Jill Carroll via The Christian Science Monitor : Abu Rasha was next to me in the back seat. He leaned over me, or so it felt, as I panted, blind, beneath three black scarves.

“Jill, we asked the Americans for the women prisoners and there were none,” he said. Normally his voice was slow and quiet; now it was loud.

“Oh,” I said, crouched in darkness, blind, hot, and breathless.

“And then we asked the government for money, and they gave us none,” he said.
“Oh yes, I know,” I said.

“Now we’re going to kill you,” he said, agitated and close to my head.

I thought they were going to do it. I imagined the gun. All they’d told me that day had been lies.

I knew I couldn’t be afraid. I had to make them think they were good people who weren’t capable of killing me.

I forced a laugh.

“No, Abu Rasha, you’re my brother, you wouldn’t do that!” I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice.

He laughed, more convincingly than me. “No, we’re not going to kill you,” he said. “We’re going to take you to the Iraqi Islamic Party and drop you off.”

I went limp. Tired, frozen, spent, I didn’t know what was going on anymore. I couldn’t make sense, couldn’t analyze. I had nothing left.

Part VII and VIII.

Part VI.

Part V.

Part IV.

Part III.

Part II.

Part I plus relevant links including Jawa and Christian Science Monitor archives here.

One thing that comes to mind is for me is luck. Jill is a very lucky woman. Being a Jawa Report regular reader as well as blog helper I've seen the highs and lows. The release of Roy Hallums, The gruesome murder of Paul Johnson and others. The uncertainty of the Fate of Jeffrey Ake and others still missing. The sympathy I feel for Mrs. Ake and famiy who have gone two years with no word. We at the Jawa Report do not do this for any other reason than we feel it is right. It is the small contribution we make from our hearts. The joy of a hostage story that turns out well is the reward and the offset for the fate of the others. May they never be forgotten. And Jill I think I speak for all the Jawa cotributors when I say this: We are glad you are home and safe. Thanks for allowing us to follow your story and best of luck for the future.

Update: Epilogue posted below the break. more...

Posted by: Howie at 07:55 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 669 words, total size 5 kb.

Jill Carroll via The Christian Science Monitor : I felt I was beginning to lose my self-control. One of my biggest problems was that I had let myself have hope. Numerous times, the insurgent leader, the black-eyed Abu Nour, had said my release was only a matter of settling details. Inevitably, my mood would soar – and then the release wouldn’t happen.

Then there were the videos. They had been astounded when my first hostage video, in which I had been forced to plead for the release of women at Abu Ghraib, had coincided with the freeing of five female prisoners by the US.

They kept wanting to film different videos with different demands aimed at different audiences. Sometimes I was pleading with the American people in general for help. Once I asked the King of Jordan to free Sajida Mubarak Atrous al-Rishawi, a woman who tried to blow up a Jordanian hotel Nov. 9, 2005. Another time I begged for aid from the leader of the United Arab Emirates. Later, I made one denouncing him.

While only four of my videos ever reached the outside world, I made nearly a dozen, including re-takes done when I didn’t cry enough to satisfy my mujahideen producers. And I dreaded making them, not so much because it’s scary to plead for your life in front of a camera, as because I recognized that each one was a guarantee I would remain in captivity for some time longer.

Of course, there was an even worse alternative – that the death threats and deadlines they mentioned would be real.

Part VI.

Part V.

Part IV.

Part III.

Part II.

Part I plus relevant links including Jawa and Christian Science Monitor archives here.

Pretty good read. Almost as interesting as the fact that UBL likes McGyver and reads Playboy is the fact that her captors often watched Tom and Jerry. Heh.

I’ve been catching some “heck” for following Jill’s story. I find it interesting and was flattered to be asked to blog it. Not by Jill Herself but by the Monitor. So if the trolls out there who have never met Jill think they deter me in any fashion they are mistaken. In fact the knowledge that I am annoying the “insert expletive here” out of them is quite satisfying. Yesterday Bill Roggio, who has actually met and worked with Jill, posted this.

Bill Roggio via National Review: After her capture and subsequent release three months later, the blogosphere was ripe with accusations and assaults on Jill's character. She was described as an insurgent, terrorist sympathizer, “anti-war” and anti-American. She was savaged for the video taken at Dulaimi’s headquarters on the day of her release, because she wore the hijab and said those who imprisoned her treated her kindly. Those who wrongly criticized Jill fail to realize that she was still in fear for her safety when she made the tape.

During my short time with Jill, nothing she said or did gave the slightest impression that she deserved the slanders attributed to her. Jill was honest, brave, and respected by the Marines who met her. I had the honor of joining the Marines of the 4th Mobile Assault Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, and the Iraqi Army on a raid on a small weapons cache on the Euphrates River. Jill joined us. She dismounted and walked the site with us, viewed the weapons cache (which can be dangerous, as the rounds can be “hot” or rigged to detonate) and even returned from the raid with the Iraqi troops on the back of an unarmored Iraqi transport, something quite dangerous with the high roadside bomb threat in Western Iraq. I insisted on traveling in an armored vehicle.

Hat Tip : Vinnie.

Posted by: Howie at 08:07 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 655 words, total size 5 kb.

Jill Carroll via The Christian Science Monitor Part VI: One morning at the location I knew as the mujahideen clubhouse I awoke to find fresh dirt in the bathroom, dirt in the shower, and dirt in the washing machine. I didn’t think much of it. Maybe they were washing their shoes.

But I quickly learned that the appearance of dirt meant that someone in the house had been out planting bombs – IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, the mujahideen weapon of choice. I knew from my reporting, and the time I spent embedded with US Marines, that IEDs were now responsible for about half of all US combat deaths in Iraq.
Not all their explosives were offensive weapons. At least one of my guards – Abu Hassan, a serious man – wore a suicide vest inside the clubhouse.

One night, he was leaning over a little gas-powered stove, cooking eggs and potatoes in oil, and then he sat back and pushed the open flame away, saying something like, “Oh, have to be careful!”

The suicide vest was under his shirt, sort of swinging back and forth. He was afraid the fire would ignite the explosives. And if it did, we’d all be dead.

He used to complain about how heavy it was. He’d wear it at night. He would mime for me what would happen if soldiers came, showing how he’d put it on, with shoulder straps, and then how two wires would connect. Then he would move his hands outward in a big motion indicating an explosion, look upward, and go, “BOOM!”

Part VI.

Part V.

Part IV.

Part III.

Part II.

Part I plus relevant links including Jawa and Christian Science Monitor archives here.

Cross posted at Howie's Moisture Farm and The Dread Pundit Bluto. more...

Posted by: Howie at 07:00 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
Post contains 322 words, total size 3 kb.

1

POOf!

and al-Abra Kadabra..

The year is 2015..Berkeley Caliphornia

Yes I can see them all now..

..Yes there she is I can just make out an older Jill Carroll still 'making a difference'...why yes, there she is.. marching proudly again along with like minded folk, and they're locked in spirtual solidarity with the resistance!

[reaches for the Tums]

Peace be upon thee

Posted by: Aluminum Clairvoyant at August 22, 2006 08:57 AM (H58Sh)

2 Jill Carroll

Posted by: Aluminum Clairvoyant at August 22, 2006 09:01 AM (H58Sh)

3 Clairvoyant, shit, government warnings should be required before anyone is allowed to see that link. My.....rickin...eyes....re.......wate.ing.......I'm.........goin.........blin...................

Posted by: jesusland joe at August 22, 2006 10:20 AM (rUyw4)

4 I hate this womans picture!

Posted by: greyrooster at August 22, 2006 11:24 AM (/GBNb)

5 Then I'll have to use it more often

Posted by: Howie at August 22, 2006 11:29 AM (YdcZ0)

6 It is to bad the vest did not blow up while the dude was cooking. I am tired of looking at this ass hat.

Posted by: Leatherneck at August 22, 2006 09:52 PM (D2g/j)

7 I think you're using your own picture and claiming it to be another bitch.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 23, 2006 06:24 AM (dQaun)

8

Yeah rooster but you're my bitch.

Posted by: Howie at August 23, 2006 08:33 AM (YdcZ0)

9 bpwskg omlbt wtlvy lbmeqn xuzhmov istn lenmtofay

Posted by: tehcpfan lykjad at January 29, 2007 06:12 PM (HhPIK)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Jill Carroll via The Christian Science Monitor: One afternoon in the first week after I’d been taken – and I’d been moved to yet another house – Abu Ali called me into a big sitting room with green velveteen couches. On the far wall, above the TV, was a gigantic poster of waterfalls and rocks and trees.

But my captors wanted me to look at something very different: DVDs of them waging war.

By their count they were killing dozens or even hundreds of soldiers a day. They could prove it, they said, with videos of their operations showing humvees and tanks blowing up and snipers shooting soldiers.

So Abu Ali sat me down to show me the videos. They were all in Arabic and included audio overlays of mujahideen singing in low, somber tones.

Others had pictures of an American Hummvee driving along, and then it would blow up, and they’d cut to a graphic of a lightning flash, and thunder clapping.

Abu Ali would glance over at me as I watched the videos, asking me what I thought of them. I couldn’t say anything good, but I tried to say things that were true, like “Oh, this is the first time I’ve ever seen this, I didn’t know this was out there”.

To Abu Ali, though, this was their mission, a righteous path; this was their work for God.

While I sat there watching them I felt like the insurgents were sending me a message: they hate Americans so much, they’re proud of these attacks. It’s normal to them.

Part III.

Part II.

Part I plus relevant links including Jawa and Christian Science Monitor archives here.

Posted by: Howie at 08:43 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 285 words, total size 2 kb.

Jill Carroll via The Christian Science Monitor: Exhausted, Jim Carroll walked the streets of Washington, headed back to his hotel. He’d hardly eaten all day, so he ducked into a bar for dinner. He hadn’t been there long when his cell phone rang. It was the FBI. They wanted to know the family’s decision – a 72-hour deadline issued by the kidnappers was nearing.

This wasn’t going to be pleasant. “We’re not going your way,” Jim told his FBI contact. “We’re going to go with the sympathy statement.”

Insurgents had seized Jill Carroll in Baghdad 10 days ago; it was time her parents publicly plea for her life.

The FBI wanted the father – him – to shake his fist, in essence; to go on TV and address the men who held Jill as murderers and thugs. Jill’s colleagues at The Christian Science Monitor’s Baghdad office thought that would misfire in the Middle East. They said the words should reflect how much Jill’s family loved and missed her.

Jim and Mary Beth and Katie, Jill’s twin sister, had been over this and over this and over it again.

On the other end of the phone, Jim’s FBI contact sounded very unhappy.
Jim rang off. He felt he was living in a new world, where you got one percent of the data you needed to make a decision, but it didn’t matter, you had to decide anyway, you couldn’t walk away, and you had to do it now, right now, and the price of a misstep might be his daughter’s life.

Jill’s life.

Despair billowed over him.

Part II

Part I plus relevant links including Jawa and Christian Science Monitor archives here.

Jawa Report posts on the statement here and here.

Letters of support for Jill Including Susan Hallums Here.

Posted by: Howie at 08:32 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 306 words, total size 2 kb.

Jill Carroll via The Christian Science Monitor: After dinner they told me to put on a track suit they’d given me two days earlier, and remove my head scarf. I wanted to wear my hijab if they were going to film me; they said no, they wanted to make my hair messy, make me look bad.

They brought me back into the sitting room, and men began filing in, carrying AK-47s and RPGs.

Then the leader turned and coached me intently. I must say that they were mujahideen fighting to defend their country, that they wanted women freed from Abu Ghraib prison, and the US military, particularly the Marines, were killing and arresting their women and destroying their houses.
And I must cry, on cue.

I started to give my speech. A man standing behind the camera ran his fingers down his cheeks, to signal that I needed to cry.

It took me a while to work up to the crying part. But I had a lot of pent-up emotion and stress, and by the time we finished, I was crying for real.
As the taping ended, I put my head down and I just kept crying. I heard Abu Rasha behind me go, “ughh”, in a sympathetic way, like he felt bad that I was sitting there crying in front of them.

