Gracias and good night

摘要

Only those blinded by ideology would deny that Al-varo Uribe has made Colombia a better place. By expanding the security forces and leading them tirelessly, Mr Uribe, who was first elected president in 2002, has imposed the authority of the democratic state across most of a previously lawless country. He persuaded thousands of right-wing paramilitaries to disarm, and has inflicted probably mortal blows on the farc guerrillas. The latest of these was the dramatic liberation this week of the farc's most-prized hostages, including Ingrid Betancourt, a politician of Colombian and French nationality kidnapped six years ago, and three American defence contractors (see page 68). Murders have almost halved since 2002; kidnappings have fallen much more. A safer country is prospering economically, as confidence returns.