By David A.G. Fischer

In the dense Colombian jungles of Guaviare, Colombia, without firing even one shot, the Colombian military managed to pull off a successful rescue of 15 hostages on 2 July 2008. As of that triumphant day, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez has received accolades from his fellow Colombians, while the governments of France and the United States are conveying the same approval in gratitude for a job well-done.

During the afternoon hours of Wednesday, the Colombian Armed Forces maneuvered a daringly covert and effective slide-of-hand against the world’s longest-enduring insurgent group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The mission was called Operation Check, as in the game of chess and a threat to an opponent’s king. What was supposed to be a simple transfer of captives between FARC members to a more southern locale, ended up in a loss of their hostages, thanks to the precision-executed rescue.

The list of rescued captives includes the highly publicized and ex-Colombian presidential candidate of 2002, Ingrid Betancourt, along with three U.S. citizens and eleven other Colombian military officers. Since 2 March 2002, the French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt has been the guerrilla group’s highest profile captive. Today, she is liberated for the first time in a lengthy and nearly fatal 76 months.

Among the three U.S. citizens who were being held captive by the FARC since 13 February 2003, were defense contractors Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes. The three men were captured after their aircraft was shot down while on a mission to gather data in reference to coca-leaf production in the country’s southern department of Caqueta.

More than five years following their unplanned descent and subsequent capture in FARC territory, the three men were transported from Bogota to the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio. They are currently back in the United States with their families, undoubtedly filled with joy and gratitude.

News of the incident spread quickly to France and the United States. Before Betancourt even arrived to Bogota via Colombian military escort, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave a warm and thankful speech regarding Betancourt’s long-awaited liberation. Her two children were quickly shuttled to Colombia’s capital city to be reunited with their mother whom they had only seen in video footage since 2002.

From the United States, President George W. Bush spoke personally with the Colombian president who received his praise as a strong leader. President Uribe has had unconditional support from Bush and his administration apropos Plan Colombia since coming to power in 2002.

Family members of the three contractors were shocked by the news. The father of Gonsalves was mowing his lawn when a neighbor informed him that his son had just been liberated. Mr. Gonsalves reportedly just stood there with his mower running, completely unable to respond.

The co-pilot of the contractors’ downed aircraft in 2003, Thomas Howes, returned home only to discover that his father had passed away last year. His older brother had attempted to send communication of the family’s loss, but his captivity kept him from receiving it.

Comments from the Stansell family have not yet been substantiated. While all three men managed to survive both their crash and more than five years of captivity, two of their colleagues were killed by the FARC after their downed craft was located by the guerrilla group.

The mission was kept secret from the public until its execution. But finally, after several weeks of surveillance and communication interception between FARC members, the 15 hostages are once again members of the free world. This year’s Independence Day will likely relay a more personal meaning for the three U.S. citizens.

While the FARC still stand their ground after more than 40 years of insurgency against the Colombian government, the recent clandestine duping is just another indication that the guerrillas are beginning to show signs of debilitation. Their aging founder and previous head commander, Manuel Marulanda, passed away from a reported heart attack on 26 March of this year. How much longer the rebels will manage their foothold in the conflict remains unpredictable.

As a result of these recent events, President Uribe is vowing to continue capitalizing on the group’s weaknesses and eventually liberate the remaining hostages who are still being held captive in Colombia’s lawless jungles. The number of captives in the FARC’s possession is unclear with numbers estimated to be at least 700, and perhaps approaching 3,000. Whether or not President Uribe and his government will attain his lofty promise is something that only time will tell.

However, for now, President Uribe, his government, the rescued captives and their families, can breathe an extended sigh of relief. Thanks to the Colombian military and their valiant operation, the once-held U.S. captives are experiencing freedom on this Day of Independence in the United States, as opposed to enduring additional jungle incarceration under the FARC.

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