The stunning caper involved months of intelligence gathering, dozens of helicopters on standby and a strong dose of deceit: The rebels shoved the captives, their hands bound, onto a white unmarked MI-17 helicopter, believing they were being transferred to another guerrilla camp.
Looking at helicopter's crew, some wearing Che Guevara shirts, Betancourt reasoned they weren't aid workers, as she'd expected _ but rebels.
RTWT, it's fabulous. WaTi's lead this morning added this detail.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain had been briefed in advance of the rescue plan during a visit to Colombia.
"It's a very high-risk operation. I congratulate President [Alvaro] Uribe, the military and the nation of Colombia," Mr. McCain said after the hostages were safe.
Our hostages were freed and Big Mac was there. There's something poetic in that.
Update: ninme has more in Arriba Uribe!
