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RESCUED OR RELEASED?
Few details are available on the rescue of Douglas Wood, beyond that it was some form of military operation:
Iraqi soldiers took part in an operation that freed Australian hostage Douglas Wood today, an Iraqi government spokesman said.
“I can confirm that the Iraqi Government took part in freeing the Australian hostage this morning and he is in good health,” the spokesman said without providing further details.
A spokesman for Sheikh al-Hilali claims Wood was released, however, and that the Sheikh knew of this release before almost anybody else:
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils says the sheik, or Grand Mufti as he is also known, knew as early as 2am (AEST) today that Mr Wood had been released by the insurgents who kidnapped him in early May.
Council head Amjad Ali Mehboob said he had spoken by phone to the sheik, who was in Cairo.
“He said everything had been set in place for Mr Wood’s release for some time, but he was very glad Mr Wood had been released,” Mr Mehboob said.
The Shiekh has been making similar comments since mid-May; it’s uncertain just how influential was his involvement. Meanwhile, here’s a timeline of Wood’s capture, and the Prime Minister’s announcement of Wood’s liberation.
UPDATE. Reuters is still claiming that Wood was released. The London Sun says he was rescued.
Hmmmm.
If Wood were being released wouldn’t the Sheik have claimed credit last week?
My money is on *rescued*.
Posted by memomachine on 2005 06 15 at 10:34 AM • permalinkReuters implies here that Mr Wood was discovered during the rolling security crackdown, currently underway - although intell was also involved.
An Iraqi general said Wood was found when Iraqi troops raided a Baghdad house and pulled back a blanket.
“He was under a blanket. He was tied down and they claimed that he was their father and he was sick,” said Nasir Abadi.
Nick Warner, an Australian diplomat heading a special team dealing with the kidnapping, said the raid was part of a broad security sweep but there had also been a specific tip about the house’s occupants.
Loved the headline: “Australian freed in Iraq; bombs kill over 30.”
“Australian freed in Iraq; bombs kill over 30.”
Yeah, real nice, Reuters. Gotta hand it to them—biased headline, decent story. Talk about grabbing attention!
But I’ll buy the story; it sounds reasonable, given the situation. And demonstrates that the rescue probably has nothing to do with Sheikh al-Hilali.
Posted by The_Real_JeffS on 2005 06 15 at 01:01 PM • permalink
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The Mufti’s Lebanese spokesman (the one who said Bin Laden’s tape admitting 9/11 was a CIA plot)was on with no brain Negus on SBS.Very funny it was all arranged by the Mufti, there was no military operation it was all the Mufti,he knew he told them to go to the pick up spot blah blah blah lying through his teeth… the kidnappers had very reasonable demands, their a reistance ...vomit (Negus didn’t say anything just thinking ‘why yes of course perfectly reasonablefrom my left wing kook perspective’) I am pretty sure MrMufti had very little to do with it, maybe providing some contact here and there but mainly just a front while the hard work was being done by Iraqi/Us intel Aus input