Today is an Important Day in Colombian History

From the killing of the second-largest remaining rebel leader in the country, the FARC military chief "Mono Jojoy," to Presidente Santos' proud address of the UN General Assembly in New York this afternoon, to ever-strengthening ties with the two mights of the Americas--Brazil and the United States--today is a big day in Colombia!

Here are a couple of the key articles:

"Rebels' Second in Command Has Been Killed, Says Colombia," from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/world/americas/24colombia.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Colombia&st=cse

And for those who read Spanish:

The bombardment of Mono Jojoy, including video footage, from this morning's El Colombiano, the Medellín-based daily:

http://www.elcolombiano.com/BancoConocimiento/A/asi_fue_el_bombardeo_contra_el_campamento_de_alias_mono_jojoy/asi_fue_el_bombardeo_contra_el_campamento_de_alias_mono_jojoy.asp?CodSeccion=211

"Brazil and Colombia: Each Day Getting Closer, from Dinero:

http://www.dinero.com/edicion-impresa/caratula/brasil-colombia-cada-vez-cerca_76406.aspx

Santos Meets with Obama, also from Dinero:

http://www.dinero.com/actualidad/pais/obama-reune-santos_77496.aspx

For background information on the FARC and a but of Colombia's civil war history, see this useful page:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4528631.stm

The wiping out of this Mono Jojoy is HUGE news for Colombians. People have been gathering in handfuls to watch the footage on public screens in restaurants, bars, malls, and living rooms alike. As my fellow Fulbrighter Stephanie Claytor so keenly argued, this is basically the equivalent of the US finding tracking down Osama Bin Laden after decades of trying... What would you do? Moreover, the feat signifies enhanced security across the country, which is good for Colombian business and attractive for tourism. I couldn't feel luckier to be in the country at this historic moment of security transition and economic emergence.

ENJOY!