Jill Carroll, A Lesson In Being Careful About Jumping The Gun
Posted by: Emperor Misha I in Blogs and Blogging, Imperial Thoughts8:22 pm
Via LC & IB Rick Moran, whose post you shouldn’t miss.
Turns out that Jill Carroll, the CSM journalist who was recently released from captivity, wasn’t speaking quite freely when she praised her captors for their wonderful treatment of her.
During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me they would let me go if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and wanted to go home alive. I agreed.
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. The people who kidnapped me and murdered Alan Enwiya are criminals, at best. They robbed Alan of his life and devastated his family. They put me, my family and my friends–and all those around the world, who have prayed so fervently for my release–through a horrific experience. I was, and remain, deeply angry with the people who did this.
I also gave a TV interview to the Iraqi Islamic Party shortly after my release. The party had promised me the interview would never be aired on television, 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.
Also, at least two false statements about me have been widely aired: That I refused to travel and cooperate with the US military and that I refused to discuss my captivity with US officials. Again, neither is true.
No ‘Stockholm Syndrome’, no sucking up to Islamofascists, no lack of gratitude toward our nation’s soldiers and no ‘blaming it all on the US’ there.
Now, I suppose that I, at this point, could lean back with a smile on my face, patting myself on the back for not being among the ones ripping her to shreds based on that now infamous interview since, indeed, I didn’t pile on.
I could do that but, on the other hand, I also know that I’ve been guilty of piling on in other instances before all the facts were in, and I’ve been left with red ears and a well-deserved case of crow-induced discomfort. Oh, sure, I didn’t do it in this instance, so I don’t really have anything to apologize for, but there’s still a lesson in there, I think.
You see, I’d be lying through my teeth if I claimed that the thought that she was a brainwashed Moonbat licking the toes of her kidnappers to slam her own country never crossed my mind. It did. Particularly in the wake of those filthy ingrates from the CPT. One gets cynical after a while.
So it was really only a nagging doubt that kept me from tearing her a fresh one, a tiny nagging voice that suggested that maybe this case was different and, instead of telling it to shut up and posting anyway, I listened.
Lucky me.
There, but for the grace of a nagging voice, go I.
So even if I dodged a bullet here and am completely innocent for once, I’ll try to keep Miss Carroll’s story in mind in the future when the temptation to go full throttle and damn the torpedoes is great and the nagging voice is weak. I’ll try and, I’m sure, fail any number of times, leaving me to clean up my own mess again and again, but I’ll try.
Hopefully, as time goes on, I’ll get really good at it at some point.
Thatisall.
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I had the same feeling! I wanted to see what she’d have to say for herself once she was out of the Middle East.
But at least one ignorant cow didn’t listen to the little inner voice.
April 1st, 2006 at 8:33 pmAnd who might that ignorant cow be?
The mind boggles…
Let’s see, it would have to be somebody who doesn’t feel the need to factcheck herself, who can’t use Google and who has an extraordinarily huge mouth coupled with a minute little brain.
Or, as it has also been put, an “overpaid, illiterate hack.”
That Debbie. She’s just the gift that keeps on giving.
April 1st, 2006 at 8:42 pmI remember quite well what one former hostage said……..one of the Americans held hostage by the Iranians…….Reagan had just been elected….said hostage was asked if he would ever like to return to Tehran….he said. “Yes, in a B-52……”
April 1st, 2006 at 8:45 pmJill Carroll is Headed Home…
As everyone knows, Jill Carroll is on her way home. She has gotten some criticism for statements made immediately after her release. This was obviously an amateurish attempt at propaganda on the part of the kidnappers….
April 1st, 2006 at 9:00 pmJill Carroll Update…
The Christian Science Monitor has the statement of Jill Carroll. Among the things she had to say: During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me they would let me……
April 1st, 2006 at 9:05 pmalso an amateurish attempt at fanning that propaganda by our patriotic media in this country. It’s downright funny to hear them today. Now that she speaks out against the terrorists that they (the MSM propagandists) hold in such high esteem, they are starting to cast doubt on her retraction.
shame
April 1st, 2006 at 9:09 pmIs there an international sign for “wink wink, nudge nudge”?
April 1st, 2006 at 9:18 pmThe Christian Science Monitor is a left wing Anti-American Rag….I waited for Jill Carroll to rip the US & GW a new one, and sidle up to the fvcking muzzie terrorists……it appears the lady has more “balls” upon release than I gave her credit for……even hOOt misses the mark on occasion.
hOOt
April 1st, 2006 at 9:25 pmI’ll cop to thinking the worst of her. Although, as it turned out, my feelings were based on a combination of cynicism and a lack of reading comprehension. Initially, I thought she’d made the remarks after she had been released. It wasn’t until later when I reread it that I realized she was still under the kidnappers’ control. I hate to say it, but gun to her head or not, I’m still not completely convinced she didn’t mean a lot of what she said.
Incidentally, as far as that “full throttle” thing goes, there’s plenty of places where we can find dry, boring and dispassionate analysis of current events if that’s what we’re seeking. It just wouldn’t be the same around here if you didn’t give it both barrels right out of the chute. And you’re not far off the mark that often.
Speaking of those terrorist lovin’ CPT people, did you happen to see where the British military returned them to Iraq?
April 1st, 2006 at 9:44 pmShe should’ve told the cameras that she were in a FLANK TWO POSITION!
April 1st, 2006 at 9:45 pmI remember something like this happening years ago. Wasn’t it one of the crewmen from the Mayaguez who, when, their captors posed them for a picture. He flipped the bird (subtly), knowing that the folks at home would know what it meant and would understand that the picture was a posed porpaganda stunt. Anyone else remember that?