Ink Eye’s reaction was different. He showed no sympathy. And I knew his opinion of me – my personal character – might make the difference in whether I lived or died.

He said, “We have to do this again.”

Part I plus relevant links including Jawa and Christian Science Monitor archives here.

In today's segment she speaks about the making of the first Video her captors made of her. The Jawa Report's post on that video here.

Posted by: Howie at 08:04 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
Post contains 307 words, total size 2 kb.

Jill Carroll Via Christian Science Monitor: That first day, they were spooked by how close the soldiers had come to finding me. Abu Rasha said they had to move to the house of Abu Ali, his “brother.” I thought he meant his real brother. Later, I realized this was just a reference to a fellow mujahideen.

Abu Rasha removed my glasses and put two black scarves over my head and face so I wouldn’t be able to see where they were taking me. Hanging onto his arm, I stumbled blindly out of the house and into a car, trying to suck fresh air through the suffocating layers of black polyester.

After a short drive we switched cars, and I cowered, motionless in the strange, new back seat. Soon I realized that there were children next to me, and men in the front seat.

A cassette blared a recitation of the Koran and every few minutes the nervous men would mutter “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar,” as we drove through the darkness.

Then one of them said in Arabic, “What are you? What are you?”

A tiny voice next to me replied, “I’m a Mujahid,” a holy warrior.

It was a boy - I’d learn that his name was Ismael, and he was 6 years old. Just a child, already indoctrinated.

Posted by: Howie at 07:53 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 231 words, total size 2 kb.

Jill Carroll Via Christian Science Monitor: We drove to the second house, which appeared to be the home of one of the kidnappers.

They took me upstairs to the master bedroom. Within a few minutes an interpreter arrived, and an interrogation began.

They wanted to know my name, the name of my newspaper, my religion, how much my computer was worth, did it have a device to signal the government or military, if I or anyone in my family drank alcohol, how many American reporters were in Baghdad, did I know reporters from other countries, and myriad other questions.

Then, in a slightly gravelly voice, the interpreter explained the situation.

“You are our sister. We have no problem with you. Our problem is with your government. We just need to keep you for some time. We want women freed from Abu Ghraib prison. Maybe four or five women. We want to ask your government for this,” the interpreter said. (At the time, it was reported that 10 Iraqi women were among 14,000 Iraqis being held by coalition forces on suspicion of insurgent activity.)

“You are to stay in this room. And this window, don’t put one hand on this window,” he continued. “I have a place underground. It is very dark and small, and cold, and if you put one hand on this window, we will put you there. Some of my friends said we should put you there, but I said, ‘No she is a woman.’ Women are very important in Islam.”

Interviews with Jill, her family and colleagues. (videos)

Jill answers questions from readers. (video)

Listen to a podcast of the story. (Audible.com)

Cast of characters.

Jawa Report entry on al-Qaeda's first video claiming they were holding Ms. Carroll and threatening her life. more...

Posted by: Howie at 07:30 PM | Comments (87) | Add Comment
Post contains 385 words, total size 3 kb.

1 So the Revenge Brigades was clearly a name cover for the Mujahadeen Shura Council. I thought the Islamic Army held her, not Al Qaeda. The Islamic Army is not linked with the Mujahadeen Shura Council. Then again, Bayan Jabr may have been wrong.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 07:42 PM (SahP1)

2 George, Haven'T you and I gone around about that before. IT WOULD NOT BE NICE TO SEE ANYONE MURDERED IN THAT WAY. I know you are screwing with Maxie but please do not advocate beheadings. It makes you like them

IM no threats. I think you are full of shit but George believes you.

Posted by: Howie at August 13, 2006 07:54 PM (gG6Oj)

3 I just said it to piss him off and it worked.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 09:01 PM (SahP1)

4 George, get out of your mommie's basement and deliver that pizza. I'm hungry, you little scamp.

Posted by: jesusland joe at August 13, 2006 10:01 PM (rUyw4)

5 No Howie, if I ever got to meet him, I'd beat him to death with my bare hands, just to make sure that he doesn't pass on his fucked up genes to make another little chickenshit retard just like him. But then, I won't have to, because the chances of him breeding with a live human female are pretty slim. In fact, given his tone of hatred and resentment, which generally comes from a psycho-sexual cause, he's probably getting used like a girl pretty regularly, and not even by the buff guys, but by the fat slobs that hang out in parks, whom he meets on his pizza runs.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 10:11 PM (v3I+x)

6 Meanwhile back in the jungle ....   one thing I can't get out of my mind is Jill Carroll's elated comments about how well she was treated by her captors and not a word about the driver/intrepreter who was murdered in the process. I just can't get behind Jill 100%.

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 13, 2006 11:22 PM (gLMre)

7 Larry, are we going to have to send you to the Ministry of Love for reeducation? Now repeat after me: We have always been at war with Eastasia...

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 11:53 PM (v3I+x)

8 Howie: To what threats are you alluding? Were some comments deleted here? Wish all were deleted--leaving a few references up just confuses people.

Posted by: youngbourbonprofessional at August 14, 2006 07:18 AM (gZnyq)

9 Joe, quit fucking your secretary and go home. And Maximus Does the pizzaman tell you that he's molesting your two children and while they are begging for your help, your wife is saying fuck me harder to the next door neighbor? Thought you'd like to know.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:20 AM (SahP1)

10 Oh and Joe, how does it feel to get fucked up the ass by your father? Do you like biting the pillow? When you are done sucking your brother's dick, I'd like some grits. I'm not a pizzaman and I don't live in a basement you motherfucking crackers. But I guess getting a blowjob from a bum is not much when your kids are being raped and murdered while they are begging for your help. Daddy help me? Why did you abandon us?

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:25 AM (SahP1)

11 Did you enjoy the blowjob by the bum? Was it worth it when your kids are sodomized by the broomstick?

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:26 AM (SahP1)

12 George, as if this was your real name, if you are speaking as the Pizza man, in the third person, you may have just violated a law forbidding terroristic threats. Your IP can be traced back to your location, and the authorities notified. I can't trace it so don't consider it a threat from me.
 
Now, we all know you are playing troll. You are not  funny, little man. Put down your mommy's iMac because you are in time out for five minutes for your potty mouth talk.
 
I hear Zarqawi gave Jill a vulva puppet pillow as a gift after their goat baby was born.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 08:29 AM (7teJ9)

13 I have my own comptuer asshole. Maxie has threated people across the world for ages so don't consider me a criminal so fuck you cracker. Oh and I already told you mother fucker. I'm not a pizzaman. You started the whole delivery boy game so I'm referring to another one. Quit typing while your secretary sucks your dick. It messes with rational thought.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:36 AM (SahP1)

14 Jeemany christmas.  Yes YBP.  George wants IM to get the knife to the throat and IM wants to beat George senseless. 
 
Why is it I feel like a third grade teacher at recess? 
 
 Y'all suck. They know what I'm talking about so sorry if the rest of you are confused.

Posted by: Howie at August 14, 2006 08:39 AM (D3+20)

15 1) I consider Cracker a term of endearment. I love you too little man.
 
2) I wish I had a secratary. I would then consider allowing her to service the king.
 
3) Not everything in Mommy's house belongs to you. Did you take your Ritalin like Mommy told you to do?

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 08:41 AM (7teJ9)

16 Man,
I bet you get an ear full if you don’t tip for the extra large combo.
The delivery boy from hell he is.

Posted by: Brad at August 14, 2006 08:43 AM (6mUkl)

17 I looked at all the coverage yesterday and yes Jill did speak of watching her interpreter mudered out of the corner of her eye as she was being taken.  She also tallked about the kidnappers being gleefull about it and screaming Jihad Jihad Jihad as they were leaving.
 
Oh and rather that take George Or IM's side I tried to be fair and dumped both of them.  Of course their argument started on another thread but they felt the need to drag it over on this one.  Like I said third grade.

Posted by: Howie at August 14, 2006 08:44 AM (D3+20)

18 Howie: I see. Time out, and no cookie snacks for them for the day, huh?

Or should that be 'cracker" snacks?

Posted by: youngbourbonprofessional at August 14, 2006 08:50 AM (gZnyq)

19 Fuck you seemonk. Get your ass out of the trailer and cook up my grits. I'm hungry man.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:54 AM (SahP1)

20 I prefer oreos but you can't have everything. I'll take some apple juice too. No beer for you. That stuff seems to makes you rough when you beat you wife wife bourbon professional. Oh would you like some cheese?

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:57 AM (SahP1)

21 Georgie was the one to toss a Frisch bomb with the comments about molesting IM's kids. That was way out of line.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 08:57 AM (7teJ9)

22 It's what keeps luring some of us back time and again! ;-). Better than a mid-day soap opera!

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 08:57 AM (gLMre)

23 Yes it is my friend. Yes it us. Glad you enjoy the show? Would you like some cheese and beer.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:59 AM (SahP1)

24 My trailer is pretty nice. It looks great since I put in the new pool and spa.
 
How do you like your grits Jorje pizza man? I prefer mine with salt pepper and butter; with a splash of tobasco for effect.
 
But tobasco is too hot for a little guy like you. I am going to whip up a batch of your favorite pancakes. You know, the ones with the little clown faces on them.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 09:01 AM (7teJ9)

25 I'd love some of those. Thank you so much. Would you like some cheese and beer?

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:03 AM (SahP1)

26 Brad fuck you man.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:09 AM (SahP1)

27 Oh and See monk. Go suck your own dick you fucking inbred. Fucking redneck motherfucker. Go to Hell you little dipshit. Fucking pillowbiter.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:19 AM (SahP1)

28 You mistake me for a midwesterner. I prefer boudan and cracklin with my beer.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 09:20 AM (7teJ9)

29 I see.

Posted by: George ramos at August 14, 2006 09:22 AM (SahP1)

30 What state do you live in? Texas? Georgia? Alabama?

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:23 AM (SahP1)

31 If you want to ban me Howie than go ahead. I didn't know I'd be spending my life arguing with a bunch of Nebraska Corn Shucker Jackoffs. It was worh it though. Yee-hah!!!!!!!

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:27 AM (SahP1)

32 I live in a relative state of bliss at most times. But I try to make it to catatonia before sunset.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 09:27 AM (7teJ9)

33 Jorje, do you know the origin of the word cracker?

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 09:29 AM (7teJ9)

34 You do realize I'm not asking for your address. All you had to do was state the state. Pardon the pun you stupid ass motherfucker.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:29 AM (SahP1)

35 Quit calling me jorje you racist mother fucker. It's also spelled Jorge retard. Quit insulting my Puerto Rican heritage. But I guess you were too busy growing cotten while you were whipping your slaves hence the sound of a crack. It doesn't matter since you won't believe I knew the word long ago. Grow up man. Youa re arguing with a teenager.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:33 AM (SahP1)

36 Quit calling me jorje you racist mother fucker. It's also spelled Jorge retard. Quit insulting my Puerto Rican heritage. But I guess you were too busy growing cotton while you were whipping your slaves hence the sound of a crack. It doesn't matter since you won't believe I knew the word long ago. Grow up man. Youa re arguing with a teenager.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:34 AM (SahP1)

37 Did I mention banning anyone?

Posted by: Howie at August 14, 2006 09:36 AM (D3+20)

38 No but these assholes won't give up the fight. Maximus is still doing to be a prick. So are Larry, See Monk, Joe, Carlos. I might be going to prison but it was worth it. The only decent ones around here are greyrooster, you, and Rusty. The biggest mistake I ever made was mentioning my private life. Oh the stupidity I have done. But I've been called worst things in my life. It's your decision Howie. No one will win this fight but I have no regrets. So what If i'm 18? You act like you've never been teenagers. Jesus Christ man. Grow up. Argue with someone your own age like your wifes or bosses or something.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:44 AM (SahP1)

39 You've been 18 for quite a while now.  Any comment you post that you feel contains info you want removed email me.  I'll do it.  I'm not sure they can get your IP from the site without special access.

