads have been there even before Uribe. So pay attention to the facts like you preach. The problem has diminished and so has the problem of violence against unionists. It is still there but it’s being fought agains. It could be done more sternly but it’s being done. Chavez until very very recently had openly supported the Farc.
You might also want to consider that the Venezuelan government you are supporting routinely has supported the FARC which has killed thousands of people, most of them who have nothing to do with the government and routinely recruit children.
to paraphrase:
But hey, don’t let the dead bodies of a few thousand civilians killed by the Farc get in the way of your support for their ‘revolution’ and the fact that it has brought little else but death and suffering. And maybe learn to not just hand pick facts.

The government has managed to do an entire rescue without firing a shot. It is a good thing and I bet you none of the people who risked their lives to do that had anything to do with drug cartels or death squads.
Emulating what the Farc did to kidnapp the 12 lawmakers from Cali of which they killed 11 while they were defenseless and then tried to cover it up.

“Sorry to rain on your parade, but Chavez worked for several months for the unconditional release of Ingrid Betancourt. Her family, and the families of the other hostages, have publically and consistently supported the efforts of Venezuela to negotiate hostage releases and an end to the confict. I think you should listen to them.”
Sorry to rain on yours but he also has praised the farc and suppoerted them openly until very recently, so what part of his discourse should we listen to?
pleas are worthless words when they’re backing what they’re doing with action and money.

“You might also want to consider that the Colombian government you are supporting routinely employs death squads to silence trade unions and the left, and the president you support is linked to the drugs cartels.” Some proof would be nice. Most of the trade unionists killed have been killed even during left wing governments from before, and most of it was done by the Paramilitary.

Pinochetista Gene

Sorry, I forgot to mention the non-violent Chavez-negotiated releases in January - so let’s make that’s another two hostages freed thanks to Chavez’s “ineffectual pleas”.

Apologies to the other wankers amongst your readers, but you really are a total fucking jerk.

By the way, you do know that your campaign on behalf of the coup-plotting, parliament-abolishing, democracy activists was successful? Chavez gave them all an amnesty. It’s just like when the Guildford 4 got released, innit?

and FARC have never been involved with drugs have they Zin?

http://www.state.gov/p/inl/narc/rewards/63846.htm

This eveninilgs news certainly underscores the advantages and superior
results of nuanced negotiations and seeking to fully understand the grievances of “the other” as opposed to courageous direct action, eh?

zin

“Apologies to the other wankers amongst your readers, but you really are a total fucking jerk.”

where i come from you only talk to people like that if you’re eyeball to eyeball with them and ready for business. shouting from 100 yards, from a passing car or in a web post, is like hiding behind your mum. classy mate

pete

He is hiding behind his mum’s PC screen…

“Nice Banksy image Flanker … is it ironic or are you really that much of a tosser?”

I do believe the little girl should be the ones frisking the pervert IDF. There are a bunch of bansky apartheid wall graffiti stored in a cookie on the browsers I use. So check them often.

“Needless to say, Flanker’s link does not claim what he says it does”

Oh for gods sake work a little geez.

http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/post/colombian-news-headlines–supreme-court-has-ties-with-drug-traffickers-uribe-and-chavez-meet-july-11-minister-and-ex-minister-charged-with-bribery/

“Uribe still remains elected by landslide vote, and the confrontation between him and the court, although not good, pretty much sums it up as a diversified government where public officials are from different backgrounds, some can be opposed to Uribe, instead of appointed and in the president’s pocket like in Chavez’s government. ”

Yup such a healthy place where the govt threatens to investigate the Supreme court for being infilitrated by paras (Seriously Uribe has some nerve)

“At least the Colombian Supreme Court, unlike its Venezuelan counterpart, dares to stand up to the president on a fundamental issue.”

And your friend Uribe is trying to topple it, lets turn the tables on your silly argument, at least Chavez is not that crazy as your boy.

“Ah, Flanker and Zin– the gang’s all here. We missed you guys on the 400-banned-candidates thread.”

Maybe you should steal money from my country Gene, the worst they can do is barr you politically and heck you would have Harriets defending you to boot.

“Some proof would be nice. Most of the trade unionists killed have been killed even during left wing governments from before, and most of it was done by the Paramilitary.”

Pathetic, the extent this site attacks the powerless unions is infuriating.

“Pathetic, the extent this site attacks the powerless unions is infuriating.” is that seriously a response? I wonder what school of rhetorical discourse you’re influenced by hmmm
“Yup such a healthy place where the govt threatens to investigate the Supreme court for being infilitrated by paras (Seriously Uribe has some nerve)” bottom line, the court is still untouched, and their rulings are still in effect. Toppling? give me a break!
Still doesn’t change the fact he’s Uribe’s elected by a landslide, and chavez has only followers in all the branches of his government. Besides confrontation is still pretty far from toppling. unless you’re judging it by Chavez’s starndards.

“And your friend Uribe is trying to topple it, lets turn the tables on your silly argument, at least Chavez is not that crazy as your boy.” How did you turn the tables? by saying this? Right. no move made by uribe has even come close to what the venezuelan congress and the Electoral court were taken over by Chavez.

Oh and if you want to connect a government to a cartel, might I remind you that the farc Chavez so dearly loves, Traffics with drugs? pretty much the definition of Cartel.
Like you said: The nerve.

