U.S. Journalist Held by Qaeda Affiliate in Syria Is Freed After Nearly 2 Years

new york times ^ | August 24, 2014 | RUKMINI CALLIMACHI

[sodpoodle]

The journalist, Peter Theo Curtis, was abducted near the Syria-Turkey border in October 2012. He was held by the Nusra Front, the Qaeda affiliate in Syria, which has broken with the more radical Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS

[unread]

"I think there’s a pretty big difference between a hostage held by a terrorist group and someone held on criminal charges by a sovereign government."

Sovereign Government..??... Are you talking about the "murdering, stealing, lying, dope pushing, corrupted government of Mexico...is THAT the one your talking about..? ...(spit...)!

[cherokee1]

According to numerous geniuses on AJAM it was the Qatars who were the lead negotiators for the release. But it is also the Qatars who are funding some of the mayhem in Syria in the first place. My guess is that it would be a threat of funding getting cut that got an American out rather than a ransom in this case. Qatar does indeed try to stay on good terms with the US Fifth Fleet.

[Thunder90]

Al Nursa is fighting against ISIS. Al Zarahari does not like Al Baghdadi.

[griswold3]

If that had happened we would have heard about it. This administration is all about the appearance.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The answer to this one is obvious. Zero paid the ransom, got a journalist back (which, to him, is worth 1000 good soldiers or 1 traitor), and put more money in the hands of terrorists. Everybody wins!

[Shadowstrike]

Look, and don’t take this the wrong way, I’m glad the guy is free, but...

Just WHAT did THIS cost us?

Money, releases from Gitmo? I’m kinda curious.

[tbw2]

Agreed. They want to get good PR, and this is an easy way to do it.