Sainted or Stockholmed?
Highlighted Story: “Ingrid Betancourt: Sainted or Stockholmed?”
By John R. Thomson & Dorotea Laserna*
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Since July 2, when Colombia’s armed forces so spectacularly freed Ingrid Betancourt and 14 male hostages from their oppressive jungle imprisonment, a political and press frenzy of adoration for the one time leftist Colombian presidential candidate has engulfed the world. Virtually everything, including how the hostages were freed from 50 armed FARC guerrillas by seven commandos without firing a shot, has been pushed aside by reporters seeking interviews and politicians wishing to bask in Ingrid’s reflected light. Does Ms. Betancourt deserve all the attention lavished upon her following six and a half years in undoubtedly uncomfortable confinement? If so, what about the nearly forgotten eleven Colombian soldiers who had been interned as long as ten years? Or the three American civilian trainers who endured more than five years’ under identical circumstances?
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Main News:
- Leading FARC member killed by the Colombian Army . Colombia pursues extradition of FARC member from Venezuela. Colombian Paramilitaries Plead Guilty to US Drug Charges.
- Fidel Castro Praises Brother for Silence on Russian Bombers.
- Venezuela and Iran strengthen ties.
- Mercosur delegates to assess in Caracas political banning. Mayor Lpez warns against great blow to democracy.
- Spain to use Venezuelan oil to secure reserves.
- Pdvsa to explore 12 hydrocarbons blocks in Bolivia.
- NEWS FLASH: Next Paraguayan Foreign Minister, Mr. Hamed with a diplomatic career in the Middle East, sees strong ties to Venezuela.
- NEWS FLASH: Ecuador says US troops must leave Manta air base. Ecuador ‘s Assembly to give Correa broader powers, modify term limits.
- Argentina ‘s Fernandez Popularity Falls to Record Low.
- Pinochet’s daughter seeks office in Chile politics.
- Mexicans vote no’ on oil reform in nonbinding referendum; turnout low.
- US Representative wants to meet with Chvez, Ral Castro.
- Brazil’s Petrobras launches first biofuel plant.
Click here to view the Americas Report (PDF)
Nancy Menges
Editor in Chief – “Americas Report”
Nicole M. Ferrand
Editor – “Americas Report”
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Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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