In wonderful news that certainly represents a moment of crisis for the FARC, Ingrid Betancourt and three American contractors (Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, and Keith Stansell), as well as eleven less known (but to their families equally important) Colombians were rescued in a theatrically scripted operation.

Here are a series of videos from the day (in Spanish):
Breaking, Ingrid Freed.
Breaking, Ingrid Freed, part two.
First Images of Betancourt leaving the plane, beginning of her press conference.
Ingrid Betancourt Press Conference, continues.
Ingrid Betancourt Press Conference, even more.
Ingrid Betancourt Press Conference, the end.

In-depth account: Hostages Freed in Colombia Returning Home [from the NYTimes] Analyzing FARC's End Game [from COHA]
Conspiracy theory: though vehemently denied, ransom was paid to free Betancourt & the Americans. [from the Guardian]
Rejoinder to conspiracy theory: the military explains how they planned/executed the rescue. [in Spanish, from El Pais]

Already embattled in a fury of public outcry because of the lethal stampede in a bar where high school students celebrating their graduation were killed as police raided a nightclub (parents around the city have mobilized decrying the police action), Mexico's police are sure to face even more after the release of torture videos yesterday.




A regional Mexican paper broke the news, showing several videos of members of an elite tactical group experiencing torture at the hands of other officers, as part of training intended to prepare them should they fall into the hands of organized crime groups that kidnap and torture. But given the reputation of corruption and violence within the police force, the videos have caused outrage among Mexicans who see this as instructing police how to torture.

"This group has to be prepared for extreme situations. This isn't a game of child's play. Now, this isn't about applying torture; it's so that they can resist it," explained Vicente Guerrero, a PAN leader. But this milquetoast excuse has done nothing to de-escalate the situation, which has led to broader investigations into the history of torture in the country.

And the instructive presence of the unnamed American trainer in the second video will do nothing to assuage concerns that US contractors are equipping Latin American military forces to terrorize their own people. See also Lesley Gill's The School of the Americas.