Jill Carroll - Fake Kidnapping or Bluffing Terrorists?
Filed Under (Politics) by Scott on 20-02-2006
This blog will probably get me into trouble, I feel as if I am crossing the line while I write it, but I must put my theory out there to be heard. Jill Carroll, a freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, was kidnapped on January 7th and has since made three videos calling for the release of all women prisonors held in Iraq. Each video release has also set a deadline to release the women prisonors before they kill Carroll. Of course, the two first deadlines have passed. That brings me to my hopeful theory: The terrorists are just bluffing and Carroll will eventually be released. I really hope that is the case. However, I also have a less flattering theory: I think she might be faking it. There are a few things that stirred this questioning. She works for the Christian Science Monitor, a pacifist news magazine. Beyond that, I question the whole situation: Why are these terrorists, who capture hostages and only negotiate for the release of the hostage if their country withdraws from Iraq, suddenly asking for the release of women? Why have these terrorists been so obviously bad at bluffing? Why have we never heard of this specific terrorist group, the “Brigades of Vengeance,” until this capture? Why has Carroll been wearing different clothes in every video, and appearing in good health? Why are these clothes making her resemble the the anti-American Al Jazeera reporters? Things are just not adding up. I hope I’m wrong but this whole terrorist situation just seems so fake and out of the ordinary. But in all honesty, I really hope the terrorists are just bluffing and will let her go.
I wondered the same thing until I read an interview with former hostage Roy Hallum, who said the following.
“In my case, and it sounds like Jill’s case, they hand you a script to read and tell you to memorize it.”
He then went on to describe how controlled his situation was. I guess 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 unlikely. Allan Enwiyah’s death and the obvious agony of her family and friends say “no.”
As for the clothing and her physical condition, it is possible she isn’t being treated badly. Some terrorists groups are less brutal than others. And why not dress her up like an Arab if they really do have her tucked away in a “safehouse” with other women? If this really were fake, I think Ms. Carroll would try to look as American as possible rather than risk being seen as someone who “went native.”
I believe she is in on the fake kidnapping. This whole thing smells like a bunch of crap
I agree that this entire situation has smelled like a bad hoax from day one.
Now that she’s been released and is talking to the press it seems even more obvious that this was agenda-driven and as phoney as it gets.
She wants her 15 minutes of fame and will do ANYTHING to get it.
***********************************************************
If this really were fake, I think Ms. Carroll would try to look as American as possible rather than risk being seen as someone who “went native.”
*************************************************************
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and dresses like a duck…it must be a hippie trying to get you to eat bean sprouts.
I think that it is all a big publicity stunt, put on by that crazy lady who lost her son in the war and keeps camping out in Crawford Texas.