Misleading headline of the day: “Taliban: Korean hostages to be freed”
posted at 11:23 am on August 11, 2007 by Bryan
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That’s how USA Today is fronting this story. But if you actually read the text, it doesn’t sound like there has been an actual breakthrough in the negotiations. It sounds more like the headline is meant to move the ball in the Taliban’s preferred direction.
A Taliban leader taking part in hostage negotiations for the lives of 21 South Koreans said Saturday that the hostages would “definitely” be released and possibly as soon as “today or tomorrow.”
Mullah Qari Bashir said that face-to-face negotiations with four Korean officials that began Friday were going well and that the Taliban were sticking with their original demand — that 21 Taliban prisoners be released from prisons in Afghanistan.
“God willing the government (of Afghanistan) and the government of Korea will accept this,” Bashir said outside the Afghan Red Cross office in Ghazni. “Definitely these people will be released. God willing our friends (Taliban militants in prison) will be released.”
Asked when the Koreans might be freed, he said: “Hopefully today or tomorrow.”
“I’m very optimistic. The negotiations are continuing on a positive track,” Bashir said.
The South Koreans don’t agree.
“A quick release is a good thing but we don’t see that the possibility of the quick release is high,” a South Korean official in Seoul told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the issue.
Four South Korean officials and two top Taliban leaders met in person Saturday for a second round of talks over the fate of the 21 members of a church group held hostage for three weeks.
The Taliban is looking for a prisoner swap or a ransom, or both if they can get it. So nothing much seems to have changed, despite the USAT headline.
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wow, way to slant towards the terrorists USAT :(
they couldn’t possibly be reading the text/message that the tali guy made. if they are how do they get the end result as anything but bad? if they release these terrorists more then 21 will die as a result you can bet on that.
trailortrash on August 11, 2007 at 11:32 AM
A horrible dilemma. The Taliban are a group of brain washed pawns controlled by a group of evil thugs all hiding behind a hijacked religion. Pray it comes out well for the South Koreans.
jeanie on August 11, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Good post: Your heart is in the right place, but, may I suggest that you please drop the hackneyed the GWB “highjacked religion” meme?
These are Islamists who are inspired by the Qur’an, the Hadith, Shari’a Law, and recognized Imams issuing recognized Fatwas. Please find me the “highjacked” part?
Again: Your post is good, and my objection is tangential to the thrust of your post.
sanantonian on August 11, 2007 at 11:50 AM
If the Koreans are murdered, then the response should be swift and unprecedented. With the electronic surveillance that this country has, it is mystifying why we get out maneuvered by these third world fanatics on a regular basis.
volsense on August 11, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Taliban say two SKorean hostages released .. AFP
a “goodwill gesture” by the Taliban leadership, the 2 hostages were sick thus the release.
normsrevenge on August 11, 2007 at 12:08 PM
I agree. Show me a so called “religion” that forces conversions by threat of death and I will show you a “death cult”… not a “religion.” The term “highjacked” is use in a misguided attempt to appease Islam, it won’t work, there is no appeasing Islam, just like there was no appeasing the Nazis. They are perpetually offended in order to gain more and more political advantage. Islam is not a “religion” it is a “death cult” and if we want to save freedom of religion in this country we had better wake up to that fact very quickly and stop affording First Amendment protections to a death cult. Islam is is totally incompatible with the principles of our Republic and all free societies.
Maxx on August 11, 2007 at 12:19 PM
I think that swapping Taliban prisoners for Korean hostages would be a good idea.
The Afghan government could at that time show some good will to the Taliban by making sure that the prisoners are healthy and innoculated against disease. While they are getting their shots, they should also be implanted with RFID chips like farmers use to track animals.
When the Koreans are in safe hands and the Taliban have had some roaming time, then a booster shot from a battery of 105s or a laser guided bomb would insure their continued good health.
Better health through high explosives!!
Tennessee Dave on August 11, 2007 at 12:19 PM
I smell a rat.
Jezla on August 11, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Spot on!
Were it that our leaders had such words pass their lying lips.
Dersu on August 11, 2007 at 12:53 PM
As a “gesture of goodwill.”
So, they free two female South Koreans as a “gesture of goodwill” after they murdered two of the South Korean hostages.
Too little, too late.
doingwhatican on August 11, 2007 at 5:28 PM
sanantonian-
Exactly.
All Osama and Co. did was steer Islam back onto its original heading (or is that be-heading?).
No hijacking, just a change from stunned, post-Caliphate autopilot Islam to a live jihadist back at the controls again.
They’re on Mohammad’s original plotting.
In every sense.
profitsbeard on August 11, 2007 at 7:50 PM
OK—so “highjacked” set off a small storm!! LOL You are all right, the Koran sets down many violent principles.(Here comes the but) I think that even in Muslim countries there are a lot of people who did not and do not want their religion interpreted in the manner of the Taliban, Hamas, Hazballah(sp?) and such. Just as in this country, moderate Christians are painted with a heavy Fundamentalist brush by the left even though they practice their faith quite differently and do not interpret the Bible as literally. The element of fanaticism and violence permeating Islam by these jihadists is their CHOICE. By enforcing this choice they have probably dis-enfranchised(a better word than highjacked perhaps?)a great many members of their religion who lack the will or means to challenge it. I await your what I expect will be thoughtful, entertaining and differing points of view.
jeanie on August 11, 2007 at 9:30 PM
I afraid jeanie, you are the one that just used the wide brush. Are you insinuating that “fundamentalist” Christians that believe the Bible literally are violent like those “fundamentalist” that are holding the Christian hostages for ransom ? And I don’t think I know of any “moderate” Christians. If your a Christian you better believe the Bible literally, or what parts do you suggest we edit out ? Your statements were a true exercise in moral equivalence… just Wow !!
Maxx on August 12, 2007 at 5:15 PM
“T’aint necessarily so”. While I believe basic tenets of Christian faith, I do not ascribe to all of the Bible. I suppose that’s a “moderate” Christian or not one at all if I interpret your post properly. So be it. Oh, and I respect the rights of Fundamentalists to interpret the Bible any way they wish and YOU put the violent spin on it, not me. I happen to like my personal interpretations. Peace and blessings.
jeanie on August 12, 2007 at 11:33 PM
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