March 31, 2006

Blaming the Rape Victim: Jill Carroll

Allah has a roundup of some of the reactions to the Jill Carroll video released yesterday. It's disturbing that so many are willing to begin naysaying the character of one who has been victimized for the past three months. Debbie Schlussel's post here, especially (Hat tip: Allah).

What would you say to your captors after months as a prisoner? You'd tell them exactly what they want to hear. Remember, the only video we have of Jill Carroll are two segments taped while she was still a prisoner--under a considerable amount of duress. The second video we have is one taped in the offices of The Islamic Party of Iraq--the political front for the same terrorists who had victimized her!

As I wrote to Allah earlier today:

After devoting considerable time to the subject I've become a bit more
sympathetic to the plight of hostages. Whether or not she was
anti-American to begin with is irrelevant since she was a civilian
operating in a war-zone. Her political views do not change the fact
that her captors are savages operating outside the laws of war. I
think we should give people the benefit of the doubt, especially when
they are victims.

A lot of really slutty chicks get raped, but there's no reason to
bring up that fact right after they've been victimized.

Once she's home if she starts acting like Giuliana Sgrena we'll call
her on it. Until then, my advice to the blogosphere is to have some
class.

So, let's reserve judgement on this one until she is free to speak her mind without fear of retribution.

And thanks to Allah for e-mailing me. I feel like I've finally made it.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:12 AM | Comments (36) | Add Comment
Post contains 293 words, total size 2 kb.

March 30, 2006

Terrorists Release Final Jill Carroll Hostage Video (Video / Images)


The terrorists of 'The Revenge Brigades' have released a video shot just prior to Jill Carroll's release. The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the video. You can see the raw video here, courtesy of Bareknucklespolitics. For information on today's release of Jill Carroll, go here.

It appears that the video was shot in two sittings over a period of time. In the second portion of the video, Jill Carroll seems much less enthused about what she is saying and does not have the smile and other expressions of the first segment.

In it Jill Carroll seems more than eager to give the 'correct' answers asked by her captors. It's quite sickening some of the answers she gives, but understandable under the circumstances. But, before you accuse Jill of being a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, keep in mind that she was under duress.

For instance, Jill Carroll can be heard saying that the CIA and Americans were not as smart as the mujahidin given the fact that they were unable to rescue her. That her ordeal made it clear that the mujahidin would win the war in the end. She wants the American people to understand the mujahidin as they really are, and not the lies they hear in the media about them being terrorists, etc. The mujahidin are only trying to defend their country, etc. President bush needs to stop this war, etc.

Very scripted, very much what you would expect the terrorists wanted to hear. No word about the translator these people murdered. No word to them about stopping the war. No word about them being responsible for the misery of the civillian population.

LGF has a portion of the transcript up. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 07:20 PM | Comments (58) | Add Comment
Post contains 628 words, total size 5 kb.

American Hostage Jill Carroll Free (Updated)

American journalist Jill Carroll has been freed by her captors. This post will be updated throughout the day. Scroll through for updates.

UPDATE: Jill Carroll video interview here. Hat tip: Allah

Another update: The terrorists of 'The Revenge Brigades' have released a video shot just prior to Jill Carroll's release. You can see the raw video here. A more detailed report and images from the new Jill Carroll video is here. In it Jill Carroll seems more than eager to give the 'correct' answers asked by her captors. It's quite sickening some of the answers she gives, but understandable under the circumstances. But, before you accuse Jill of being a victim of Stockholm Syndrome, keep in mind that she was under duress.

Jill Carroll had been held hostage for nearly three months by a terrorist organization calling itself 'The Revenge Brigades'. The group killed her translator, but Carroll's driver escapted. The group had demanded the release of all female Iraqi prisoners or they would execute Carroll, but let several deadlines pass & it was never clear just how serious the threats were.

Contrary to media reports, a group calling itself 'The Revenge Brigades' had been involved in kidnappings prior to Jill Carroll. A group with the same name held an Iraqi born Christian named Minas Ibrahim al-Yusufi, who had Swedish citizenship, hostage for some months. The group initially threatened to behead him, released a hostage video, and then, like Jill Carroll, he was released unharmed. At the time, rumor was that a ransom had been paid.