Jaysus, you guys, not everything is about Chavez, you know? What’s with the obsession?

Betancourt is astonishing: it was reported she was in poor health and broken and she turned up at the airfield like a jack in the box, talking for 45 minutes. She was quite rambly to be honest, which is understandable given what she’s been through, but she’s already talking about running for president again! Also it turns out she looked so poorly on the few photographs the Farc sent of her quite simply because she refused to look at the camera and help them raise the stake and the price for her liberation. What a lady.

“Some proof would be nice. Most of the trade unionists killed have been killed even during left wing governments from before, and most of it was done by the Paramilitary.”

Are you suggesting that there’s no proof of any links between paras and the Colombian security forces?

I suggest you gen up a bit. Try http://www.justiceforcolombia.org for starters.

This particular story is quite interesting:

http://www.justiceforcolombia.org/?link=newsPage&story=296

Great news about Betancourt and the other hostages though. Anyone supporting peace and democracy in Colombia must be delighted.

Zin, you have always supported, even celebrated the overthrow of democracy in Venezeula. You are the only person here who has openly, explicitly supported military coups there. You have no democratic credentials.

And by the way, idiot, the reason nobody praises Chavez for getting hostages released is because he was just helping FARC with some PR. FARC giveth and FARC taketh away. The endless cycle of hostage taking, swapping, selling and releasing is part of their business plan, Chavez was just a PR agent they had retained. The Colombian military, by freeing these hostages, is humiliating FARC and hopefully getting some of its cadres executed for their errors. They are destroying FARC, not playing their game.

“Are you suggesting that there’s no proof of any links between paras and the Colombian security forces? ” no I wasn’t.
Already a number of Army people are being tried in Colombia by the courts on related cases. Go figure.
I was talking about the Governemtn routinely EMPLOYING death squads and the president suposedly linke to drug cartels.
Funny how that page Justice for Colombia seems to have no problem with investigation over relations between paramilitary and lawmakers but called the investigations between Farc and congressmen a ‘witch hunt’.

From amnesty International:
” Amnesty International is concerned about the situation in Colombia, as it is one of the most dangerous places to be a trade unionist. More than 2,000 trade unionists have been killed and 138 have been victims of enforced disappearances in Colombia over the last two decades”
Notice the 2 decades bit? how long has been Uribe president?
Yeah I thought so.

“Paramilitary groups, often acting in collusion with or with the acquiescence of the security forces, have been responsible for most of the killings of trade unionists; the security forces and guerrilla forces have also been directly responsible for the killing of and threats against trade unionists.” Collusion is still taking place, which is worrying, but it is not a government policy or just restricted to the right wing armed groups, the left wing guerrillas have been involve too.

“Amnesty International acknowledged in its 2007 report that there had indeed been a drop in the number of trade unionists killed in comparison to the early 2000s. However, the organisation is marking May Day this year by calling on the Colombian government to do far more to protect trade unionists, particularly given the rise in killings again in 2008.” It has decreased. Undortunately not stopped. HArdly showing evidence of a government routinely employing death squads like Zin said.

I smell a movie. Angelina playing Ingrit, perhaps? Benicio del Toro as the army unit commander?

Zin:
“Sorry to rain on your parade, but Chavez worked for several months for the unconditional release of Ingrid Betancourt. Her family, and the families of the other hostages, have publically and consistently supported the efforts of Venezuela to negotiate hostage releases and an end to the confict. I think you should listen to them.”
This tells a lot about, what kind of person “Zin” is.
Relatives of people, who have been taken hostage by murderous thugs, will naturally say whatever it takes, to keep their loved
ones safe. One should understand them and be sympathetic,
but not necessarily follow their advice.

One concludes that this is the sort of thing that has led to Uribe having such a lead over Chavez in approval ratings.
Although as Flanker will confirm, one is a drug trading capitalist cockroach, the others a working class hero.
Flanker, I suppose weould consider this a sort of military defeat for Venezuela. What with all the money Chavez has given those animals in the liberation struggle. I can see the King of Spain laughing his arse off right now.

Great news. My only regret is that a few FARC weren’t taken, only to find the truth a la Ocalan.

Now, Flanker, wawa, Reichstag, don’t come back until you’ve grown a pair.

I love this place, you can always be relied upon to be so predictably tacky.

Well Jack, your place can be relied on to generate zero comments for nearly all your posts. Wonder why.

it must be boring, I guess. People do love a nice sectarian bunfight :)

Greg: “I smell a movie. Angelina playing Ingrit, perhaps? Benico del Toro as the army unit commander?”
Yes, it will be called “A Mighty Heart II: The Happy Ending”!

Too bad the original did not have one.

According to the New York Times, (Google their headline in quotes,”Columbia Plucks Hostages From Rebels’ Grasp”)
the Columbian military used Israeli tracking technology to find the rebel encampment. (Hat tip to Snoopy the Goon at Simply Jews)

Now if that does not make Flanker & Co. foam at the mouth, nothing will!

Make that Colombia and you’ll have better luck with google.

Sorry, Mr Danger, thank you for the correction.
Two mistakes in two days. I really need to proof read better!

“Colombia Plucks Hostages From Rebels’ Grasp”

Oh, I see, FARC passengers did have their Ocalan moments! Am I cruel to laugh?

No, Alec it is okay to laugh at how the FARC got totally F**KED!