Breaking: South Korean hostage deadline passes, Reuters reports a rescue operation is underway Updated: Reuters withdraws its report
posted at 8:51 am on August 1, 2007 by Bryan
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CNN’s Kiran Chetry read from the Reuters report on the air a few minutes ago. I’ll have that video shortly.
An operation aimed at rescuing the remaining 21 Korean hostages held by the Taliban began on Wednesday in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, a provincial official said, hours after the expiry of another Taliban deadline.
Godspeed.
Update: Here’s the CNN segment.
Link: sevenload.com
Update: Let me throw the appropriate caveat on this report. It’s Reuters and based on the word of the local district chief where the hostages are being held. Previous reports have indicated that the Afghan government had the hostage-takers surrounded.
Here’s more detail on the possible rescue from a fresher Reuters report.
The Taliban could not be immediately be contacted, but spokesmen for the radical Islamist movement have repeatedly said any use of force would jeopardize the lives of the hostages.
Earlier the army had dropped leaflets warning civilians of an assault.
“The national army has dropped leaflets from helicopters telling people in several districts to evacuate their houses because it wants to launch an operation,” said Khowja Seddiqi, district chief of Qarabagh, in Ghazni province.
The Taliban have killed two male hostages after the Afghan government refused to bow to rebel demands to free jailed insurgents.
The defense ministry said earlier that the Afghan National Army had launched an operation in Ghazni, but insisted it was “routine” and was not linked with the kidnapping.
It sounds like the Afghan military bought some media silence time with an appropriate misdirection.
More: Michelle’s weekly column highlights the martyrs that no one seems to care about.
Curiously, those who argue that we need to “understand” Islamic terrorists demonstrate little effort to “understand” the Christian evangelical missionaries who risk their lives to spread the gospel — not by sword, but through acts of compassion, healing and education. An estimated 16,000 Korean mission workers risk their lives across the globe — from Africa to the Middle East, China and North Korea.
These are true practitioners of a religion of peace, not the hate-mongers with bombs and AK-47s strapped to their chests who slay instead of pray their way to martyrdom.
Update: The CBC is also reporting the story, based at least in part on the earlier Reuters reports. The CBC report ends with an interesting note.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai faced criticism when he approved the release of five Taliban prisoners earlier this year to free an Italian journalist held hostage. He subsequently vowed not to repeat such a deal.
Update: Reuters withdraws its report, which tells me that there is no rescue underway.
Please be advised that the Kabul datelined story reporting that an operation to rescue 21 Korean hostages held by the Taliban had begun is wrong. The official cited in the story did not make the comment reported. There will be no substitute story.
“The official cited in the story did not make the comment reported”? How does this happen, Reuters? How do you get a quote that never happened?
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I hope they didn’t tip off the Taliban by telling the World an operation is underway…
TheBigOldDog on August 1, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Why doesn’t CNN and Reuters report the entire details as to assure failure of any rescue?
Wade on August 1, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Considering that the Taliban are supposed to be holding the hostages in many different sites, and not in just one location, our MSM buddies might have alerted some of them to the operation starting. Let’s hope and pray not.
andycanuck on August 1, 2007 at 9:00 AM
I would expect/hope that this information is coming in “after action” or at least “after contact”
conservnut on August 1, 2007 at 9:00 AM
So what’s the deal? Are we never gonna use the neutron bomb, or what?
TheSitRep on August 1, 2007 at 9:05 AM
I cannot find it in myself to give CNN/Reuters any shred of a benefit of the doubt. I hope the hostages and the raiders survive the attack by the legacy media. I should think the hostages would be safer with the Taliban than with these guys “helping”.
Pilgrim on August 1, 2007 at 9:05 AM
Getting a scoop is more important to these people than anything else, even the safety of real live human beings.
bbz123 on August 1, 2007 at 9:06 AM
That’s what I’m talkin’ about.
Jaibones on August 1, 2007 at 9:08 AM
As a result, I really don’t get too worked up when reporters are taken hostage.
Blake on August 1, 2007 at 9:09 AM
Lord, take me under friendly fire in a rescue operation any day, as long as my captors experience the pain of life before they spend eternity swimming in a lake of fire.
Jaibones on August 1, 2007 at 9:09 AM
Completely off topic here, but am I the only one that thinks that Kiran Chetry is not nearly as hot as she used to be? Perhaps being around all those libs at CNN is having an effect.
conservnut on August 1, 2007 at 9:13 AM
Couldn’t this post have waited until after the op was finished? It’s only about Reuters being morons with no sense of operational security…which isn’t exactly breaking news…and now more people like myself who don’t follow Reuters know about the operation. I don’t need to know about this rescue until it happens.
Containing the damage as much as possible would seem to be a desirable outcome, yes?
James on August 1, 2007 at 9:14 AM
Rescue team?
You mean ISLAMOPHOBES! Horrible, racist (oops it’s not a race, it’s an ideology, according to the CAIR talking head) erm…ideologist!
Wait…ideologist. Isn’t that already a word?
Bah, no matter!
Evil rescue team! You hate muslims! Respect our book! Bow before-er, we mean, show tolerance to our peaceful religion! Or we’ll kill another hostage!
MadisonConservative on August 1, 2007 at 9:14 AM
no news is good news?
flipflopper on August 1, 2007 at 9:15 AM
Crossing my fingers, praying. God help those souls.
Limerick on August 1, 2007 at 9:16 AM
Fox News has a guy on the ground and he initially reported that a rescue mission was under way but now he is backing off of that since he can’t confirm it. The governor of the province says no such mission is under way.