Posted by: Howie at August 14, 2006 09:48 AM (D3+20)

40 There are so many posts. It won't make much difference since they know about my private life. I've made my point so this fight is over. Maximus might come around later though. Have a good day.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:52 AM (SahP1)

41 Grayrooster has a fan, and I am a racist.
 
Hey Jorje Pizza man, I have been to PR. The highways are poorly marked and Bayamon is a slum.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 10:23 AM (7teJ9)

42 Fuck you racist. Fuck you very much. I guess while the flight attendant is sucking your dick, your wife and kids are being gang raped and murdered by her lover and his fmaily. Your kids are being sodomized by a broom stick and she's say, help me my love. Why didn't you help me. And then he puts his dick in her mouth and then suffocates her with a plastic bag. The kids watch and then cry and then their eyes are gouged out. Then their corpses are tied upside down to the trees and your house is burned out.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 10:53 AM (SahP1)

43 Sounds like toddlers at the kiddie table having pretend tea and scones  .....

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 10:59 AM (gLMre)

44 Oh, and I wouldn't worry a whole lot about homeland security whipping into action and putting you in jail for making threats. They are way too busy stamping visas and recruiting fresh college students from third world countries.

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 11:03 AM (gLMre)

45 Oh the days when I had to use *** for my profanity to get past the screeners! Anything goes now apparently! Unless it's racist of course, or says something bad about muslims.....

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 11:07 AM (gLMre)

46 BTW I am not the racist around here. That title goes to the one person who unabashedly claims it for himself. He is one of your buddies. Grayrooster is around somwhere.

My son is safe away from people who would teach him dirty little words like you are using. You better listen to me young man, I will take away your internet privileges and you will have to do yard work instead. Now be a good little man and talk nice to the normal people.

Posted by: Cmunk at August 14, 2006 11:12 AM (7teJ9)

47 Little Georgie is angry because his butt's sore. I'm copying his comments to a document to forward to a friend in the FBI, so let him rant, because he's too stupid to know the difference between implicit and explicit threats.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 14, 2006 11:15 AM (v3I+x)

48 Does a fatwa from an 18 year old pizza man count? Can we get a judgement from Rusty on this? I would ask Vinnie but he uses potty language like Jorje and yells alot.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 11:24 AM (7teJ9)

49 Haywood wonders if O-O-O-O-Oprah is going to see this as good publicity? And perhaps add some terrorist kidnapper themed topics?

Maybe JC just wanted to be on The Show.

Welcome Home, Jill. Time to Cash In!

Posted by: haywood jablowmi at August 14, 2006 11:49 AM (VUmVc)

50 Jorje is a spanish name.
 
Jorje Robledo. ... ROBLEDO, Jorje (ro-blay'-do), Spanish soldier, born in Spain in the beginning of the 16th century; died in Santiago de Armas, Colombia, ...

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 12:05 PM (7teJ9)

51 To whoever deleter my earlier post on this comment.
You are as bad as the muslims and liberals you protect.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 12:22 PM (L92U0)

52 YBP: I posted earlier a remark to George Ramos concerning his liberal language. I merely asked if he talked that way around his mother. Yet the comment was deleted.
Are the commies back?

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 12:26 PM (L92U0)

53 Bummer I would like to have seen it.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 12:35 PM (7teJ9)

54 No. No. It was a nice reply to a young man who obviously is still under the impression that his liberal teachers know something about the world.
Georgie: Quit argueing and learn. If you continue to snipe back and forth with these guys they will have you for breakfast. You're not in their league.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 12:50 PM (L92U0)

55 George Ramos: I live north of New Orleans. Where do you live?

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 12:54 PM (L92U0)

56 Jorje doesn't know what boudin and cracklin is. I think he needs a hug from a southerner and a friend.
 
BTW Jorje,
 
Cracker has several origins. Your suggestion that is was derived from the crack of a whip is one, but not the most likely. The most likely origin is a Scottish term for a person who ate cracked corn. People who make corn whiskey are also possibly a source. It just so happens the Scottish and Irish settled large parts of Georgia, which is the state most often associated with the term Cracker. Then it could just be a way to say a person is as white as a soda cracker. (saltine)
 
Being a Georgian, and white, to call me a cracker is weak. Next time try honkey. Do you know the origin of the term honkey?

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 01:07 PM (7teJ9)

57 Georgie: People are trying to communicate with you.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 01:15 PM (L92U0)

58 Is it honkey or honky. I think it is honky.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 01:20 PM (7teJ9)

59 So let me get this straight: Rooster is threatened with banning for citing actual facts regarding racially related crime rates, etc., but George isn't even chastised in the least for using terms like "cracker" and "redneck".
Fucking hypocrites.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 14, 2006 02:06 PM (v3I+x)

60 Jorje is working his way through the downside of his bipolar outburst. He will be back. Top of the world one day, haunted by meagers the next.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 02:11 PM (7teJ9)

61 No I'm considering dumping all the comments on this thread and closing them.

Posted by: Howie at August 14, 2006 02:16 PM (D3+20)

62 " Maximus is still doing to be a prick. So are Larry, See Monk, Joe, Carlos. "   Finally I have elevated to the status of the greats! Happy day! It took many months and a lot of profiling and insulting, but I finally made it! :-) Hope this comment gets posted before Howie closes down the nursery!

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 02:41 PM (gLMre)

63 We are just baiting a troll Howie. Has anyone checked the IP? maybe George lives in Eugene Oregon.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 03:05 PM (7teJ9)

64 Ban, Ban, Delete, delete. Just like the muslims and liberal commies.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 04:37 PM (AzkTD)

65 George: You have nothing to whine about. I attempted to converse with you on a reasonalble plane. You seen to enjoy the name calling better. If you are not careful you'll grow up to be a democrat. Have a good day kid.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 04:56 PM (AzkTD)

66 Is George Ramos really A FINN?

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 05:36 PM (AzkTD)

67 Back on the original topic; I saw a video segment of an interview with the skank herself today, and she was talking about how they made her do several retakes with more tears, etc., and about how scared she was. She is such a bad liar.
First, she didn't seem scared in any but one tape, and after she was released, she immediately said she wasn't harmed or threatened in any way. But now she says she was scared, but not so scared that they could get the shot in one take, but instead required more tears. Unfreakingbelievable.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 14, 2006 06:13 PM (v3I+x)

68 Thank you for not dumping this thread, Howie. I just got back from an all day trip, and I went directly to this thread and laughed my ass off. Whoo...boy! That jorje boy is really good for a laugh. Now you can dump it, Howie..

Posted by: jesusland joe at August 14, 2006 06:32 PM (rUyw4)

69 greyrooster: I read that missing post of yours! But I was later confused as to which thread it was on because I couldn't find it when I went back.

***Message to Jawa Report: Please stop deleting posts!****

Didn't George call someone a 'cracker'? Isn't that the black version of the n-word???

(And yes, George, I do beat my wife.)

Posted by: youngbourbonprofessional at August 14, 2006 07:12 PM (gZnyq)

70 I think we should try and save Georgie boy. He's just confused. A product the liberal news and academia. He can be saved.

CMUNK: Do you think you can get it straight in your friggin mind. Read my posts. I am only racist when it comes to blacks. I have said this repeatedly. No other race has ever attacked me, shot me or attempted to mug me. No other race has destroyed New Orleans. A stinking hole I used to enjoy. Can you get it through your head? When I say I am a racist (blacks only) what the fuck do you think I mean. Illustration I believe the Japanese are every bit my equal. Now either get it right or quit referring to me or my comments.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 08:31 PM (y5dGS)

71 I did not delete rooster today just the george and IM at the top of this thread.  Let me refer you here.
 
http://paduanjawa.blogspot.com/2006/07/decompression-day.html
 
 
I try to leave it as open as possible becuase well I come from Jawa comments.  Discussions here made me.  But I have to use my best judgement as I see fit and not worry about it too much.  I do appreciate the comments.  That being said I think we used to have a lot better discussions and not so much sillyness.

Posted by: Howie at August 14, 2006 08:48 PM (D3+20)

72 I know I shouldn't react in such an ascerbic manner as I do sometimes, but my version of a warning shot is a short burst to center mass, just so nobody gets confused.
Now let me say this: I hope Jill Carroll "comes to Jesus", but I doubt it, because she's still not being completely forthright in her story. She needs to admit that she went in as an enemy sympathizer, that she willingly participated in a propaganda video, that she repents of her crimes, and that America is not the villain here; then I'll forgive her, but not before.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 14, 2006 09:41 PM (v3I+x)

73 Well, Howie, perhaps we did have better comments before the Jawa became so famous,  but  the comments of 18 year-old border line mental retards are hardly stimulating. The majority of his English is concentrated in the slang portion of Websters.

Posted by: jesusland joe at August 14, 2006 09:57 PM (rUyw4)

74 GR, I just did not want that poor youth to be confused as to who the real racist is on this board. He seemed to be taken by you, yet he insisted on calling me a racist. Help him out. Show him the path. I am no use to him, in this manner. And I missed you too you old coonass.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 14, 2006 11:07 PM (n4VvM)

75

Fame?  I don't feel any different.  Stop telling me we are famous before it scares me and I hide under a rock.

Posted by: Howie at August 15, 2006 04:46 PM (YdcZ0)

76 We aren't famous because of the deleters. Rather in spite of them.

George Ramos. You concern about your Puerto Rican heritage doesn't count when you demean the fine people of Nebraska.
Do you really think most Americans prefer Puerto Ricans to Nebraskans? Your family came here for the wrong reasons. Go back to your corrupt, poverty riden island.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 16, 2006 09:32 AM (vCjBd)

77 Shut up. I was born here. My parents came here back in the 50s. I'm not demeaning Nebraska so don't demean Puerto Rico. I'm not a communist radical. I was glad when Filiberto Ojeda Rios was killed. I'm happy with Puerto Rico being a commonwealth. And See Monk, I'm WHITE. Not Black so don't call me a coonass. I'm tired of fighting so please just end the fight. I'm not in the mood right now to fight with half a dozen guys ten thousand miles away. Oh and it's funny, I thought Greyrooster was a girl. That's why I didn't call him an asshole. Well, he just made the list. He's a racist asshole. I'm an asshole to so I guess I made the list.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 10:36 AM (SahP1)

78 Shut up. I was born here. My parents came here back in the 50s. I'm not demeaning Nebraska so don't demean Puerto Rico. I'm not a communist radical. I was glad when Filiberto Ojeda Rios was killed. I'm happy with Puerto Rico being a commonwealth. And See Monk, I'm WHITE. Not Black so don't call me a coonass. I'm tired of fighting so please just end the fight. I'm not in the mood right now to fight with half a dozen guys ten thousand miles away. Oh and it's funny, I thought Greyrooster was a girl. That's why I didn't call him an asshole. Well, he just made the list. He's a racist asshole. I'm an asshole too so I guess I made the list.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 10:36 AM (SahP1)

79 Oh and could you please not call me Jorje? It's spelled Jorge. Everytime you call me that, I feel like I'm in the Stormfront nationalist message forum and that is not a good thing. I apologize for my remarks. I got so worked up on defending Jill Carroll. I just hate people who demean women. All hostages are forced to recite a script. If they don't, then they are shot in the head. Again I aplogize. You guys put up a great fight though. I salute you. Oh and I'm NOT a pizzaman. I like Pizza though. Would you like some cheese?

