Two Fox News journalists kidnapped in Gaza: witness (Update: see Post #193)

Reuters ^

[slowhand520]

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian gunmen kidnapped two foreign journalists working for the Fox News television channel in Gaza on Monday, a witness said.

The witness, a Palestinian who worked with the two journalists, said one of them, a producer, was an American, and the other, whose nationality he did not know, was a cameraman.

The Fox News bureau in Jerusalem said it was checking the report.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abduction.

The witness said two vehicles blocked the journalist's transmission truck in the center of Gaza City and a masked man put a gun to the bodyguard's head, forcing him to the ground.

The kidnappers then sped away with the two journalists.

Similar incidents in the past in Gaza have ended with the release, usually within hours, of kidnapped foreign journalists or aid workers.

Many of the abductions were carried out by Palestinians pressing a grievance against the Palestinian government or its security forces

[krunkygirl]

Wow...if you had not posted that quote I wouldn't have believed it...what deeply disturbed people they must be.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Deeply disturbed, disgusting people!! Sickening, just plain sickening!!

[SkyPilot]

Kissing sounds....

[bluerose]

Same here. It is on 24 hours a day. Just ask my kids. Mom, is that all you watch.

[krunkygirl]

Yucky! NO THANK YOU. Not my idea of a manly man.

[SkyPilot]

Wow - you're fast!

OK - since I brought up Anderson Cooper, I have to post this now.

[Semper911]

You sure they worked for Fox?

Read lainie's #434.

That lainie knows stuff, I tell you. ;)

[Alas Babylon!]

It doesn't surprise me that someone who uses redstateh8r as their screen name would want this. They'd really like it to happen to anyone from a red state--meaning a state that voted for Bush--meaning you and me.

[Semper911]

How 'bout we give them some slack until their reporters are safe?

Good call.

Here is the cameraman, Olaf Wiig:

[Rapscallion]

We have on Fox News Channel 24/7 except for "Cops" and occasional "new" CSI re-runs.

[RDTF]

wow- there are some real horrible and insensitive posts on this thread and embarrassing to read! Idiots!

[SlayerOfBunnies]

Maybe so, but he's an American scumbag, not a muslim animal. Let's remember which side we are on, here.

[bluerose]

I agree. Of course Fox is doing everything they can for their safe return. Fox wouldn't use this for ratings like CNN would do.

Prayers for their safe return....

[Earthdweller]

"I hope and pray thier beheadings show up on Youtube real soon. Popcorn anyone? By: redstateh8r on August 14, 2006 at 04:58pm"

Sick..really sick.

[RightOnline]

Damn......I've been busy today and haven't had nearly enough time to peruse FR and I come upon this horrific news.....only to find a "Let's Bash Shep!!" thread.

Stop it, damn it. He's a good man, no matter what you think of his views on one particular topic or another. I'd take one Shep Smith to 1000 Dan Rathers any day of the week.

Prayers up for these folks and their families.

[af_vet_rr]

Shame on you. You may not like him. Wishing him in the hands of Muslim terrorists is hideously evil.

It is extreme, and I really wouldn't wish that upon anybody, but what Shep was doing to that young Israeli wife was hideously evil. If I had been his producer, I would have fired him on the spot, ratings or no ratings.

Exploiting somebody else's tragedy for your own gain in the guise of "reporting the news" - I know, it's a halmark of the media today - the whole "your house just burned down, killing your spouse and three children, how do you feel about that?" thing. It gets viewers, it sells advertising, and maybe it's not really a reflection of the journalists themselves, but society as a whole - Shep Smith would not have been in that young wife's face asking her repeatedly how she felt about losing her husband after only being together a short time if people back in the states weren't tuning in.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

Almost as low as some of the DU posts. It's really a shame!

[SE Mom]

This is awful to see on a thread about two kidnapped people. .. hardly the time or place to be wishing it were so-and-so or thinking this one would deserve it...and that one wouldn't.

You know what? I can think of a dozen journalists I detest- I wouldn't wish this on one of em. I'm not being self-righteous- I WOULD like to see them all fired- but not this.

[af_vet_rr]

Nobody "gets themselves kidnapped" in EMEA.

Let me put it another way then - there are parts of the world where I would not go without a lot of Americans with short haircuts and lots of firepower and the skill and will to use it.

I will mention this - Gaza is unique - as much as the Palestinian leadership acts like they have problems controlling the various terrorist organizations operating there, anytime something like this happens that could damage their reputation, magically the hostages appear, usually within 24 hours and unharmed.

It's not much of a mystery - the Palestinians act like they have control problems, except when it suits them. I can see why journalists could feel reasonably safe there - the Palestinians see them as a very useful tool in their little propaganda war against Israel and the US.

[HarryH]

Hey Jack!

Take a stroll until you hat floats, fool!