Filipino hostage safe
Here’s the news; I first got wind of it from Prof. Steven Taylor. Now, whether the methods used in convincing these hostage-takers are a sign of “being wobbly,” (initial commentary here) we would not know, since no details have been released as yet. The same talks that ended the standoff in Fallujah were probably the same talks that were employed here, using representatives and envoys to appeal to whatever appealed to these hoodlums.
It is best to keep in mind that the primary interests of the Philippine government, despite its willing participation in the war on Jihadic Islam, is the safety of its citizenry. I find it also self-serving for thenews outlets to emphasize the Philippine troop withdrawal on August 20, despite numerous clarifications that this is a scheduled recall and not a result of this incident. I find that people may gloss over the clarification and just surmise capitulation on the side of the Philippines. Oh well.
UPDATE: James Joyner notes a conflicting report. Bizarre. Jeff Quinton does the aggregating.
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1
Filipino Hostage Freed
AP reports: Insurgents in Iraq (news – web sites) freed a Filipino truck driver whom they kidnapped and threatened to behead, the Philippine labor secretary said Saturday. “While this man is still not in our hands, he will be brought…
Trackback by Backcountry Conservative — Jul 10, 2004 @ 2:46 pm
2
Filipino Hostage Released?
Conflicting accounts on the fate of the Filipino hostage taken two days ago.
Bloomberg – Filipino Hostage in Iraq Is Freed, His Wife Says (Update1)
New Straits Times – Philippine hostage reportedly freed as Manila refuses to bow to militants
…
Trackback by Outside The Beltway — Jul 10, 2004 @ 2:54 pm
3
Why was he released so quickly? Do you think a ransom was paid??
Comment by Tom Galvin — Jul 10, 2004 @ 3:31 pm
4
Oh, Fox News now says he was NOT released.
Comment by Tom Galvin — Jul 10, 2004 @ 4:00 pm
5
I’ll say this much. The Philippines has little to no history of paying ransom to anyone. Most “negotiations” are posturing while they try and get to the bottom of things; however, this IS in Iraq. My only speculation at this point is the same as that which is mentioned here, where it was made evident that it is politically bad for their brethrem Moslems in the Philippines to make an enemy out of Filipinos.
Then again, I am not that naive. At this point I find everything bizarre.
Comment by OF Jay — Jul 10, 2004 @ 4:10 pm