Posted on 09/08/2009 9:30:55 PM PDT by james500
NATO troops released a kidnapped New York Times reporter in Northern Afghanistan in a raid before dawn on Wednesday, after he had been held for four days, an Afghan district chief said.
Reporter Stephen Farrell, who is British, was abducted on Saturday along with his Afghan interpreter while attempting to visit the scene of a NATO air strike.
(Excerpt) Read more at alertnet.org ...
Reminds me of the Ethics in America program from the 80’s.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/press/vanities/fallows.html
A few minutes later Ogletree turned to George M. Connell, a Marine colonel in full uniform, jaw muscles flexing in anger, with stress on each word, Connell looked at the TV stars and said, “I feel utter . . . contempt. “ Two days after this hypothetical episode, Connell Jennings or Wallace might be back with the American forces—and could be wounded by stray fire, as combat journalists often had been before. The instant that happened he said, they wouldn’t be “just journalists” any more. Then they would drag them back, rather than leaving them to bleed to death on the battlefield. “We’ll do it!” Connell said. “And that is what makes me so contemptuous of them. Marines will die going to get ... a couple of journalists.”
The British commando who DIED rescuing him thought it was worth the risk.
The Taliban don’t discriminate who is a reporter or not.
That hatred is going to eat you up.
“Western military officials in Afghanistan say a British commando was killed during a raid early Wednesday that freed a New York Times reporter from his Taliban captors.”
Poor trade.
Will be interesting to see how he spins his first column. Men died so this vermin can live to write lies another day.
Those reporters are nothing but trouble....Paton thought them ccntemptible.
The hallmark of the American military is taht you can rely on them, no matter who you are, no matter what your politics, and no matter how you view the world. They may not approve of you, but they value American livesm, and other lives, and will come to help when they can.
Thank you to the troops, even though I do not agree with the man’s politics. He is a child of God, as are we all.
Great work troops! I hope he is grateful.
I know Stephen Farrell’s family must be very thankful he is alive and safe.
A British soldier and Farrell’s Afghan interpreter died during the rescue. Sadly, it’s almost as if two lives were exchanged for one.
Prayers for the families of the two men who died.
What is a NATO troops? I did not know that NATO had its own standing army. Or does this mean that several countries did it together or the USA did it and NATO gets the credit?
Given that a Brit paratrooper died and that Brit Marines were also involved, it looks like this was a UK operation. No idea why they use the NATO designation in the press - but then I don’t know why the press does a lot of stuff.
Word is it was a UK led op. SBS apparently.
A NY Times reporter?
Will someone please apologize for military action now?
Why did the NATO troops take him hostage? /sarc
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