This demand, along with the timing , had led to speculation that The Islamic Army in Iraq was somehow involved in Jill Carroll's kidnapping. The Islamic Army in Iraq is one of the main terror organizations in Iraq and has been involved in several high profile kidnappings and routinely murders hostages. The group has also been linked to the kidnapping of four Western activists, one of whom--American Tom Fox--was found murdered on the streets of Baghdad. The remaing three were rescued by Coalition forces.

Several videos had been released by the terror organization showing Ms. Carroll. In the first hostage video, The Revenge Brigades threatened to murder Jill Carroll. In the second hostage video, Jill Carroll seemed to be under duress and could be seen crying. In the final short video, Jill Carroll seemed to be well and in good spirits.

For more information on the Jill Carroll hostage crisis please see our archive devoted exclusively to Jill Carroll. For more information on other hostages in Iraq, please see our extensive hostage archive.

AP:


"I was treated well, but I don't know why I was kidnapped," Carroll said in a brief interview on Baghdad television.

Even though the group threatened twice to kill her in videotapes, Carroll said, "They never hit me. They never said they would hit me."

She was wearing a light green Islamic headscarf, a gray Arabic robe and looked well.

"Obviously, I want to be with my family," she could be heard to say under the Arabic voiceover.

"I'm just happy to be free. I want to be with my family.

Yesterday, Jill Carroll's twin sister had made an emotional video taped appeal for Jill's release.
The twin sister of kidnapped journalist Jill Carroll pleaded for her release on Arab television Wednesday, saying her sister is a "wonderful person" who is an "innocent woman."

Katie Carroll read a statement on Al-Arabiya, noting that there had been no word from her sister's captors in Iraq in almost two months.

"I've been living a nightmare, worrying if she is hurt or ill," Katie Carroll said, according to a transcript released by the Christian Science Monitor. "There is no one I hold closer to my heart than my sister and I am deeply worried wondering how she is being treated."

Some are speculating that Carroll's release comes because of increased efforts to free hostages by Iraqi and Coallition troops. Her release comes only a week after American troops rescued three peace activists.

Apparently, Carroll's captors turned her over to the Islamic Party office in western Baghdad. The Islamic Party is the major Sunni party in Iraq and is a Salaafist organization (wants Sharia and return of Caliphate) with links to the insurgency.

According to bRight and Early: Fox News is reporting that her father, Jim Carroll, "wants to thank the thousands who have prayed." Amen.

UPDATE:It should be remembered by all that the only statement we have from Jill Carroll was one given by her just after her release in the offices of the Islamic Party and with cameras rolling. Further, it is not necessarily "Stockholm Syndrome" to claim that captors often treat hostages well--they often do.

Now the NYT (via Bad Hair Blog) reports that one of the leaders of the Islamic party, Dr. Tariq Al-hashmi, is claiming responsibility for winning Jill Carroll's release. This is very interesting, indeed. Especially after the last few days in which many see a change in the political atmosphere in Iraq, with reports of Sunnis now seeing the Americans as allies to protect them from Shia militias and Shias--the traditional U.S. allies in Iraq--becoming suspect of the Coalition.

The Carroll family press release, notice especially:

Finally, our thoughts are with the families of others still being held hostage in Iraq, and we hope that their loved ones will soon return safely to them.
Amen. American Dean Sadek is still being held hostage in Iraq.

Another update: Natasha and Jeff Tynes are friends of Jill Carroll and Natasha has some very delightful reaction.

This post is a follow up to Mike Pechar's earlier story.

Reports just in indicate that no ransom or negotiations were made by the Christian Science Monitor, but the leader of the Islamic Party of Iraq, Tariq al- Hashimi, was somehow involved in her release. U.S. officials also deny negotiating for Jill's release.

Walid Phares asks intereesting questions, especially about the connection of the jihadis who kidnapped Jill and the Islamic Party.

President Bush reacts: "I'm really grateful she was released, and thank those who worked hard for her release, and we're glad she's alive."

More updates: Charles Johnson: Her interpreter, murdered during the kidnapping, was not available for comment. Indeed.

Committee to Protect Journalists reacts: "We are overjoyed that this ordeal has finally ended and that Jill Carroll has been returned safely," CPJ Executive Director Ann Cooper said. "We continue to call for the release of other remaining captives in Iraq, and we urge armed groups to stop targeting innocent civilians."

