Monday, January 23, 2006
COURAGE FOR THE AGES
MSNBC's "Baghdad Blog" noted on January 19 -- which I reproduce here in full because the entire thing is relevant to the issue at hand:
Yes, what to read into this?
Well, screen captures of that second part of the video do not appear to be widely available. I saw the bit with the three men holding guns only once -- on FNC TV, briefly. I've had some clicks around -- but do not claim the search was utterly exhaustive by any means -- and haven't found one at a MSM site thus far.
On the other hand, the head shots of Carroll alone are relatively commonplace. Here's the Scotsman, Wednesday, January 18:
Stills from the Arab TV video broadcast yesterday show the journalist Jill Carroll, who was abducted on 7 January. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but a logo revealed the name 'The Revenge Brigade'.
Picture: AFP/ Getty Images
That's probably because as NBC explains above, major media have chosen not to use any other than the shots of Carroll alone when illustrating this ongoing, terrible story. NBC says they are restraining themselves in order to aid in securing her release. If true, that's very commendable.
However, also presuming MSM's reticence in showing the more "ominous picture" has nothing to do with the fact that the sight of three gunmen hovering menacingly over a defenseless woman might get many viewers even more furious with those gunmen, the stated self-restraint in broadcasting the recording(s) on the part of the media owing to a desire to help Carroll may have another unintended consequence about which NBC above has nothing to say.
After all, having released the film the captors certainly don't fear it appearing widely on television and elsewhere. Indeed, it can only be assumed that they WANT it shown. So it is also not outside the realm of possibility that curtailing its broadcast might well have put Carroll in GREATER jeopardy -- because "censoring" the captors' views might well also infuriate those captors.
But, presumably, the "lots of people trying to secure Carroll’s release" have already considered that latter possibility.
In any event, it is also worth bearing in mind that many do consider the captive-holders "freedom fighters". And we have seen their likes already. So, although we lack the personal footage of Carroll's captors, we can at least reflect on the similar actions of other "freedom fighters" (standing, right and left), operating back in early 2005:
Mohammad Munaf, a joint citizen of the United States, Iraq and Romania, was captured March 28, 2005, in the Mansour district of Baghdad. Days later, a videotape aired on Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera showing Munaf and three abducted Romanian journalists. Munaf had been working as a translator for the journalists, Romanian officials said. The four hostages were released in May 2005.
And who could ever forget these "freedom fighters" (upper right), from 1943:
"German storm troopers force Warsaw ghetto dwellers of all ages to move, hands up, during the Jewish Ghetto Uprising in April-May 1943."
Photo credit: Main Commission for the Investigation of Nazi War Crimes, courtesy of USHMM Photo Archives.
Yes, such inspired courage in the face of "stout resistance" always wins the admiration of the entire world . . . ¶ by Robert, Monday, January 23, 2006
MSNBC's "Baghdad Blog" noted on January 19 -- which I reproduce here in full because the entire thing is relevant to the issue at hand:
Al-Jazeera aired more video of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll today. We spent the morning analyzing it. Carroll appeared to be in the same white room she was shown in on Tuesday, when al-Jazeera aired a 20-second clip. Today’s video, just a few seconds long, was probably taped at the same time.
So what’s different? Today Carroll was kneeling or sitting below three masked gunmen – a much more ominous picture than Tuesday’s video, which showed Carroll alone in the room. Both videos are silent.
Did Carroll’s abductors have an audio malfunction on their camera and forget to check their tape before it was delivered to al-Jazeera? Or did al-Jazeera choose not to air the audio? Given that Carroll and the gunmen appeared to be making statements, the latter seems more likely.
On Tuesday, al-Jazeera said the video had been delivered with a demand for the U.S. to release women prisoners in Iraq.
Al-Jazeera wouldn’t comment today, though one employee we reached confirmed the two videos were from the same tape.
What to read into this?
There are lots of people trying to secure Carroll’s release, and their efforts are a sensitive. So sensitive that the media, including NBC News, has been asked to refrain from broadcasting information that could compromise their efforts. With any kidnapping, especially with one involving a fellow journalist, we have obliged.
