(Ingrid Betancourt - six years as hostage is eternity no matter how you slice it)

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An interview tonight with former hostage Ingrid Betancourt, conducted by the BBC's Alan Johnston, himself a former hostage, held by Islamic extremists in Gaza. Betancourt, you will probably remember was the French-Colombian politician and Senator who was captured and held hostage for six years by the Colombian rebel organization FARC. It was done a short time after her release and broadcast in December of 2008 over the BBC World Service. Betancourt captured the worlds attention from 2002 until her release, withstanding six years as a hostage and a relentlessly uncertain fate.

Ingrid Betancourt (on the experience of 6 years as hostage): “You have to go through it to understand. Because, you . . in the civil world, in the outside, the free world you can have problems but you always have a choice. And you always, I mean even though you could be mistreated or humiliated or whatever, you can just find another space. Here you are submitted to the will of others, to the arbitrary, to the cruelty of human beings and you don’t have a choice.”

Further evidence the human spirit can be remarkably strong.

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(Happily jumping out of the frying pan)

Thirty-one years ago today The Islamic Revolution in Iran declared victory. With fighting still going on in the streets, the provisional government of Shahpour Bakhtiar, loyal to the deposed Shah of Iran, collapsed and paved the way for a takeover by the forces of Ayatollah Khomeni and a victory for Islamic fundamentalism.

Things have changed in the 31 years since. The promise of change did just that, but it wasn't the change everyone had in mind. No, it managed to replace one repressive regime for another. And thirty-one years later there is rioting again in the streets.

Three reports today - the first from that day in 1979:

Ann Taylor (NBC News): “Iran’s religious opposition appears to be in control, with reports that the Bakhiar government has been toppled. But no official word yet on the resignation of the Prime Minister.”

The second, a report from earlier today via the BBC and their PM program on Radio 4:

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Eyewitness (to PM): “Wherever people gathered the security forces attacked them, and at times using their motorbikes, went right into the crowd. The security forces had batons which some of them were concealing under their sleeves. It was the same story both north and south of the river”

And the third, a news report earlier today from IRIB Radio in Tehran. IRIB is the government-run news service, so don't expect anything resembling objective reporting.

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One event that changed the landscape and, no doubt probably the destiny of the region, most likely forever, or at least for now.