April 1st, 2006 at 9:49 pmI didn’t read through the comments… or the entire post.
I, having gone through training for just such a situation, am inclined to believe this lady’s explanation for her pre-release words.
Welcome home, Jill.
April 1st, 2006 at 10:01 pmJaybear is thinking of the crew of the Pueblo. The North Koreans posed the crew for a propaganda picture and the entire crew flipped the camera “the bird”. The NKs stopped the session and demanded to know what that sign meant. One quick thinking sailor said that it was the “Hawaiian good luck sign” and that it meant they were wishing the North Koreans good luck. The NKs were very pleased–they took the picture, distributed it to their stooges around the world, and it wound up printed in Life magazine. When they NKs found out what it really meant, they made life Hell for the Pueblo crew–but after the crew was repatriated, one of them said it was worth it.
April 1st, 2006 at 10:06 pmShe mised that episode, Boss. Holed up under the watchful eyes of the Iraqi wing of the Dhimicratic Party.
April 1st, 2006 at 10:10 pmYou mean to say that al-Zarqawi (D-Iraq)’s bastards don’t offer FOX to their hostages?
OK, now I’m really pissed off at those turbaned thimblewits! That’s just beyond the effin’ pale!
April 1st, 2006 at 10:14 pmThat’s right, the Pueblo…I was only a kid when that happened but remember my Dad laughing his ass off at the picture and, being an old sailor himself, knowing exactly what it meant. Thanks for the memory jolt Savage Rabbit..
Oh yeah..I second what the Torturer said…
welcome home Jill, God Bless you and your family.
April 1st, 2006 at 10:27 pmon the other hand, I also know that I’ve been guilty of piling on in other instances before all the facts were in,
Yeah, so? You’ve also been known for not having a clue when it comes to spelling, and don’t get me startesd on that Schluus bith shit….
SHADDUP. SHE’S HOME.
April 1st, 2006 at 10:46 pmLet Katie Couric worry this shit.
(notice the bad spells?)
April 1st, 2006 at 10:48 pmjury is still out for me
April 1st, 2006 at 10:49 pmThis is a test of the emergency Liberal tech. If this had been an actual liberal emergency, you would have been instructed to pay no attention.
April 1st, 2006 at 11:19 pmbeing she was under the thumb of her captors to some degree or another until she was out of country would also explain why she was still doing the head scarf and such. Assuming she is willing and able I say she does the short skirt (or LBD) or short shorts thing and has the pic sent back to the idots abroad…saying “Stick this in your turbin ya morons. No more burkas for this kid!” Then I will believe she is hale and hardy. But I hope she is in good health in mind and body.
April 1st, 2006 at 11:49 pmOther than when the system’s broken, Dave, when do we ever pay attention to you anyway?
April 2nd, 2006 at 12:17 amSo much for all you guys screaming that she has converted to Islam or is a traitor. A lesson to you, wait a day or so before making judgements on situations which you are limited in understanding.
April 2nd, 2006 at 3:11 amIf that was supposed to be a “nuanced” attempt at criticism, I have to say I’m underwhelmed.
It lacks “gravitas”.
Here’s “a lesson for you”
Liberal moonbats are “limited in understanding” when trying to deal with any situations.
That never stops them from “making judgements”, no matter how ridiculous.
April 2nd, 2006 at 5:43 amwhat torqued me was that her paper was touting the “she’s against the war she’s there to help the iraqis uncover the truth about these mean americans” line of crap as a reason to not saw her head off.its ironic the media’s last ditch effort to keep her from getting off’ed was admitting their bias.
April 2nd, 2006 at 8:20 amThe Christian Science Monitor is a left wing rag(need I repeat myself?), I’m sure given it’s anti-American, anti-war stance they are not pleased with Jill Carroll’s recantation……and study up folks, being a “Christian” Scientist does not make one a Christian…..
hOOT
April 2nd, 2006 at 8:58 amA short story on the crew of the U.S.S Pueblo.Its got the pics also if your curious.
April 2nd, 2006 at 9:20 amhttp://groups.msn.com/ctoseadogs/usspueblocrew1.msnw
Misha, if you are making calls based on fragmentary information and doubletime to post on a blog, you are bound to make some incorrect calls. Yeah, everyone hates it when that happens. But, a large part of your credibility and interest is due to the fact that you will admit when your are wrong - something none of us likes to do - and do not weasel away from it. Just call them as you see them.
My own thinking on Jill Carroll was that she WAS truly scared to death in the first tape the ragheads released of her. Then I thought about the CSM, Paycheck, or Moonbat? She was an independent, so that bought some credibility. The fact she was wandering around with just a driver was totally nuts: did she want to be grabbed? She’s the only American these animals have relaeased alive; at least the only one I can think of. I thought collaborator. I read a post at Rantings of an Egyptian Sandmonkey, where he said to withold judgement until she got back to the States. I figured he might just have some insights I didn’t. He was dead right. I don’t hold it against Jill; she was coerced. I would have done the same thing in her place.
April 2nd, 2006 at 10:20 amYou should visit Debbie Slutshel, she didn’t listen to the nagging voice if she has one.
April 2nd, 2006 at 10:48 amFor those of you wishing to see La Schlussel publicly spanked visit The Jawa Report http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/ “Just Five Minutes..” The Emperor would be proud of this article - it’s merciless.
April 2nd, 2006 at 12:26 pmSuspicion (FURTHER UPDATED)…
UPDATE IX: The London Telegraph attacks the right wing Blogosphere in a major way….Embittered’, the ever hateful and bitter Mahablog, who cannot string two words together without spitting out venom, who calls me “ever-brainless” and a “dimwitt”…
April 3rd, 2006 at 1:25 pm