Judy Klinghoffer speculates that ransom was involved. It would certainly not be the first time ransom was paid for a hostage. If she's right, it would only lead to more Western kidnappings and killings. However, as I hope I've made clear in the above, my suspicions are that the Islamic Party of Iraq--which has ties to the insurgency--was able to secure Jill's release as a political ploy. Both the CSM and U.S. government have denied ransom was paid, although it is not out of the question that the Islamic Party might have used money to influence the hostage-takers.

Others: Mike Pechar, Opinion Bug, Hyscience, Stop the ACLU, Outside the Beltway, Danny Carlton, Captain Ed, Clarity and Resolve, Poliblog, Politburo Diktat, Slublog, Small Dead Animals, Wizbang, Scared Monkeys, Right Winged, NTodd, Sandmonkey, Dean Esmay, bRight and Early, Lawhawk, Dan Riehl, Bad Hair Blog, Pajama Media, Boing Boing, Israellycool, Think Progress

Posted by: Rusty at 08:13 AM | Comments (105) | Add Comment
Post contains 1246 words, total size 13 kb.

Hostage Jill Carroll Freed

(Baghdad) Breaking good news!

Jill Carroll has been released after being held hostage for nearly three months and is reported to be in good condition.

UPDATES: Expanded story and updates on Jill Carroll here.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 06:03 AM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
Post contains 42 words, total size 1 kb.

March 01, 2006

Claim: Islamic Army in Iraq holds Jill Carroll

The Iraqi Interior Minister has claimed that the Islamic Army in Iraq is holding Jill Carroll, and that she is alive and well. This is a very odd claim. Some of you may remember that we were the first media outlet to reveal that the Islamic Army in Iraq was behind the kidnapping of four Western peacekeepers--still missing.

In any event, we pray for Jill Carroll's immediate release.

NY Sun:

American reporter Jill Carroll is being held by the Islamic Army in Iraq, the insurgent group that freed two French journalists in 2004 after four months in captivity, Iraq's Interior Minister said yesterday.

Interior Minister Bayan Jabr, who is in charge of Iraq's police, also said he believed the 28-year-old freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor is still alive, although the deadline set by her captors for America to meet their demands expired Sunday.

Three videotapes provided by the kidnappers to Arab satellite television stations identified the group holding her as the previously unknown "Revenge Brigades." She was seized January 7 in Baghdad and her translator was killed.

However, Mr. Jabr told Iraqi television that he believes Ms. Carroll is being held by the Islamic Army in Iraq, one of the country's principal insurgent groups.

Mr. Jabr said the same group was responsible for kidnapping his sister, who was seized about four days before Ms. Carroll and freed about two weeks later.

"The kidnapping of the American journalist, Jill Carroll, occurred about the same time as the abduction of my sister," he said. "I was equally keen to get both of them released. I recognized that the Islamic army was responsible for both plots."

Posted by: Rusty at 08:10 AM | Comments (38) | Add Comment
Post contains 290 words, total size 2 kb.

<< Page 1 of 1 >>
182kb generated in CPU 0.0556, elapsed 0.1502 seconds.
121 queries taking 0.1126 seconds, 488 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.

Search Thingy



Recent Comments

  • Caty Tota You guys are the 55808 best, thanks so much for the help. entry
  • Howie I read that and did not get to posting maybe on my roundup the other day. He wa taken by the taliba... entry
  • nikki heard talibans beheaded an indian engg workign in afganistan. Does anyone has detail report of that.... entry
  • Kaka93163 I haven't been up to much these days. Today was a loss. Nothing seems important. I've just been lett... entry
  • Kaka34946 I just don't have much to say recently. Such is life. I've basically been doing nothing. Basically n... entry
  • jj mollo She was looking for a story. Reporters like stories with angle and flash, even reporters from the t... entry
  • Improbulus Maximus Yes but how did she end up with a gun to her head in the first place? She was looking for a story to... entry
  • Ragnar Danneskjold I must agree with Dr. Shackleford on this one. I'm just not gonna second-guess what anyone did with... entry
  • Fight islam Now Jill Caroll deliberately placed herself in harms way. Her abject stupitity cost her driver his life ... entry
  • darryl none of you know. none of you have a clue. go and watch the final moments of mr berg with his captor... entry

Categories

Archives

Blogroll

Sample link

Monthly Traffic

  • Pages: 1224
  • Files: 4
  • Bytes: 15.5M
  • CPU Time: 35.327s
  • Queries: 137957

Content

  • Posts: 5690
  • Comments: 76633

Feeds


RSS 2.0 Atom 1.0