"Reporter"jill Carroll " Freed"???????

Kidnapped U.S. Reporter Jill Carroll Freed

Thursday , March 30, 2006




BAGHDAD, Iraq — After nearly three months in captivity in Iraq, American reporter Jill Carroll was set free Thursday.

Carroll, who was a freelancer for the Christian Science Monitor at the time of her kidnapping, apparently was left in the street near the Iraqi Islamic Party offices in Al Ameriya just west of Baghdad. She walked inside, and people there called American officials.

"I was treated well, but I don't know why I was kidnapped," Carroll said in a brief interview on Iraqi television, during which she wore a light green Islamic headscarf and a gray Arab robe. "I'm just happy to be free. I want to be with my family."

She added that although she had a nice room and nice clothes, she still did not feel like she was free. She was allowed to watch TV once and read a newspaper once.

Asked about the circumstances of her release, she said, "They just came to me and said we're going. They didn't tell me what was going on."

Richard Bergenheim, the editor of the Christian Science Monitor, read a statement from the family at the newspaper's Boston headquarters on Thursday.

"Our hearts are full, we are elated by Jill's safe release. We would like to thank all of the generous people around the world" for their thoughts and prayers, the statement said.

It added that Iraqi people have shown world a "a deep compassion for Jill's situation."

"Our thoughts are with the families of others still being held hostage in Iraq and we hope that their loved ones will return to them safely as well," the statement continued.

The family said its priority now is to help Carroll recover and asked the media to respect its privacy and focus on her well-being. The family said it will release more details about her experience as they feel appropriate.

Captors Say Americans Failed at Rescue Ops

The young reporter was kidnapped Jan. 7 in Baghdad's western Adil neighborhood while going to interview Sunni Arab politician Adnan al-Dulaimi. Her translator was killed in the bloody ambush about 300 yards from al-Dulaimi's office.

The previously unknown Revenge Brigades claimed responsibility. Carroll said she had been treated well, despite the group threatening twice in videotapes to kill her. "They never hit me. They never said they would hit me," she said.

Carroll said she was kept in a room with a window and a shower, but she did not know where she was.

A statement released by the Revenge Brigade was also released on Thursday, according to SITE Institute, which researches terrorism.

The exact text of the statement reads: "We, the mujahideen in the Land of Two Rivers annouce the release of the American reporter Jill Carrol (sic), after holding her for a period of almost three months. The American forces, and the CIA were not able to reach her or find her, which proves their its failure in front of the whole world. These forces (the Americans) are well known in capturing innocent people blaming them for their role in kidnapping this reporter. We are releasing this reporter today after the American government agreed to some of our conditions, by releasing some of our women in prison in the world should know that we have an issue that will defend it till death. But the loyal reporters are the friends and brothers of the mujhaideen, and their loud voice defends them (Mjahideen.)

"Jill Carol, go back in peace to your family and to your country, to tell them and to the American people what you saw and heard during these three months. You are a witness of the events here and we have full confidence in you that you will tell the truth without any falsification."

U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad met with Carroll and said she was in good spirits and anxious to go home. He also said no kidnappers were "yet" in custody, and no one in the U.S. mission was involved in paying a ransom. His remarks left open the question of whether "arrangements" were made by others.

In Washington, a Pentagon spokesman said the U.S. military was not involved in Carroll's release.

Bergenheim said "absolutely no" negotiations took place for Carroll's release and credited a growing "chorus" of condemnation from the Muslim world for helping win her freedom.
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Call me a cynic BUT ,,, I don't believe a word of HER story,, look at the way she is dressed ,, still acting like a Muslim,, Remember the first video where she was very clam ,, and then the second one,, still not to upset,,, BUT the third one she was terrified (not the best acting job) and crying to be saved,,NOW she comes walking out free looking like she has been on a vacation, and tells us how NICE she was treated and that her captors NEVER hit her or threatened her and feed her well,, GIVE ME A BREAK,,, this reporter was working for the "christian science monitor" "A LEFTWING LIBERAL RAG",, do you think she is going to sit down with U.S. Military people and be debriefed ,,I don't think so, jill carroll has been working with the terrorist from DAY ONE, and will do anything she and her "friends" can do to HARM PRESIDENT BUSH and AMERICA ! ! ! ! ! I,m waiting to hear from all the liberals ,about how unfeeling and wrong I am,, bring it ON ,, I,, BET more agree with me then disagree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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