After 9/11 and the Iraq war, al-Jazeera has been target of plenty of criticism. But hold your fire. The audio problem, and the decision to parcel out the video over two days, could be there for good reason – to bring Carroll home.
So what’s different? Today Carroll was kneeling or sitting below three masked gunmen – a much more ominous picture than Tuesday’s video, which showed Carroll alone in the room. Both videos are silent.
Did Carroll’s abductors have an audio malfunction on their camera and forget to check their tape before it was delivered to al-Jazeera? Or did al-Jazeera choose not to air the audio? Given that Carroll and the gunmen appeared to be making statements, the latter seems more likely.
On Tuesday, al-Jazeera said the video had been delivered with a demand for the U.S. to release women prisoners in Iraq.
Al-Jazeera wouldn’t comment today, though one employee we reached confirmed the two videos were from the same tape.
What to read into this?
There are lots of people trying to secure Carroll’s release, and their efforts are a sensitive. So sensitive that the media, including NBC News, has been asked to refrain from broadcasting information that could compromise their efforts. With any kidnapping, especially with one involving a fellow journalist, we have obliged.
After 9/11 and the Iraq war, al-Jazeera has been target of plenty of criticism. But hold your fire. The audio problem, and the decision to parcel out the video over two days, could be there for good reason – to bring Carroll home.
Yes, what to read into this?
Well, screen captures of that second part of the video do not appear to be widely available. I saw the bit with the three men holding guns only once -- on FNC TV, briefly. I've had some clicks around -- but do not claim the search was utterly exhaustive by any means -- and haven't found one at a MSM site thus far.
On the other hand, the head shots of Carroll alone are relatively commonplace. Here's the Scotsman, Wednesday, January 18:
Stills from the Arab TV video broadcast yesterday show the journalist Jill Carroll, who was abducted on 7 January. No group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, but a logo revealed the name 'The Revenge Brigade'.Picture: AFP/ Getty Images
That's probably because as NBC explains above, major media have chosen not to use any other than the shots of Carroll alone when illustrating this ongoing, terrible story. NBC says they are restraining themselves in order to aid in securing her release. If true, that's very commendable.
However, also presuming MSM's reticence in showing the more "ominous picture" has nothing to do with the fact that the sight of three gunmen hovering menacingly over a defenseless woman might get many viewers even more furious with those gunmen, the stated self-restraint in broadcasting the recording(s) on the part of the media owing to a desire to help Carroll may have another unintended consequence about which NBC above has nothing to say.
After all, having released the film the captors certainly don't fear it appearing widely on television and elsewhere. Indeed, it can only be assumed that they WANT it shown. So it is also not outside the realm of possibility that curtailing its broadcast might well have put Carroll in GREATER jeopardy -- because "censoring" the captors' views might well also infuriate those captors.
But, presumably, the "lots of people trying to secure Carroll’s release" have already considered that latter possibility.
_____________________________
In any event, it is also worth bearing in mind that many do consider the captive-holders "freedom fighters". And we have seen their likes already. So, although we lack the personal footage of Carroll's captors, we can at least reflect on the similar actions of other "freedom fighters" (standing, right and left), operating back in early 2005:
Mohammad Munaf, a joint citizen of the United States, Iraq and Romania, was captured March 28, 2005, in the Mansour district of Baghdad. Days later, a videotape aired on Arabic-language network Al-Jazeera showing Munaf and three abducted Romanian journalists. Munaf had been working as a translator for the journalists, Romanian officials said. The four hostages were released in May 2005.And who could ever forget these "freedom fighters" (upper right), from 1943:
"German storm troopers force Warsaw ghetto dwellers of all ages to move, hands up, during the Jewish Ghetto Uprising in April-May 1943." Photo credit: Main Commission for the Investigation of Nazi War Crimes, courtesy of USHMM Photo Archives.
Yes, such inspired courage in the face of "stout resistance" always wins the admiration of the entire world . . . ¶ by Robert, Monday, January 23, 2006
