February 13, 2008

Mad Iraqi Mullah "Negotiates" CBS Journalist Release

Can I call 'em, or what. Here's what I said just hours after we learned that Briton Richard Butler and his Iraqi translator were taken hostage:

The good news: Shiite jihadis generally are under the influenced of Iran or of Iraqi Islamists like Muqtada al Sadr--both groups that are extremely sensitive to their public images and like to play nice with the press. If Shiite militia--even "rogue elements"--- took the journos hostage, there's a good chance they'll be released unharmed.
And today:
A deal has been reached with kidnappers for the release of two CBS journalists, radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's office in Basra said Wednesday.

Harith al-Edhari, a director of al-Sadr's office in the southern Iraqi city, said negotiations had persuaded the kidnappers to release the British journalist and his Iraqi interpreter later Wednesday.

"We reached an agreement with kidnappers to hand over the Iraqi interpreter to the police command in Basra and the British journalist will be handed over to al-Sadr's office in Basra this afternoon," al-Edhari told The Associated Press. He did not give a specific time.

Unfortunately Khomeinst jihad supporters like Muqtada al Sadr don't see the big deal in holding five civilian security contractors hostage for over a year. Hold a journalist hostage: bad press. Hold contractors hostage: what press? No one evenl notices.

Thanks to Dave.

Update by Vicki: Kidnapped Translator Freed in Iraq

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 12:04 PM | |