July 2: Around the World in Bits and Pieces

By Sylvia Gurinsky

There is a lot to write about today:

*The stunning news from Colombia of the rescue of four of the hostages, including one-time Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three Americans:
Betancourt was in Miami shortly before her abduction in 2002; one of her visits was to Channel 10, where I worked at the time as a co-producer of "This Week In South Florida with Michael Putney." Glenna Milberg interviewed her for the program, and I remember her with such hope.
Her son referred to the rescue as "the most beautiful news of my life." The families of Americans Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell - not to mention anyone in Colombia and elsewhere who values life and freedom - certainly agree.

*Sadly, the horrific attack by a Palestinian with his bulldozer in Jerusalem, an attack that killed 3 and injured at least 55:
What can be done about the hatred that can frequently go both ways? (Arab to Jew and Jew to Arab) That has to be addressed first, before any more land is given, before any more treaties are signed.

*On tonight's "NBC Nightly News," Brian Williams made a brief reference to Osama Bin Laden mentioning, years ago, that when the price of oil was at around $144 (the current level), it would weaken the West. Is the skyrocketing price some sort of subliminal terrorist attack? Tough to believe, but we've seen too much of the unbelievable in recent years.

*Could General Motors, the giant of American industry, not to mention the auto industry, go out of business? There's plenty of blame to go around; I still can't forgive them for eliminating a number of Buick models that got pretty good gas mileage and building those gas guzzling SUVs and Hummers. Now, their workers may pay the price.