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 10:44 AM (SahP1)

80 See what I meant. Had to say something nasty to get the little shit to respond. You call many different people here various names and you consider me the racist. Thank you. I am a racist. Damn proud of it.
Any stupid enough to think the name Grey (get it turd=old)
Rooster (get it turd = male fowl). You obviously were raised in a Rican Getto.
White Puerto Rican? Hmmmm. I see you bring up Stormfront. Sure your not a wannabe? I told you before you were out of your league. Wouldn't listen would you? bye, bye Jorge. Pronounced Whore-hey. Or in reverse Hey Whore.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 16, 2006 12:58 PM (vCjBd)

81 i was born her you motherfucker racist. Fuck you you little shit. Go fuck yourself before I cut out your fucking eyes. Motherfucking racist. Go suck your brother's dick. Motherfucking cocksucker. Go stick your dick in someone's ass motherfucker.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 02:54 PM (SahP1)

82 I was born here you fucking bastard.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 03:00 PM (SahP1)

83 What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you making fun of me for being Puerto Rican? Carlos is spanish. You are a racist. This has gone on too long man. Can't you accept an apology? Jesus Christ man. You are a racist man. I just said cracker to piss you off and it didn't even work. You are an asshole man. A gigantic asshole that's been fucked too much. I was born here. What's the matter? Haven't you ever seen a white Hispanic ? Does Carlos Ponce ring a bell? What about the president of Spain? Jesus Christ Please let this topic die. Leave me alone man. You are a definite Nebraska Corn Shucker Jackoff. But I guess you never read Forrest Gump. Anyway Leave me alone man. Argue with your wife man. Oh and guess what redneck. Whores are women mother fucker.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 03:05 PM (SahP1)

84

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 03:09 PM (SahP1)

85

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 03:10 PM (SahP1)

86 Anyway, Go ahead call me whatever you want. I'm a spic, beaner, boriquen and you are a sick asshole and a Nazi. I don't know why you get your kicks by arguing with a teenager. Please get over it. Oh and I'm not out your league you little prick. Go suck a dick.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 16, 2006 03:13 PM (SahP1)

87 Hey Whore: Your Puerto Rican is showing. Ha, ha.
As I said a democrat from the Ghetto. Don't like what real Americans say. Get your kinky headed ass back where you belong. Which isn't America. You know it. I know it. Shit boy! Everyone knows it.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 17, 2006 09:07 AM (W1CgA)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Christian Science Monitor's Jill Carroll archive and Preview.

Jawa Report Jill Carroll Archive, Jawa Report Hostage archive.

Hat Tip : Hugo. more...

Posted by: Howie at 10:18 PM | Comments (30) | Add Comment
Post contains 41 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Did she have a nose job?

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 13, 2006 09:38 AM (n4VvM)

2 Just a reminder:
During her time with the terrorists, she appeared in propaganda videos crying, presumably under duress from fearing for her life, while she ranted against the US.

After her release, she claimed that she was treated well, and not harmed or threatened in any way.

So which was it? If she was not harmed or threatened in any way, why was she crying in the video? Were the tears fake, or did she lie after her release? The two things are in opposition, and one must be false if the other is true. If she really was under duress, then she lied after her release. If she lied to protect the terrorists, then it shows where her loyalty and sympathy lie. If she didn't lie, and was treated well, then why was she crying on the video?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 10:08 AM (v3I+x)

3 Shut up See Monk. She said she was threatened once she was safe in the U.S. It's not unusual for hostages to not be beaten in captivity. I'm sick and tired of far right nutjobs degrading Jill and saying she had Zarqawi's baby. Leave her alone.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 12:23 PM (SahP1)

4 Ha! Ha! I like that one! Carrying Zarqawi's baby! I personally cannot muster must sympathy for the sympathizer!      I you wanna wallow with pigs, then be prepared to get mud on your face!

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 13, 2006 12:29 PM (gLMre)

5

I'll reserve judgement until I hear what she has to say. 

 

Yes hanging out with you Larry is kind of like being in a pig waller.

Posted by: Howie at August 13, 2006 01:26 PM (D3+20)

6 George, you're acting like a 10-yr. old. And if you don't want to see comments by "right-wing nutjobs" why don't you get your ass over to Kos.

Posted by: jesusland joe at August 13, 2006 02:01 PM (rUyw4)

7 I'm sure that Jill and her jihadie buddies appreciate your support George, but the fact is that she is busted as a liar and enemy propagandist, and changing her story hasn't helped her credibility. First she was crying in fear for her life, then she was well treated and not threatened in any way, then she was threatened after all.
Considering that she was on their side from the beginning, and that the whole kidnapping looked suspiciously like a setup, and that she actually gained weight during her captivity; it looks phoney anyway, without her contradicting her own statements. She is a liar. She was a nobody reporter, an enemy sypmathizer, and a willing propagandist, but now she's famous, and soon to be rich. I hope it was worth the life of her interpreter; but hey, the Revolution demands sacrifices, right comrades?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 02:13 PM (v3I+x)

8

Hey asshat, all I said was it looked like she had her nose done. Personally I think it was too big anyway. Your misguided rant was obviosly meant to me directed at IM.

However, if it was me you are spouting off to, then I also heard she had her vagina tightened after she had Zarqawi's baby.

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 13, 2006 02:15 PM (n4VvM)

9 Where did the rumor about Zarqawi's baby come from?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 04:31 PM (v3I+x)

10 You guys are fucking asshole cracker rednecks. You should be the ones beheaded. Maxie should have gotten Gulf War syndrome. But I guess if someone killed his wife and killed his children, that would be better too. I shall piss on their corpses. LOL

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 07:19 PM (SahP1)

11 Oh and seemonk, joe and larry and maxie, go suck a dick. Howie, I respect your reservement. I'll be banned from this website for insulting Maxie but it was worth it. Fucking bald redneck. Go suck your own dick motherfucker.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 07:22 PM (SahP1)

12 Actually George, if I knew where you lived, you'd not be banned, but hunted down and beaten into a coma. You're a cowardly piece of shit punk.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 07:51 PM (v3I+x)

13 Does this count as a fatwa?

Posted by: SeeMonk at August 13, 2006 08:35 PM (n4VvM)

14 Yeah I issued a fatwa.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 09:00 PM (SahP1)

15 Yay I issued a fatwa.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 13, 2006 09:38 PM (SahP1)

16 George, do the fat guys that you deliver pizza to pay you extra to sit in their laps and feed it to them? I was just asking because you sound like that kind of pizza bitch.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 13, 2006 10:15 PM (v3I+x)

17 It always comes back to that. Her intrepreter who was murdered, and yet Jill spoke with such glee describing her hospitable captors. I want to sypathize with her and I certainly agonized over her when she was held captive. But upon her release when I heard no word mentioned of the unfortunate fate of her interpretor, I felt I had spent too much concern .... 

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 13, 2006 11:57 PM (gLMre)

18 Well Larry, I feel for ya, but being the coldhearted, cynical bastard I am, I didn't waste any sympathy on her, because I saw what was happening from the jump.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 14, 2006 12:00 AM (v3I+x)

19 You gonna believe what she has to say any more than what she has already said? Squealing of pigs, don't bite the hand that feeds you!

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 12:41 AM (gLMre)

20 Does the pizzaman tell you that he's molesting your two children and while they are begging for your help, your wife is saying fuck me harder to the next door neighbor? Thought you'd like to know.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 08:18 AM (SahP1)

21 George: Your upbringing must have been great. Do you talk to your mother like that? Make your point. Speak your piece. But for the sake of those brought up better, can your liberal language.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 08:33 AM (N0n43)

22 'lil George has been left home alone while his mommy went to the supermarket ..

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 09:17 AM (gLMre)

23 Fuck you asshole. Go back to redneck country and go sodomize your father or sister. Stupid ass redneck motherfucker. Your father will probably bite off your dick while you whip your slaves. Go suck your own dick. But I guess while your wife is fucking your slave, your too busy getting a blow job from your horse.

Posted by: george Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:40 AM (SahP1)

24 I'm a moderate you genius. But jesus christ you guys won't give up the fight. Argue with someone your own age like your wifes or bosses or something. Take care of your kids. So what If i'm 18? You act like you've never been teenagers. I might be going to prison but it was worth it. The only decent ones around Rusty, Howie, and Greyrooster. The assholes are Larry, Maximus, See Monk, Carlos, Joe and Brad.

Posted by: George Ramos at August 14, 2006 09:49 AM (SahP1)

25 Oh, I wouldn't worry a whole lot about homeland security whipping into action and putting you in prison for making threats. They are way too busy stamping visas and recruiting fresh college students from third world countries.

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 11:17 AM (gLMre)

26 George really sounds like a moderate doesn't he? get his IP address for me and I'll look him up to discuss politics in person.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at August 14, 2006 11:22 AM (v3I+x)

27 Georgie: Leave my boys alone.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 12:40 PM (L92U0)

28 So, does George fall in with the decents Rusty, Howie, and Greyrooster. Or is he one of the assholes along with myself, Maximus, See Monk, Carlos, Joe and Brad.?

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 14, 2006 02:51 PM (gLMre)

29 Can I be an asshole. Don't like being classed with a deleter.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 14, 2006 08:39 PM (y5dGS)

30 No problem! If I have anything to say about it !  :-)

Posted by: Last gasp Larry at August 17, 2006 05:09 PM (gLMre)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

UPDATE RS: Long time readers know that if there is one issue that animates us, it is the cause of freeing hostages. I was thrilled when I heard this morning that those who had held Jill hostage had been captured. To Jill's friends who have contacted us in the past, we celebrate this with you.

Our Jill Carroll archive is here.

Let us not forget, though, that Jeffrey Ake and others are still missing. Please keep the Ake family in your prayers.
----------

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 and 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment have captured Jill Carroll's abductors:

Marines—By Cpl. Mark Sixbey, 1st Marine Division

Editor’s note: Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 captured three insurgents responsible for the kidnapping and detention of Jill Carroll, an American journalist for the Christian Science Monitor, May 19. Intelligence gleaned from that raid led to the capture of one more, by Marines from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. This story was written shortly after, but held due to intelligence value. Jill Carroll since announced she will detail her captivity in an 11-part series. Only now can the story of those who captured her kidnappers be told.

Jill Carroll’s kidnappers are now themselves locked up.

Marines captured four members of an insurgent kidnapping cell responsible for the kidnapping of American journalist Jill Carroll of the Christian Science Monitor.

Posted by: OpinionBug at 10:51 AM | Comments (22) | Add Comment
Post contains 989 words, total size 7 kb.

Last word on Jill Carroll kidnapping. Jeff Jacoby:

To some people hearing this, it was plain that Carroll could only have been speaking under duress. "Jill Carroll forced to make propaganda video as price of freedom," the Monitor headlined its story the next day. Anyone tempted to accuse Carroll of some other motive, cautioned Ellen Knickmeyer of The Washington Post, "should think about what they would do (after) three months with machine guns held to their heads."

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....

Very scripted, very much what you would expect the terrorists wanted to hear.

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!

"During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and wanted to go home alive. So I agreed," she said in a statement read by her editor in Boston.

"Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not."... ...In the statement, Carroll also disavowed an interview she gave to the party shortly after her release. She said the party had promised her the interview would not be aired "and broke their word."... ..."At any rate, fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear, I said I wasn't threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times," she said. "Also, at least two false statements about me have been widely aired: One — that I refused to travel and cooperate with the U.S. military, and two — that I refused to discuss my captivity with U.S. officials. Again, neither statement is true."

Jim Geraghty also chimes in against both the Right and Left, but since we've already discussed the Right's reaction:

There was much ugliness on the right, but there was plenty of the same nastiness to go around on the left. Shortly after her initial remarks, John Podhoretz predicted on National Review Online's group blog The Corner that there would be a lot of talk about Stockholm Syndrome. Shortly thereafter, a contributor to the liberal blog ThinkProgress demanded an apology (presumptuously speaking for Carroll) and other commenters on that site wished for Podhoretz to get kidnapped himself, labeling him a "Reichwingnut" and so on.

No matter how much you may disagree with a network anchor, reporter or columnist, it's unheard of for a professional writer to say in published work, "I hope that guy gets kidnapped." Even on his worst day, it's unimaginable that Rather (or Bob Schieffer, or any new anchor) would label, on-air an opponent a "Reichwingnut." (Okay, maybe Bryant Gumbel. But when he called Robert Knight "a ****ing idiot," he at least thought he was off the air. ) Nor is any columnist likely to speculate in print that abducted prisoners are in cahoots with their captors, at least without evidence....

