warpedskydiver 0 #1 August 26, 2006 Deadline Passes for Captured Fox Crew Saturday, August 26, 2006 5:57 PM EDT The Associated Press IBRAHIM BARZAK Listen to Audio GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A 72-hour deadline set by a militant group holding two Fox news journalists passed Saturday night with no new information on their fate, but Palestinian officials expressed confidence the men would be released soon. The journalists, correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, of Washington, D.C., and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, were seized in Gaza City on Aug. 14. Their captors demanded the release of all Muslims imprisoned by the U.S. by midnight Saturday in exchange for freeing the journalists. The kidnappers, a previously unknown group calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades, did not say what it would do to the men if the deadline passed with their demands unanswered. Palestinian officials said they had no evidence that the kidnappers had harmed the men after the deadline passed. "The group which announced they captured the journalists has done nothing against the journalists after 72 hours," Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said. "The ministry has information that the journalists are safe, and the Palestinian security forces are doing their best to secure their release." Speaking hours before the deadline passed, Palestinian Prime Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas expressed confidence the ordeal would be resolved soon. "We hope that this issue is going to be over in the coming hours," Haniyeh said in a statement. "There are promises that the journalists will not be harmed. I hope that this case is going to be ended and solved in a way that reflects that the Palestinians respect their guests." Haniyeh did not elaborate. It was not clear whether the kidnappers were local militants, either with ties to Hamas or the rival Fatah movement, or sneaked into Gaza from outside. On Wednesday, the kidnappers released video of the hostages for the first time. Wearing track suits, Centanni and Wiig were seen sitting cross-legged on the floor of a dark apartment. They said they were being treated well. In a statement accompanying the video, the kidnappers said a 72-hour countdown for the release of Muslim prisoners began at midnight Wednesday. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists called Saturday for the journalists' release. "Palestinian authorities must continue their efforts to secure the safe release of these two professionals, who were unjustly taken while trying to report the news from Gaza. These journalists should be freed immediately and unconditionally," said Joel Simon, executive director of the committee. In the past two years, Palestinian militants have seized more than two dozen foreigners, usually to settle personal scores, but released them unharmed within hours. The holding of the Fox journalists was the longest so far. Wiig's wife, Anita McNaught, traveled to Gaza soon after the kidnapping to appeal for the men's safe release. Centanni's brother, Ken, has made a similar plea. On Friday, civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson also called for the two men to be freed. "They are in a crisis they did not create. They should not be kept as trophies and we appeal for their release," Jackson told New Zealand television network TV3. Jackson was to lead an ecumenical delegation to the Middle East this weekend to meet with political and religious leaders about the kidnapping and other developments in the region, including the capture of three Israeli soldiers by Islamic militants. Quote Maybe if they find the kidnappers and execute every last one of them after some public torture, they will think twice about kidnapping more innocent people. Kill a hostage NP, see your family suffer, it is that simple. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Sockpuppet 0 #2 August 26, 2006 I'm a fight violence with violence type of guy. I believe that all terrorists want to be the biggest bully in the playground. Well so do I and my gang has air supremancy, years of training and a really bad attitude. Still want to play mr. terrorist? ------ Two of the three voices in my head agree with you. It might actually be unanimous but voice three only speaks Welsh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Scoop 0 #3 August 27, 2006 I agree with you and I have a bit of an issue with people like journalists being in war zones anyway. In my mind they shouldn't be there, I know they are just trying to show the world whats going on but it is dangerous territory, stuff like this happens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #4 August 27, 2006 Kidnapped Fox News Journalists Freed Sunday, August 27, 2006 6:55 AM EDT The Associated Press By IBRAHIM BARZAK Listen to Audio GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Two Fox News journalists were released Sunday, nearly two weeks after being seized by militants, ending the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip. Cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, and correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials. A tearful Centanni briefly embraced a Palestinian journalist in the lobby, then rushed upstairs. Wiig walked into the lobby behind Centanni, briefly turned when someone pulled him by the arm and shouted "get off" before heading upstairs. Centanni later told Fox News in a phone call from Gaza City that during his capture, he was held at times face down in a dark garage, tied up in painful positions, and that he and Wiig were forced at gunpoint to make statements, including that they had converted to Islam. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #5 August 27, 2006 Now they need to find the perps and kill every last one of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shropshire 0 #6 August 27, 2006 Why should they be killed? Would anyone in the US be executed for abduction? (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites warpedskydiver 0 #7 August 27, 2006 yes if you resist arrest and are armed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites StreetScooby 5 #8 August 27, 2006 Quote Why should they be killed? Why shouldn't they be killed?We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites shropshire 0 #9 August 27, 2006 Because . a) We (UK) dont have capital punishment and I personally dont condone it anyway. b) When did kidnaping become a capital crime, even in your country? c) If you plan to start executing people for kidnap, then best look closer to home too (Gitmo, for example). . (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites billvon 3,120 #10 August 28, 2006 >I believe that all terrorists want to be the biggest bully in the playground. Good analogy. Now - what's the best way to deal with playground bullies? 1) Play their game and get into fights every day 2) Steal your dad's gun and kill them, their friends and a few teachers during lunch 3) Ignore them, graduate, get your master's, then go back home and visit them when they get out of jail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Sockpuppet 0 #2 August 26, 2006 I'm a fight violence with violence type of guy. I believe that all terrorists want to be the biggest bully in the playground. Well so do I and my gang has air supremancy, years of training and a really bad attitude. Still want to play mr. terrorist? ------ Two of the three voices in my head agree with you. It might actually be unanimous but voice three only speaks Welsh. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scoop 0 #3 August 27, 2006 I agree with you and I have a bit of an issue with people like journalists being in war zones anyway. In my mind they shouldn't be there, I know they are just trying to show the world whats going on but it is dangerous territory, stuff like this happens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #4 August 27, 2006 Kidnapped Fox News Journalists Freed Sunday, August 27, 2006 6:55 AM EDT The Associated Press By IBRAHIM BARZAK Listen to Audio GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Two Fox News journalists were released Sunday, nearly two weeks after being seized by militants, ending the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in the Gaza Strip. Cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, and correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, were dropped off at Gaza City's Beach Hotel by Palestinian security officials. A tearful Centanni briefly embraced a Palestinian journalist in the lobby, then rushed upstairs. Wiig walked into the lobby behind Centanni, briefly turned when someone pulled him by the arm and shouted "get off" before heading upstairs. Centanni later told Fox News in a phone call from Gaza City that during his capture, he was held at times face down in a dark garage, tied up in painful positions, and that he and Wiig were forced at gunpoint to make statements, including that they had converted to Islam. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #5 August 27, 2006 Now they need to find the perps and kill every last one of them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #6 August 27, 2006 Why should they be killed? Would anyone in the US be executed for abduction? (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #7 August 27, 2006 yes if you resist arrest and are armed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StreetScooby 5 #8 August 27, 2006 Quote Why should they be killed? Why shouldn't they be killed?We are all engines of karma Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #9 August 27, 2006 Because . a) We (UK) dont have capital punishment and I personally dont condone it anyway. b) When did kidnaping become a capital crime, even in your country? c) If you plan to start executing people for kidnap, then best look closer to home too (Gitmo, for example). . (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #10 August 28, 2006 >I believe that all terrorists want to be the biggest bully in the playground. Good analogy. Now - what's the best way to deal with playground bullies? 1) Play their game and get into fights every day 2) Steal your dad's gun and kill them, their friends and a few teachers during lunch 3) Ignore them, graduate, get your master's, then go back home and visit them when they get out of jail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
