BBC reporter's captors release video

[Rambuchan]

Some of you may have been following the news of the disappearance of the BBC's reporter Alan Johnston. He disappeared on March 12, 2007 and was widely believed to have been abducted.

Alan Johnston has worked for three years in Palestine, reporting on a wide range of issues there. He has been diligent in his reporting, has worked with integrity throughout and is thus a highly respected member of the international journalistic community. There has been a wide show of solidarity from journalists around the world since his disappearance, all calling for his speedy release.

Now a video has been released, apparently confirming that he is safe and well and was indeed abducted. You can watch it here.

BBC reporter's captors release video

June 1 - In a video released by Army of Islam, kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston says he is in good health and has been treated well by his captors.

The video, posted on an Islamist Web site, is the first tangible evidence that Johnston was alive after being kidnapped on March 12, 2007. It was not clear when the video was taped.

The group repeated its demand on the video for Britain to free Muslim prisoners, particularly the Islamist cleric Abu Qatada.

Abu Qatada, a radical Islamic cleric suspected of close links to al Qaeda, has been described by the British government as a "significant international terrorist".

He is one of more than a dozen Arab men whom Britain has been holding under detention or house arrest as threats to national security, while acknowledging that it does not have sufficient evidence to put them on trial.

What do you make of his message?

 

[nonconformist]

I have no dount that the guy's safe, and that he is indeed being well treated. Soemthing like 80% of abductions of westerners end well, and that's figures for IRaq (albeit outdated)

 

[MobBoss]

I have no dount that the guy's safe, and that he is indeed being well treated. Soemthing like 80% of abductions of westerners end well, and that's figures for IRaq (albeit outdated)

80%? Do you have a valid link for proof of that. Given that we just found one of the three abducted soldiers in Iraq floating in the Euprates river, I am not sure 80% seems right. I most certainly would like to see some evidence of it.

 

[Godwynn]

Army of Islam? I've never heard of them. How many violent Muslim sects are there in Palestine and Iraq?

 

[amaterasu]

In the actual video he stuttered loads, isn't that some sort of signal he is being forced like they did with the sailors/ iran thing?

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Ive definitely been following it. Didnt know about this video though. Im glad to hear the poor guy is still alive at least. Ive been listening to him report from Gaza for the BBC, for years. The Palestinians cause has suffered because of this, he was their spokesman. Why do the stupid strike out at the ones who are trying to help them? (oh yeah, of course, theyre stupid)

 

[nonconformist]

80%? Do you have a valid link for proof of that. Given that we just found one of the three abducted soldiers in Iraq floating in the Euprates river, I am not sure 80% seems right. I most certainly would like to see some evidence of it.

I calculated it back in 2006, using the figures up to then; 80% of all westerners abducted were later released by their captors, with the remaining 20% being executed.

 

[nivi]

Army of Islam? I've never heard of them. How many violent Muslim sects are there in Palestine and Iraq?

They've helped take Shalit beofre. More or less every extended family is it's own sect.

I calculated it back in 2006, using the figures up to then; 80% of all westerners abducted were later released by their captors, with the remaining 20% being executed.

And gaza is probably one of the safest places to be kidnapped in .

 

[nonconformist]

And gaza is probably one of the safest places to be kidnapped in .

Yeah, correct. Gaza is still home to a different breeed of war that exists in IRaq and such.

 

[woody60707]

? Yea, I wouldn't use the word safe. But thats just my crazy idea of anything where 2 of 10 people dying as being UNSAFE.

hiay guys, I's got plane that crashes 20% of the time, it's safe.

 

[Rambuchan]

80%? Do you have a valid link for proof of that. Given that we just found one of the three abducted soldiers in Iraq floating in the Euprates river, I am not sure 80% seems right. I most certainly would like to see some evidence of it.

Just for the sake of argument: Could it be perhaps that the one person you speak of might have been from the 20% that didn't get out alive?

 

[Rambuchan]

In the actual video he stuttered loads, isn't that some sort of signal he is being forced like they did with the sailors/ iran thing?

The stuttering on such videos is indeed peculiar. Whilst Alan Johnson's reports from Gaza contained many of the points that this video also contains (mainly the suffering of the Palestinians as a result of Israeli occupation), it's clear he's been made to go far beyond what he normally reports. Question is, how are they made to make such declarations in these videos? What mechanism is employed?

Bozo: I have to agree with you. In kidnapping Alan Johnson, who has only ever been a keen reporter of the Palestinian plight, they have hardly done their cause many favours.

 

[nivi]

? Yea, I wouldn't use the word safe. But thats just my crazy idea of anything where 2 of 10 people dying as being UNSAFE.

hiay guys, I's got plane that crashes 20% of the time, it's safe.

I don't remember a kidnapping that ended in death, and they are fairly common over there. If you were to be kidnapped anywhere, you'd want it to be in gaza.

Question is, how are they made to make such declarations in these videos? What mechanism is employed?

They are given a script, they are asked to read it, if I knew my death is only as far as my absuctors whim, I wouldn't refuse.

 

[nivi]

I've re-watched the movie, and I think the stuttering is just the poor quality of the sound, I'm pretty sure that in 2:09 you can hear him saying: "the armies of america br america and brn america attack attack" The britian part was cut off by the "jump" of the sound, kind of like a broken record..

He clearly looks distressed.

 

[MobBoss]

I calculated it back in 2006, using the figures up to then; 80% of all westerners abducted were later released by their captors, with the remaining 20% being executed.

So you dont have a link, or story from a reliable source that states this. Thanks.

Just for the sake of argument: Could it be perhaps that the one person you speak of might have been from the 20% that didn't get out alive?

Just for the sake of arguement, a nice link or source to back up the claim would be nice.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Bozo: I have to agree with you. In kidnapping Alan Johnson, who has only ever been a keen reporter of the Palestinian plight, they have hardly done their cause many favours.

They have so many legitimate grievances, and then these retards do violence to the only Western voice that is the only Westerner giving their side of the story to the world, as part of their struggle with another Palestinian group. What a disservice to Alan Johnston, but even more, what a disservice to the Palestinian people, who deserve better than this. I cant help but be reminded of Lawrence of Arabia, and the quote:

So long as the Arabs fight tribe against tribe, so long will they be a little people, a silly people - greedy, barbarous, and cruel, as you are.

 

[emzie]

I don't remember a kidnapping that ended in death, and they are fairly common over there. If you were to be kidnapped anywhere, you'd want it to be in gaza.

No, I wouldn't want to be in Gaza =/

 

[Rambuchan]

Just for the sake of arguement, a nice link or source to back up the claim would be nice.

I mean hypothetically. One dead abductee doesn't equal a 100% assasination rate, and hypothetically it doesn't discredit an 80% claim of survival either. Do you see this or not?

 

[MobBoss]

I mean hypothetically. One dead abductee doesn't equal a 100% assasination rate, and hypothetically it doesn't discredit an 80% claim of survival either. Do you see this or not?

Sure, I see it. Now do you see I would like to have some solid proof from a good source to back up the claim?

 

[Rambuchan]

Sure, I see it. Now do you see I would like to have some solid proof from a good source to back up the claim?

Yes.

Bozo: Your quote reminds me of a certain book that's been very popular amongst neo-cons: "The Arab Mind". The first review in that link is quite worthwhile.