The Pajamahadeen have gone from fact-checking Dan Rather to speculating that Jill Carroll faked her tears on her hostage tape. This is not progress.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:19 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
Post contains 703 words, total size 5 kb.

You might say? Good job Jill and we’re glad you are safe.

AP via Yahoo : "During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and wanted to go home alive. So I agreed," she said in a statement read by her editor in Boston.

"Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not."... ...In the statement, Carroll also disavowed an interview she gave to the party shortly after her release. She said the party had promised her the interview would not be aired "and broke their word."... ..."At any rate, fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear, I said I wasn't threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times," she said. "Also, at least two false statements about me have been widely aired: One — that I refused to travel and cooperate with the U.S. military, and two — that I refused to discuss my captivity with U.S. officials. Again, neither statement is true."

Another Yahoo link.

More here at the Christian Science Monitor.

Also see LGF no fooling around, In The bullpen and Captain Ed.

Posted by: Howie at 09:34 PM | Comments (16) | Add Comment
Post contains 271 words, total size 2 kb.

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 287 words, total size 2 kb.

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 618 words, total size 5 kb.

1 I don't really care what she said. I'm just glad she's safe and sound.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 30, 2006 07:44 PM (CnDtU)

2 Also I do believe her when she said she was treated well. Woman hostages usually are treated far better than male hostages. Margaret Hassan is the main exception since she was shot to death two years ago.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 30, 2006 07:50 PM (CnDtU)

3 Thank you for not calling her a moonbat Rusty.
Carlos loves to call hostages that.

Posted by: Max Power at March 30, 2006 07:51 PM (CnDtU)

4 I guess we can put to rest Background Noise's theory that Jill Carroll was kidnapped by Interior Ministry Death Squads operating under the auspices of US contractors.

I am expecting a full apology from the noise, especially since he also appears to be wrong about the Revenge Brigades not being part of the Islamic Army in Iraq.

Great job, Rusty, you deserve to be commended for all your efforts on behalf of all the hostages in Iraq.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 30, 2006 07:56 PM (rUyw4)

5 Thanks guys.

Posted by: Rusty at March 30, 2006 08:02 PM (JQjhA)

6 You are welcome. Even the Washington Post said that this hostage video was just propaganda crap. I really doubt Jill believes the terrorists will win. If you are surrounded by armed men you will say anything to please them.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 30, 2006 08:13 PM (CnDtU)

7 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.

Wow. Jihadi and moonbat talking points are virtually the same. I'm not sure how much they really had to script her.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at March 30, 2006 08:15 PM (8e/V4)

8 I read the transcript on ABC news and it sounded VERY stilted and scripted. And full of run-on sentence and garbled grammar an accomplished journalist would not use.

But ABC news also reported that a pentagon official said Jill declined an offer of military transport back to the states and refused interviews with American officials.

Poor girl sounds confused and maybe a bit paranoid. She was a moderate liberal who had her world rocked and may be a little messed up.

Pray for her.

Posted by: David at March 30, 2006 08:54 PM (3aCNQ)

9 Saw the tape itself. The first portion does make me wonder a little since some of the phrasing meshes rather well with things Jill has written and said, particularly about "the common people of Iraq," which was a recurring theme with her. I think her captors tapped into her pre-existing sympathies and twisted them.

Like I said before, she might be a bit messed up.

Posted by: David at March 30, 2006 09:11 PM (3aCNQ)

10 I think the only duress she suffered was when she realized what a bunch of unevolved savages muslims really are, and that she wasn't just playing games anymore. You play with fire, you get burned.
But then, there is the inevitable million dollar book deal, so maybe she didn't get burned so bad after all. I wonder if she'll give any of the money from the book and/or movie deal to the families of those murdered by her friends?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at March 30, 2006 09:45 PM (0yYS2)

11 Improbulus, if you are referring to the murder of her translator, Alan Enwiyah, she may not know about that yet. There is not evidence she saw that happen. And if she does know, keep in mind that her captors claimed they weren't the ones who killed him. Probably a lie, but Jill may have needed to believe it.

Posted by: David at March 30, 2006 09:58 PM (3aCNQ)

12 Very interesting. I only watched the first part
of the interview as I was gettign nauseated.
Part of me question's her motives. However, did anyone else notice that she was using her
LEFT to gesture while speaking? If memory
serves me correctly, that is considered a major insult, on par with the American finger or
the British two finger salute.

Posted by: Privateer6 at March 30, 2006 09:59 PM (W3MO4)

13 Sorry, Rusty, but I think we might dealing with Stockholm Syndrome here. Crying in the first video (broken), errily calm in the third video (now empathic), and praising her captors while not cooperating with her own kind by refusing free transport or interviews with officials which could lead to the arrests of her captors. Sounds like the symptoms.

But victims of Stockholm Syndrome are just that: Victims. This does not make her a bad person. It just means that her pre-existing liberal worldview and sympathies may have made her more vulnerable to manipulation.

For those of you who want to bash her, lay off. I admit some things are suspicuous, but do we really know what she went through yet?

Posted by: David at March 30, 2006 10:16 PM (3aCNQ)

14 I call farce.

This is CLEARLY a scripted event right down to the abduction itself to paint her 'captors' as oppressed yet humane 'freedom fighters'.

This isn't a kidnapping, it's an Al Jazeera press release.

Posted by: Straight Dope at March 31, 2006 12:06 AM (cJJ2n)

15 Yes it may be partially scripted, but for the most part it seems like it's her script. It's just what I would do in her place, cuz now she has two groups pulling on each of her arms trying to get her to speak their truth not hers and in the process pull her appart.

I mean you genuwine Bushiphytes just have no clue on how right some of her statements are. But we will no doubt find out from her if she is able to stay alive when she gets home. Of course in her case of being a liberal, her death warrant or nuthouse commitment papers have already been signed by Bush. No doubt Bush will have some thugs tailing her to her doorstep to make sure she says the right things or nothing at all.

I was in Viet Nam and we're just seeing a repeat of another illegal war on the poor people of the world with rich natural resources. Well this time war is not only not benefitting us but will have us in debt till the middle of this century. So expect to hear this slogan often in the next elections. "Remember it's the Economy Stupid". I think Bush and you idiots have forgot!

Psst! Remember how wonderful things were, when Nixon was pulling troops and then all hell broke lose before he was all but impeached! Well looks like the full cycle is repeating itself! And it's another Republican! heehee

Posted by: JungleJim at March 31, 2006 02:52 AM (COcNM)

16 Jungle Jim, does it hurt to be that stupid? I imagine you must experience some pain every time a rational thought has to wade through the crud that's built up around your synapses and neurons.

Posted by: Graeme at March 31, 2006 05:22 AM (ra26Z)

17 Hey junglejim, does Bush have people following you around?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at March 31, 2006 05:50 AM (0yYS2)

18 Jungle Jim, what statements are true?

She said she was treated very well. Lie. She was kidnapped for crissake! She was held a prisoner. She had guns pointed at her head and was emotionally abused.

She said the mujahideen were not people who like to kill or like violence. Lie. The mujahideen routinely behead, torture or kill not only women, children, reporters, humanitarian care workers and contract workers (all non-combatants) but their own countrymen as well and then go on to Praise Allah for the opportunity to kill them. These terrorists have no credibility at all. To deliberately target these innocent non-combatants, especially the children, is unconscionable. The vast majority of Iraq deaths are at the hands of their own countrymen.

She said children don't have safe streets to walk in. Why? Funny how the children can play safely in the streets when troops are present, but not when the glorious mujahideen are around.

Shall I go on? I'm not saying she lied voluntarily, but these are lies and terrorist propaganda nonetheless. Get your head out of your arse and open your eyes.

"Of course in her case of being a liberal, her death warrant or nuthouse commitment papers have already been signed by Bush." What a moronic statement. You are truly delusional.

I don't know why I bother with people like you. You're obviously living in your own world with not even a passing acquaintance with reality.

That video made me sick.

Posted by: Oyster at March 31, 2006 05:56 AM (YudAC)

19 Actually that part is true. Iraqi children are kidnapped everyday. Iraq is not a safe place. Carlos needs to STFU.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 06:54 AM (CnDtU)

20 Anyway she most likely does have Stockholm Syndrome but she'll snap out of it. The poor woman saw her friend die in front of her eyes. They brainwashed her. She even said she feared for her life. She was kept in a dark room for three months. Any small thing like giving her food and a newspaper can be interpreted as kindness by a hostage. And the fact that Jill's a woman makes her more easily persuaded by kidnappers. The same thing happened to Elizabeth Smart and she was raped. Jill was lucky. Stop turning her into a bad person. Oh and yes David, Jill is very suspicious. I bet She killed Alan herself. Note the sarcasm in my words. Anyway leave Jill alone. Carlos is a stupid ass motherfucker. How dare you insult a poor woman. Brining her political beliefs into her captivity is sick. Anyway I'm now convinced she has Stockholm Syndrome but she's still a victim. Women can be easily brainwashed. Leave her alone.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 07:09 AM (CnDtU)

21 "Women can be easily brainwashed."

That comment is ridiculous. And I take personal offense at it. Quit while you're ahead and get your arse down from around your shoulders. You don't look good in fur.

Posted by: Oyster at March 31, 2006 07:40 AM (YudAC)

22 Fuck you cocksucker

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 07:54 AM (CnDtU)

23 Hey Robert---

Since women are easily brainwashed, I was going to kidnap your mother and fuck her in the ass-- she'll like it because she won't know any better

Chew on that bitch

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 08:07 AM (xLcBf)

24 This was a hoax. All she is sympathizer.

Posted by: Tom at March 31, 2006 08:09 AM (9653L)

25 Wow that hurt me so much Garner. Thank you for your kindness. I really care what a perverted fuck like you says. Like my good friend Maximus I don't care what you say. I've been called worse things by prepubescent punks in high school. God bless you Garner.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 08:18 AM (CnDtU)

26 Throughout this entire thread, and those previous, I've been tolerant of your feelings, Robert. I understand why you feel the way you do. I'm perfectly fine with that. But your argument has gone beyond those bounds and you're starting to say stupid things like the comment I quoted above. The response I get to it is profanities. Is this how all your "debates" evolve? Do they all spiral down into four letter words? Insult me if you will, I don't care, but profane language only looks bad for you. And your insistence that others refrain from insulting Jill Carroll coupled with your insulting manner toward others here is a little hypocritical, isn't it?

Posted by: Oyster at March 31, 2006 08:24 AM (YudAC)

27 Perhaps but I didn't tell you I was going to rape your mother. What a sick fuck Garner is. I really have to stop posting here. There are a lot of sexual predators here.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 08:29 AM (CnDtU)

28 Nasty nasty.

Posted by: Howie at March 31, 2006 08:31 AM (D3+20)

29 Robert--

Don't act like you're a saint. If you agree that women are too impressionable, you're insulting your mother anyways. If you don't care, why are you still here you pussy?

Put a towel on your head and go to Iraq with the other losers who opress women because they're "inferior"

How is your mom these days?

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 08:41 AM (xLcBf)

30 So I get a brief "perhaps" and then a change of focus? Well I suppose it's a tiny step, so I won't belabor the point.

Posted by: Oyster at March 31, 2006 08:44 AM (YudAC)

31 Fine you are right. I was an asshole. Sorry for insulting you. I'm just saying be nice to Jill. As for Garner you are one sick fuck. You need help. Leave my mom out of this. She's 59, diabetic, has arthritis and is very old. Go fuck your wife. That's what she's there for. Don't rape women.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 08:47 AM (CnDtU)

32 Robert, take your own advice. You are completely out of your league here, and are coming across as an adolescent.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 31, 2006 08:50 AM (rUyw4)

33 I'm actually 18 so go figure. Good to see you again Jesusland Joe. How's Texas?

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 31, 2006 08:51 AM (CnDtU)

34 Anyway I'll try to stop posting. I'm still going to read this blog from time to time. It's just so hard to not post. I actually like this blog. There are so many far right loonies on this board. There are also necrophiliacs(Maxie)and perverts(Garner). Let's not forget the occasinal loonie(Carlos). We also have the occasional far left loonie (Jungle Jim. Anyway Robert is not my real name. I've used many aliases. My real name is George Michael Ramos. I'm Puerto Rican and I live in Florida. How could you not know it was me? Anyway How are you maxie? How is Tennessee? Do you have still have Gulf War Syndrome? As for me I'll be graduating soon. I'm looking for a job.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 08:58 AM (CnDtU)

35 I thought so, Robert. And I'm working in Arkansas right now, but I shall see the Lone Star State tomorrow.

Robert, be cool! And don't take things so seriously. Garner was using your mother as a foile, and did not mean he wanted to literally rape her, but was using that statement to make a point about women. It wasn't personal.