LakeRuins on August 1, 2007 at 9:24 AM
Probably has more to do with her being a new mommy. I think her baby is about a year old now. She had it before going to CNN.
LakeRuins on August 1, 2007 at 9:25 AM
I don’t know, she was pretty fetching after the baby when she was still with Fox.
That’s the way to sneak up on them guys!
conservnut on August 1, 2007 at 9:32 AM
Jimmy Carter was not available for comment.
Wade on August 1, 2007 at 9:34 AM
This has been pointed out already but I can’t help but comment on the stupidity of the MSM.
Call me crazy but assuming that a rescue operation is underway it seems to me that reporting it as underway tips off the Taliban, right? And that is good for whom? The hostages? Or the Taliban?
The MSM: useful, or useless?, idiots.
Leonidas Hoplite on August 1, 2007 at 9:45 AM
I will be praying for the rescue efforts. May God shield the hostages from the Islamists.
Dark-Star on August 1, 2007 at 9:46 AM
Maybe they should’ve asked Israel as a rescue raid advisor.
James Greenidge
Queens NY
jamesgreenidge on August 1, 2007 at 9:55 AM
Look, normally I will be the first one to jump on the MSM’s back about blowing operational security. But the local army dropped leaflets warning the locals that an operation was coming. I think the jihadis probably figured out something was up without the help of Reuters or CNN.
conservnut on August 1, 2007 at 9:57 AM
And they’re operating from information put out by the local authorities who wouldn’t put it out of they didn’t want it out. I’m all for bashing the MSM where it is due, but it’s premature and unfounded here.
Oh, and the problem with Kiran Chetry at CNN? They keep her behind a desk.
Pablo on August 1, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Yes.
Jaibones on August 1, 2007 at 10:06 AM
“Hey Achmed…. CNN says they are coming to free the hostages…”
“Hokay Mohamed… better get clear while I blow them up!”
Lets see… worldwide broadcast?…
Satelite?…. yep…
Soon to be dead hostage???…. uh huh…
This report could very well have killed the hostages, even if there IS NO RESCUE EFFORT!
Romeo13 on August 1, 2007 at 10:06 AM
That’s it!!!!
Thanks man.
conservnut on August 1, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Did we drop leaflets on Normandy in ‘44? Sounds like a great idea before a surprise attack to save hostages. Hopefully the time and date are clearly printed.
Hening on August 1, 2007 at 10:15 AM
I pray for the success of this rescue.
Razgriez on August 1, 2007 at 10:15 AM
The Taliban is worried about the rescue operation endangering the lives of the surviving hostages?
Then they shouldn’t have:
A) Taken them hostage in the first place.
B) Killed two hostages already.
C) Been born, -except as blind, translucent, limbless cave fish.
I like C, personally.
profitsbeard on August 1, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Why do you think they put it out? And yes, I fully believe the legacy MSM is capable of deliberately making a false report in order to cause the death of hostages — all in the name of a good story of course.
I too pray for the success of any rescue effort and the lives of the hostages.
CrazyFool on August 1, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Normandy Beach could have never happened in this day and age. There would have been news cameras everywhere breathlessly announcing that a big operation was underway, embedded reporters illustrating the troops battle plans, and ‘inside sources’ spilling the beans before we even got out of American waters
Keli on August 1, 2007 at 10:47 AM
I think rather than crossing one’s fingers…prayer from all of us would do much more. Prayer is powerful and right now that’s exactly what they need..especially with all this “help” they are getting from the msm. God Bless them and keep them safe.
hotvol on August 1, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Think about this:
Why would a Muslim national army (that is dropping the leaflets from helicopters) risk the lives of the Muslim population when attacking a Muslim faction holding Christian hostages?
The lives of the Muslim population (and even the Muslim Taliban) are way more important to the Muslim national army than any Christian hostage.
Lawrence on August 1, 2007 at 11:21 AM
I pray for those hostages.
I also wouldn’t mind if the government decided to pull off a rescue mission and it all happened and I didn’t hear about it till it was well over. These people in the msm are rabid.
4shoes on August 1, 2007 at 11:24 AM
on the latest Update: sorry to sound cynical/sarcastic on such a serious issue thread, but Bryan, make note, it IS Reuters. the same place that let a certain photographer nearly get away with tons of Fauxtography….
Razgriez on August 1, 2007 at 11:36 AM
THAT part of the story just sticks in my craw. The missionaries are in my prayers.
KelliD on August 1, 2007 at 11:38 AM
the quote that never happened:Reuters
PattyAnn on August 1, 2007 at 11:48 AM
How dare you question them Allah!
RightWinged on August 1, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Photos of the rescue taken by Adnan Hajj.
RightWinged on August 1, 2007 at 11:55 AM
I wonder if this little “quote that never happened” is going to cost the koreans hostages their lives.
tshell on August 1, 2007 at 12:03 PM
What happens when MSM outlets are consistently costing people their lives with their constant ineptitude? If anything happens to these hostages because Reuters blew the whistle, The families should go after them.
Egfrow on August 1, 2007 at 12:44 PM
My first thought too was that this report was created to cause their deaths to further a news report . . but then I think about the truthers and reconsider . . but then I think about the dems that want to pull out of Iraq knowing what will happen . . but then I think about that youtube debate ufo guy . . but then I think about the dems knowing what happened when they pulled out of Vietnam and still want to pull out of Iraq . . but then I think about . . .
- The Cat
MirCat on August 1, 2007 at 2:51 PM