Both presidential candidates congratulated Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on the rescue of hostages held by the FARC. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged to do everything he can “to assure the success of future efforts to free the FARC’s hostages and to defeat this terrorist organization.” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who was visiting Colombia at the time, called for a renewed effort “to free all of the other innocent people held hostage.” McCain also said Uribe and the defense minister briefed him Tuesday night on the planned rescue operation.

Several of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s (D-NY) former foreign policy and national security advisers have begun consulting Obama (New York Observer).