Remember, you have the right to your opinion, but so does everyone else.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 31, 2006 08:59 AM (rUyw4)

36 All right thank you for being kind Jesusland Joe. I have a temper problem.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 09:02 AM (CnDtU)

37
Hmmmm. . . Robert suggests Jill Carroll shares responsibility for her position in Iraq, and probably precipitated her kidnapping because she's impressionable. That's interesting Robert, thanks for the insight!

Who taught you that outlook on life, your alcoholic dad?

If you're going to be an ignorant 18 year old, and insult women, I'll be the sick fuck who drags your mom into the thread

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 09:03 AM (xLcBf)

38 George(ha, I knew that was you), have you thought about going to college?

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 31, 2006 09:04 AM (rUyw4)

39 Actually my Dad doesn't drink or smoke. He's 61 and just retired from the Marines and the Army. I respect women and have never harmed them in any way. My Dad is very strict from his military experience.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 09:05 AM (CnDtU)

40 No it's too hard for me. I suck at Math. Especially Algebra.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 09:06 AM (CnDtU)

41 Robert, I meant to type "some thing SEEM suspicious." A simple mistake. I do not blame Jill any more than you do and DID NOT insuate she was involved in this or killed her interpreter. A typo, but if you were reading me carefully you would see I agree with you.

MSNBC says Jill was told by her captors not to cooperate with Americans or go to the green zone since they had agents there and she would be killed. Explains a lot! This girl is just plain scared!

Posted by: David at March 31, 2006 09:06 AM (BJYNn)

42 Hell yeah. I also read that Guiliana Sgrena's captors tricked her. They told the U.S troops that her car had explosives. The sick bastards. She fell into their trap.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 09:08 AM (CnDtU)

43 George,

It was meant for our buddy Robert.

College is a good choice and you should consider. Are you considering the Marines? Best choice if want a military experience

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 09:11 AM (ok/wr)

44 George,

It was meant for our buddy Robert.

College is a good choice and you should consider. Are you considering the Marines? Best choice if want a military experience

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 09:11 AM (ok/wr)

45 George,

It was meant for our buddy Robert.

College is a good choice and you should consider. Are you considering the Marines? Best choice if want a military experience

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 09:12 AM (ok/wr)

46 George, there are many fields in college that do not require very much math, such as business, hospitality, forestry, coaching and several others that just don't come to my mind right now. Please consider college, but it you are not cut out for it, the world needs plumbers, welders, builders, electricians and others who still make a good living. What are you considering?

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 31, 2006 09:20 AM (rUyw4)

47 You guys are idiots. I guess that saying a sucker born every day applies to just about every one here if you beleive the shit this leftist bitch is saying about her captivity. Luckly the goverment didn't waste our troops time trying to find her.

Posted by: Tom at March 31, 2006 09:52 AM (9653L)

48 Garner I am Robert Savage. It was my alias. And stop posting three times.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 09:54 AM (CnDtU)

49 George, I'm glad it was you and that you didn't run away forever scared. I think some people here have been too harsh on you. My opinions weren't far from yours at your age, so I think there's hope for you. Don't take that as an insult. It's not meant that way. I would recommend staying away from the profanity though, even if you're provoked. It'll go a long way toward your credibility.

Posted by: Oyster at March 31, 2006 12:13 PM (c/HVo)

50 George, Robert, whoever you are,

I apologize deeply for clogging your screen. I know how much it must have bothered you.

Tom, it's a good thing the troops did not stray in trying to find her. If you go to Iraq, you assume the risk. The only people that should be over there are the military

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 12:13 PM (xLcBf)

51 I love your sarcasm Garner. You should teach me sometime.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 12:24 PM (CnDtU)

52 Robert, George, Etc.

No thanks. Get back to the topic at hand

Posted by: Garner at March 31, 2006 12:35 PM (xLcBf)

53 Interesting little mix of bloggers here. I just thought you all needed alittle outside stimulation. So I lied and posted an extreme left position to create alittle unrest. I like seeing both sides have at it in these debates.

No "Inprobulus"!
Bush doesn't have time to waste following me around. He's got the worst job in the world. Would you want his job?
Besides I voted for him and I just like to create a little havoc and liven up the convo. It's what freedom is all about.

Now!
Was her statement scripted? Yes, obviously, but she has lived there over three years. While in captivity she was allowed to visit often with the women and children of the house. She was treated much better than other hostage women because of her favorable viewpoint of the arab world in general. Was it a setup to garner sympathy for their cause? Well suspicious isn't it? After all your dealing with Christian Science, which isn't a true Christian religion anyway. It's more of a esoteric philosophy that views Islam as a true religion. To them Christ wasn't a real person and is just a story to illustrate a esoteric way of life.

George er Robert!
Nothing you said here was out of line except the bad language. But you were rightfully frustrated. Just remember to not take everything so seriously in these internet blogs. Oh and about jobs, math and military. Only thing I can say is do some extensive research. Check out Job Corp as a stepping stone to a branch of the military or college. Take lots of tests to find out what your really good at (some tests are on the internet). If math was a problem for you in high school? Then it won't change going to college, as you'll still have some math related prerequisites to contend with.

College should always be a first choice as stated by another blogger. But sometimes that's not our thing. You may be better than you think on math in the real world, where you use it everyday, but don't think about it.

Do you have a certain knack for computers? Anywhere you end up today including most jobs and the military you will be working with computers that do the heavy math lifting for you. You play computer games? Lots of great paying jobs working with something you love to do, even if it's testing the play features of a game.

Most of all make a Plan now for your Future or you'll be lost in a job flipping burgers at Mcdonalds with your job security threatened by robots in 10 years.

Posted by: JungleJim at March 31, 2006 05:04 PM (COcNM)

54 This may be of interest to your readers:

"Jill Carroll forced to make propaganda video as price of freedom"
http://www.csmonitor.com/earlyed/earlyWO0331a.html

Posted by: Dan at March 31, 2006 05:49 PM (bh1zQ)

55 I've been saying she was forced to say what she said. Now some bastard is impersonating me. People are calling me a coward for using an alias. Other people use aliases. Rusty does. Are you going to call him a coward.

Posted by: George Ramos at March 31, 2006 05:56 PM (CnDtU)

56 Jill Carroll makes me want to puke. All she is, is a muslim sympathizing little witch. That is why she was released. She is nothing more than a traitor to her country and countrymen, and anyone else who is like her. Saying that this war was wrong and the Iraqi people are under abject conditions. Where was the sympathizing witch when Saddam was in power, before he was disposed in 2003, she moved over there in 2002. Why did she not ask the people of Iraq how they liked living under Saddam. She went over with the intention to feel sorry for these blood thirsty savages, under George Washington she would have been hung and she still deserves it.Traitorous witch, and that is being nice compared to what I can say.

Why was she not tortured, because like I said before, she is a muslim sympathizing witch. She said that this war is immorral, what about what Saddam did to his own ppl? She obviously must have been living in a coma during that time. She refused a ride with the Americans and took a ride with muslims, that tells you right there who side she is on. She went over there knowing the danger that she could have gotten into, I have no sympathy for her or people like her.I have no use or respect for her or people like her. She wants to be with those blood thirsty savages, then she can stay in the Mental East where she belongs, and not here in America, that land that she betrayed.

Posted by: Sharokee at March 31, 2006 06:33 PM (kmD71)

57 As we look back at why Jill Carroll went to Iraq in the first place was to help the Iraq people because she felt bad for them.

These statements comes from both Jill's Mother and Father and written by the same paper Jill works for the Christen Science.

But Jill now comes home and says all these statements are false and the Iraq people the same as she once defended calls terrorists.

Hmmm that is very strange more like a typical ignorant American move.

One thing if she knows that the Iraq people are right and the Americans are the enemies to the people she is an American and she is christen American reporters some end up dead over there so we ask why would her family allow her to go and why would we go if she knows all of this?

Or is it as her Parents said Jill was concerned for the people of Iraq and now she returns alive because of the same people she talks about and as a typical greedy ignorant American very ungrateful for those same people who kidnapped her to let her live they could of saved her from the real enemies the Americans the real terrorist oh yah if Jill were to come under some truth the Americans would of killed her in a secong just as Bush was the one who created the 9-11 right beside his accomplice Bin Laden you fool American people just as it was Bush and Straw who created the London attacks sure they will bring you the people the took out the orders but the people who took out the orders do not know where they came from they were just doing their work what they were told.

We get back to Jill a pure typical ignorant hypocrite American.



Alison Shunstrom

Author of "World Peace"

ashunstrom@yahoo.com

Posted January 19, 2006, at 11:50 a.m.

Mary Beth Carroll, Jill's mother, issued the following statement asking for her daughter's safe return:

"My daughter, Jill Carroll, was taken hostage on Saturday, January 7th, in Baghdad, where she works as a reporter. Jill's fairness in reporting and her genuine concern for the Iraqi people made her the invited and welcomed guest of many Iraqi friends.

A video just released gives us hope that Jill is alive, but has also shaken us about her fate. So, I, her father and her sister are appealing directly to her captors to release this young woman who has worked so hard to show the suffering of Iraqis to the world. Jill has always shown the highest respect for the Iraqi people and their customs. We hope that her captors will show Jill the same respect in return. Taking vengeance on my innocent daughter who loves Iraq and its people will not create justice.

To her captors, I say that Jill's welfare depends upon you. And so we call upon you to ensure that Jill is returned safely home to her family who needs her and loves her. Jill's father, sister and I ask and encourage the persons holding our daughter to work with Jill to find a way to contact us with the honorable intent of discussing her release."



Posted January 20, 2006 at 11:04 a.m.

Jill Carroll’s father, James Carroll, appeared on two Arab-language television networks Thursday evening, Eastern time. This is his statement to Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya.

"I want to speak directly to the men holding my daughter Jill because they also may be fathers like me.

My daughter is powerless and does not have the ability to release anyone. She is a reporter and an innocent person.

Do not sacrifice an innocent soul. Instead, use Jill's abilities as a reporter. Allow her to be your voice to the world. Her life as a reporter would better serve your purpose than her death.

As a father, I appeal to you to release my daughter for the betterment of your cause. I ask the men holding my daughter to work with her to initiate a dialogue with me."

Posted by: alison shunstrom at April 03, 2006 12:35 PM (Ffvoi)

58 Oh a linkwhore that doesn't link anything. that's different.

Posted by: Howie at April 03, 2006 12:41 PM (D3+20)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

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.

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."

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.

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 (126) | Add Comment
Post contains 1240 words, total size 13 kb.

(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 38 words, total size 1 kb.

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 282 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Sounding more and more like another BS kidnapping. She is a better actress then Sgrena, though.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 08:43 AM (V5vwb)

2 Was the murder of her translator and friend part of the "BS kidnapping"?

Posted by: Peter Dolan at March 01, 2006 09:09 AM (oWpXE)

3 Good question, Peter, and one to which an answer should be found.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 01, 2006 10:01 AM (rUyw4)

4 Actually, I remember your claim of the IAI being the captors of the CPT4... that was how I stumbled across this hole in the wall.

I don't know about Carroll... but I am still dubious about your claims concerning the IAI and CPT4. The tremendous outpouring of support for them from Palestinians is why I doubt it. The PLF and Abu Abbas were founding members of IAI. The CPT4 were in Iraq for years investigating stories of death squad activity directed against Palestinians and Sunnis. They came in to the country from Syria with Palestinians.

The fact this recent claim comes from the Interior Ministry does not give me any confidence in its veracity. The death squads are being run out of the Interior Ministry. If you think that is looney left wing bullshit...take it up with Major General Peterson. He's the highest ranking US Army officer to confirm the existence of death squads operating in the Special Police Commando units...

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 10:04 AM (SVPNF)

5 WRT to the killing of Carroll's translator. His name was Alan. Riverbend knew him and wrote a rather poignant rememberance of him in her blog (http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/)

The link to that entry is here:

http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#113709584389005811

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 10:07 AM (SVPNF)

6 Could be. There is nothing that the Lefties won't do for their insane agenda.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 10:13 AM (V5vwb)

7 Come one William. You should be more brighter than that. Of course she didn't fake her kidnapping. Her best friend was killed. The only hostage that faked a kidnapping was Wassef Ali Hassoun. He's living the life in Lebanon which has refused to extradite him to the U.S. I doubt Jill is being held by the Islamic Army. The group that kidnapped Bayan Jabr's sister is called the Revenge Brigade. The Revenge Brigade is also holding Jill Carroll. The sister was thankfully released. Calm down William. You're going crazy. Jill is an innocent and very attractive woman who faces a bullet to the head. You should be praying for here like Rusty. Not degrading her. Thank you for your time and God bless.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 01, 2006 10:25 AM (CnDtU)

8 The PLF helped found the Islamic Army in Iraq? WTF??

The "claim" that I made that "The Swords of Righteousness Brigade" was really a front for the IAI has been confirmed by numerous intelligence sources. The fact that the video of the CPT4 first appeared on the IAI website (before they removed) is fairly strong evidence, isn't it?

I agree about the veracity of the claim, especially given the Arab tendency to exaggerate to the media. If you read Arab media for any period of time then you realize just how speculative and filled with conspiracy theories they generally are.

Also, the fact that a couple of hit squads seem to have been working out of the Interior Ministry does not mean that the entire Interior Ministry is one big hit squad. Especially given that the head of the Interior Ministry is a Sunni and the hit squads are alleged to be Shias against Sunnis.

Posted by: Rusty at March 01, 2006 10:27 AM (JQjhA)

9 For those of you who think she is "in on it" because of the way she appeared in the videos, consider this from former hostage Roy Hallum:

"In my case, and it sounds like Jill's case, they hand you a script to read and tell you to memorize it."

If someone points a gun at you and says "cry for the camera," you do it. If someone points a gun at you and says "say the lines calmly and tell them you're fine," you do it. Period.

Is she in on it? Possible, but Allan Enwiyah's death and the obvious agony of her family and friends say "no."

Lighten up, pray, and hope for the best.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 11:04 AM (3aCNQ)

10 Thanks for the reality check Dave!

Posted by: Rusty at March 01, 2006 11:06 AM (JQjhA)

11 I dont think any rational person believes the nonsense of William Teach, who calls others "insane". Talk about a glass house.

Posted by: Peter Dolan at March 01, 2006 11:13 AM (oWpXE)

12 Yes... IAI was formed by a coalition including members of Abu Abbas' group. Remember there were a lot of Palestinians in Iraq, they were given preferential treatment under Saddam. In fact, the one thing I ever agreed with Ollie North on was his take that "Saddam will fight the Israelis to the last Palestinian"...

WRT to the death squads... it's not a couple. More like a few dozen. And true the ENTIRE IM is not a death squad. But when you have torture chambers in the IM building... where electric drills are used to kill people.... I think you have a hard time arguing the IM doesn't know what is going on.

As for the location of videos on servers used by IAI... that is not terribly informative. Even though it was stored in a restricted access directory. It is well known that groups are sharing resources ... grabbing each others stuff and making competing claims. You don't have any chain of custody to make any real inferences from.

Your point about speculation is valid... and worth holding front and center. The reason I keep focusing on possible death squad activity is that it is a unifying thread between the CPT4 and Carroll. They were there to investigate the charges. She wrote about the death squads.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0504/p01s04-woiq.html

The other three reporters who have written about it (Steve Vincent, Yaseer Saliheh, and Fakher Haider) are all dead.

That was last year, before things started changing and the Army started to re assert control over the IM and training. It was US forces that uncovered the torture at IM. It was US forces that busted the recent death squad. Unfortunately, it was US contractors that trained the Special Police Commando units.

The chain of command is clear :

James Coffman to James Steele to Steven Casteel to John Negroponte.

All of these guys were involved in counterinsurgency training in CA... and the groups they trained were involved in atrocities.

The reason why I harp on this is the "Salvador Option" is creating massive problems for the men and women serving under military command. I am glad to see Peterson stepping in and trying to clean out that cesspool. Unfortunately, I think he is too late.

Like you, I'm praying all the hostages get out alive. We pray for them every night at 7 PM. Feel free to join in. God forbid they don't get out alive, then the people responsible (and that includes the people their captors answer to) have to be held accountable. I don't care what flag they fly under.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 11:16 AM (SVPNF)

13 Thank you Dave, Rusty and Peter Dolan. It's nice to know not everyone in the world thinks hostages fake their kidnappings.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 01, 2006 11:19 AM (CnDtU)

14 To 8ackgr0und N015e, your thoughts about the death squad connection are intriquing. I've also thought it suspicious that the official whom Ms. Carroll was supposed to interview conveniently disappeared prior to what was clearly a well-planned abduction. There is no solid proof, only circumstances and speculation, but this has always sounded more like a set-up to me than a faked abduction.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 11:30 AM (3aCNQ)

15 Unfortunately, it was US contractors that trained the Special Police Commando units.

Can you then reinforce that statement, with the specifics of their training? are you then saying that U.S contractors trained them to torture, and detain with the intent of purging people? because there is a big difference between training them in the use of weaponary, engagement, detaining and security detail -- then painting with a broad brush that they trained them to be "death squads" as you call it.

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 12:50 PM (CcXvt)

16 Isn't it possible that the U.S gave paramilitary training to some Iraqis which is now being used for unintended purposes? Is that what you meant?

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 01:05 PM (3aCNQ)

17 it obviously was a set up Dave. Jill, her interpreter and her driver go to this mieeting. He isn't there. They leaver and gunmen kill her interpreter, and kidnap her. The driver miraculously escaped. Someone told the gunmen she would be there. There are terrorist moles all over the country. No foreigner is safe.

Posted by: Robert Savage at March 01, 2006 01:46 PM (CnDtU)

18 Like anyone, I wouldn't wish death on any of these people. As horrid a person as I think G. Sgrena is, I wouldn't wish it upon her any more than Ms. Carroll. I only think it's a shame that when they are fortunate enough to be released some go right back to spewing invectives at the same old targets and it's never the people who kidnapped them. Yu'd think it would be a sort of wake-up call, at least to some degree.

Posted by: Oyster at March 01, 2006 01:54 PM (zCI3+)

19 Yup, I thought this was pretty obvious too but noticed no one else ever seems to comment on it.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 02:07 PM (3aCNQ)

20 I'm not sure you could really compare Guiliana Sgrena to Jill Carroll. The former was (and remains)an American basher who glorified the insurrection. The latter was a journalist that was equally critical of anyone whom she thought was harming civilians. But I do agree that no one deserves to be treated in this manner whatever their convictions.

Posted by: Dave at March 01, 2006 02:16 PM (3aCNQ)

21 Robert Savage's scenario reminds me of another mole:
The abduction of Jack Hensley, Eugene Armstrong and Kenneth Bigley:
"These are kind people who have come to rebuild Iraq," she added. "Why did this happen to them?"
Neighbors knew the foreigners because they had allowed them to use their generator for electricity during Baghdad's sweltering summer.

Several neighbors said the men had at least two guards who worked in shifts, and one said the guards were unarmed. Others said the guard hadn't showed up, prompting some of the foreigners to open their black iron gate and go out in their underwear during the power outage to turn on the generator. It wasn't clear if that was the moment the kidnappers seized to snatch the men.


The night they're abducted, miraculously the Guard doesn't show up, and people knew they would go out and switch on the Generator (and share their electric too)

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 02:37 PM (CcXvt)

22 David to answer your questions directly:

I am saying that the Police Special Commando units (specifically the Wolf Brigade, Scorpion Brigade, Volcano Brigade, Snake Brigade, Lion Brigade, and others like them) were specifically created as part of a counterinsurgency strategy referred to as the "Salvador Option".... the argument that policies used in Central America during the 70s and 80s would be effective in Iraq. This happened under Bremer's CPA where some local militias (e.g. Badr Brigades and other SCIRI militias) were recruited as part of "de-Baathification"... essentially they were given intelligence so they could go cap former Ba'athists or sympathizers.

This work was originally done by contractors working with Special Forces.

The problem was that did not quell the insurgency because it morphed into a guerilla war where tribal and regional affiliations play an important role.

The people responsible for training, outfitting, etc. were not merely following a doctrine from the Reagan era (which was actually an extension of the Phoenix Program used in Vietnam)... they are the SAME people who carried out these policies in Central America. There is no question that the groups trained by Steele, Casteel and Coffman , supplied by Goss and managed by Negroponte were actively involved in death squad activities. This has been a matter of public record for decades.

There is nothing in the public record to suggest that these men believe they did anything wrong.

There is plenty of evidence in the public record that the same sorts of atrocities have been going on in Iraq with American complicity.

The big difference between Iraq and El Salvador is this time the US Army is actively trying to disrupt these groups while a war is going on.

As far as references go... you can google any of the names (including journalists) that I provided along with "death squad" or "death squads" ... that way you can pick and choose whatever references you find most credible without worrying that I am slanting this.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 02:51 PM (awLLT)

23 Clarify the point about contractors though, are we talking about a company like Blackwater?
I wasn't aware there were civilian "mercenary" forces under the Phoenix program, or are you saying those same people left the folds of the CIA/Military and went to work for a U.S contractor?

Posted by: dave at March 01, 2006 02:58 PM (CcXvt)

24 Dave, I harbor no ill feelings toward Ms. Carroll yet I do toward Ms. Sgrena. The only reason for bringing them both up was to make a point that whether or not they share my political beliefs to any degree, I wouldn't wish kidnapping or death on either. I wasn't trying to draw any parallels between them them or the circumstances surrounding their situation.

Posted by: Oyster at March 01, 2006 03:18 PM (zCI3+)

25 I apologize for the misunderstanding and thank you for the clarification.

Posted by: David (formerly Dave) at March 01, 2006 03:21 PM (3aCNQ)

26 No problem

Posted by: Oyster at March 01, 2006 03:28 PM (zCI3+)

27 I'll admit it, I was wrong. Forgot about the people killed with her. My bad.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 03:39 PM (V5vwb)

28 You've taken quite a beating here, William, but I can also understand. When I first saw that third video I, too, was a bit suspicious. Then I read firsthand accounts from former hostages and understood what I was probably seeing much better. These people play psyche games and the victim has to go along just to survive.

Posted by: David at March 01, 2006 03:52 PM (3aCNQ)

29 Dave,

Your latter point is the one I intended. Steele was former Special Forces. Since CA he has left and become a contractor. Coffman I believe is active duty Special Forces he answered to Lt. Gen. Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne.

Steele was a former Army colonel when he was posted to El Salvador in the mid 80s. After leaving the Army he went to work for Enron. He was working as a contractor answering to Bremer for at least the initial period of this program.

Casteel has a long career in DEA, mostly in Latin America. He was the one who put the "Special Police Commando" units together with Falah al-Naqib, then Interior Minister under the transitional government.

Negroponte...we all know. He's the fellow who left behind three mass graves and secret prison cells at El Aquacate when he departed Honduras.

Since most of close to 100 bodies exhumed after his departure were peasants without dental records, it was very difficult to tie their disappearance and death to Contra operations. However, one of the victims was an American priest, James Francis Carney.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 04:14 PM (awLLT)

30 Well, it was good for a converstion starter, eh?

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 04:42 PM (V5vwb)

31 Perhaps, William, but keep in mind that the lives of people (and not just Jill Carroll's) are at stake here. Some people don't appreciate too much jocularity under such circumstances.

Posted by: David at March 01, 2006 04:55 PM (3aCNQ)

32 wasn't meant that way for the original comment.

Posted by: William Teach at March 01, 2006 05:00 PM (V5vwb)

33 Fair enough. Gotta' admit, you definitely say what you mean, and it takes a big man to acknowledge a mistake. Gotta' respect that.

Posted by: David at March 01, 2006 05:06 PM (3aCNQ)

34 "God forbid they don't get out alive, then the people responsible(and that includes the people the captors answer to) have to be held accountable. I don't care what flag they fly under."

Mr. Noise makes an interesting allegation here. He is alledging that certain people in Iraq(specifically the CPT4 and Jill Carroll) have been kidnapped by death squads operating in Iraq under the auspices of the Interior Ministry. He is accusing Americans of training and perhaps even influencing the targets of these death squads, and is suggesting that higher ups in the US are giving orders to these goon squads.

Those are interesting allegations, Mr. Noise. I hope you have some proof. That is why you continually attack Rusty when he posts on the Islamic Army in Iraq being behind the kidnappings. You want it to be otherwise. Time will tell.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 01, 2006 10:36 PM (rUyw4)

35 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/10/11527/172

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 01, 2006 11:00 PM (gAXw0)

36 Mr. Noise,

It would take cash(and a large amount) to get me to go to dKos, and I never accept anything there as truthful. You see, they lie all the time, so you never know what is true at Kos.

Posted by: jesusland joe at March 02, 2006 10:33 AM (rUyw4)

37 The problem, as I see it, with any theory involving underground or black-ops style paramilitary activity is that even if it DOES exists, there is usually plausible deniability due to the very secretative nature of such activity. No sources that are acceptable to the general public can usually prove such things conclusively. Most of the time, it's simply a matter of which sources you choose to accept.

The possibility is intriquing , but I remain very skeptical.

Posted by: David at March 02, 2006 10:46 AM (3aCNQ)

38 I want to thank jj for showcasing his prejudice... anyone who views the link will see why I used it here. Nice to see that jj calls me a liar without even looking at the material.

Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at March 02, 2006 06:04 PM (K5Ko+)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

The deadline set by terrorists in which they claimed they would murder American reporter Jill Carroll if all female prisoners in Iraq were not released has passed. No word on the fate of Jill Carroll.

We pray Jill Carroll is released unharmed.

The good news is that that several similar deadlines have already passed, so hopefully the SOBs holding Jill Carroll are just making idle threats.

Washington Post:

"The Ministry of Interior said that she is alive and that they have information with regard to where she might be held," Khalilzad said in an interview with Fox News.

"The minister announced today that he is optimistic about her release," he said.

The U.S. ambassador did not say how the Interior Ministry knew about Carroll's well-being.

An apparent deadline set by kidnappers holding Carroll in Iraq passed Sunday with no word.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:11 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 144 words, total size 1 kb.

The bombings burning and general chaos in Iraq this week are hardly conducive to the release of Ms. Carroll. However let’s not let that stop us for praying for her freedom. Monsters and Critics gives us five reasons why Jill should be released, I’ll sample one here.

Monsters and Critics :If Jill Carroll is killed, her captors will be denounced by Muslims worldwide for murdering an innocent woman. In short, they will have handed their enemies a huge propaganda victory.

Jill Carroll Archive here. more...

Posted by: Howie at 01:12 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 176 words, total size 2 kb.

Jill Carroll's terrorist captors are warning that they will murder the American hostage if their demand that all female Iraqi prisoners be released. The terrorists gave the Iraqi governmet until Feb. 26th. Also, an informer told a private Kuwaiti TV station that he knew where Jill Carroll is. I pray that this Arab TV station cooperates with the Iraqi and American forces so that Jill Carroll can be liberated from her barbaric captors before it is too late.

A note accompanied the video released of Jill Carroll yesterday. I guess we now know what was on the note. Apparently, there is also a ransom demand.

AP: more...

Posted by: Rusty at 04:47 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
Post contains 307 words, total size 2 kb.

A new video has appeared on a private Kuwaiti television station of American hostage Jill Carroll. This is the third video released of Jill Carroll. The Kuwaiti TV station did not play the full video and did not release copies of a note which is said to have accompanied the video.

The segment of the video aired can bee seen here (right side). In the video, Jill Carroll does not appear to be in distress. In fact, of the dozens of hostage videos I've seen, this is the first time where the hostage actually seems completely fine. However, only a portion of the tape has been released to the public so we don't know what else is on it. (Hat tip to Tim at OpinionBug for link)

Oddly, this is the first time a hostage video has been delivered to any one other than al Jazeera. Also, several deadlines have past since Jill Carroll's hostage takers threatened to murder her. Perhaps these are good signs that her captors are only after money and not like the hardcore jihadis who have murdered hostages in the past? We pray for Jill Carroll's immediate release.

For more information about Jill Carroll and the previous hostage videos click here.

Reuters:

An American journalist being held hostage in Iraq appeared in a new video tape aired on a private Kuwaiti TV station on Thursday appealing for help in securing her release.

Jill Carroll, 28, was wearing a headscarf and appeared in good health in the brief video aired by Al Rai TV.

"I'm here with the mujahideen. I sent you a letter written by hand. I'm here, I'm fine. Please just do whatever they want," she said. "Give them whatever they want as quickly as possible. There is very short time. Please move fast."

She said the video had been recorded on February 2, but did not say what was in the letter that the TV station received along with the tape.

Jassem Boodai, the chairman of Al Rai TV, told Reuters that the station did not plan to broadcast the contents of the letter. "Because of the sensitive matters mentioned in it, we handed it over to Kuwaiti authorities," he said.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:02 PM | Comments (22) | Add Comment
Post contains 371 words, total size 3 kb.

I've always thought al Jazeera was the most despicable media organization on Earth. They are objectively pro-terror, pro-tyranny, and pro-fascism. What I did not know, however, was that the frequent hostage videos aired by al Jazeera are then sold to Western media outlets for rebroadcast. If this is true, then the Western mainstream media is partially culpable for the plight of Western hostages in Iraq.

While many hostages are taken for purely financial reasons, others, including Jill Carroll, were taken for their propaganda value. Their terrorist captors find value in the fact that the Western media will replay her hostage videos over and over. Just like they did Giulana Sgrena's. This reinforces the notion that the terrorists are winning. And if people in the West believe the terrorists are winning, they will have less of a will to fight. Why fight a losing battle?

If true, shame on the Western media for paying the terrorists' media arm, al Jazeera, for a news story.

Human Events:

Having gotten their scoop, Al-Jazeera will then sell rights to the video to other networks, including American news channels. This generates income for the money-losing network and provides a measure of cover: If everyone else is airing them, why single them out?

Networks like hostage videos because they are newsworthy and form the basis for follow-on stories. There are relatives pleading for the release of their loved ones, generals asserting that we don't negotiate with terrorists, and pundits moaning that things must really be going badly. And at many networks, the "if it bleeds it leads" rule has a corollary: If it hurts Bush, give it a push.

The problem with these hostage videos is two-fold. First, they provide aid and comfort to our enemies in time of war. While a 30-second tape by a random terror groups may lack the propaganda punch of a rambling Osama tape, it will be followed by another almost exactly like it, and then another, dampening resolve and eroding morale.

Second, the publicity these tapes provide teaches aspiring terrorists that the price of admission for an airing of their grievances is not joining the political process, but simply grabbing a foreign hostage. This endangers every foreigner in Iraq, not just those seen as occupiers. [emphasis mine]

Posted by: Rusty at 02:25 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
Post contains 383 words, total size 2 kb.

UPDATE 2/09/06: Third Jill Carroll hostage video here.

Scroll through for updates or check the MAIN PAGE here or our pages dedicated exclusively to Jill Carroll for the latest news on Jill Carroll and other hostages in Iraq.
----------
Disturbing news that al Jazeera has released yet another Jill Carroll video. This time, the massogonistic terrorists force Ms. Carroll to cover her head. Sickening.

UPDATE: While we continue to search for the unedited video, you can see the al Jazeera broadcast here (see right side of screen). As further evidence of al Jazeera's objectively pro-terrorist stance, anti-Americanism, and lies, earlier reports by the station itself that no audio were shown are not true. Al Jazeera does let this bit of audio slip by in the background:

their own government [inaudible] Iraq...let these people go home to their families

Roy Hallums, a hostage liberated by U.S. troops, related that when his terrorist captors wanted him to cry on his video, they first beat him. They said they wanted his tears to look 'believable'.

We pray for Jill Carroll's immediate release and for divine retribution to visit her captors. Hopefully in the form of the unpleasent end of an M16.

Al Jazeera:

Jill Carroll, the kidnapped US journalist, has appeared in a new video on Aljazeera, weeping and appealing for the release of women Iraqi prisoners.

The video, aired by Aljazeera on Monday, shows Carroll wearing a veil and weeping.

The video had no sound, but Aljazeera said she appealed for the release of women Iraqi prisoners. [Ed note: this is a deliberate falsehood on al Jazeera's part. Al Jazeera edited out most of Jill Carroll's pleas, but not a bit asking for the release of female prisoners]

Carroll is visibly crying in the video and wears a veil as she speaks to the camera. The footage has a time signature with the date 28 January.

Aljazeera's newscaster said in the video Carroll appeals to the US military and the Iraqi Interior Ministry to release all women in their prisons and that this "would help in winning her release".

UPDATE: Come to think of it, this is VERY good news. Jill Carroll's captors had given the U.S. a 72 hour deadline to release female prisoners in Iraq. That deadline expired 8 days before this film was time stamped. While it is still possible that her life is being threatened, the fact that they've let at least two deadlines pass without (apparently) harming her is a sign that perhaps their threats are idle.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:37 PM | Comments (74) | Add Comment
Post contains 412 words, total size 3 kb.

The story of three arrests in the Jill Carroll hostage crisis came out last week when I was sick and I somehow overlooked posting on it. The story is now four days old, and, despite the arrests, Carroll's fate remains unknown. We pray she is safe from the hands of the bastards holding her.

Macsmind has the details.

Posted by: Rusty at 02:18 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 63 words, total size 1 kb.

It is now seven days from the deadline set by the terrorists who kidnapped her. Today the Christian Science Monitor has published some of the letters they have received in support for Jill. Among the letters is one from Susan Hallums, the daughter of Roy Hallums, who was held for many months before his rescue.

Susan Hallums VIA CSM : I am praying for the safe release of Jill Carroll in Iraq. She was there to help the people of Iraq. She is a good, kind, giving person who put herself there to give to and to teach Iraqis. My family suffered for 311 days while our loved one Roy, a contractor in Iraq, was being held hostage. It was so difficult to keep going before his release. If we can help Jill's family in any way, we are here for them. Stay strong and keep the faith. We have a website: hostagefamilymatters.com.
Susan Hallums
Corona, Calif.

Patrick Kerr Via CSM : I was a public affairs officer with the Marines in Iraq last year and had the privilege of working with Jill on several occasions. Her professionalism and objectivity were unparalleled within the media community. I saw her in Husaybah, on the Syrian border, in early December shortly before I returned to the States. Aside from being very personable and down-to-earth, what really struck me was Jill's bravery. She seemed to fit right in with the Marines and Iraqi security forces. It is this attribute, I believe, that will see her through her current ordeal. My family and I will continue to keep Jill in our prayers. I am hopeful for her eventual release.
Patrick Kerr
New Orleans

Our prayers go out to Jill that she will be released unharmed.

See the Jill Carroll Acrhive for background.

Posted by: Howie at 09:36 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 324 words, total size 3 kb.