A long silence. Jill Carroll still MIA.
 “> |
Nothing new from the Mainstream Media. I had hoped for something from the blogosphere, but alas only this one post from the Right Truth with a belated rehash of mainstream reportage. I question Minister Jabr’s identification of the kidnappers. The demand for the release of a small number of women detainees is much more focussed and limited in scope than any other demand from Iraqi insurgent groups. It seems like a different group. And Mr. Jabr certainly has a personal stake in the matter. Regardless of who is holding her, it would not serve their interests to kill her and keep it a secret. I may not agree with Mr. Jabr about who is holding her but I agree with his conclusion. She is alive. |
|
Media credit: Nafis M. Azad, Collegian Students
release white balloons into the air, symbolizing their prayers for the release of Jill Carrol |
As Dan Kennedy pointed out some days ago in his blog Media Nation, the mainstream media cannot appear overlyself-absorbed. Presumably that partially explains the silence leading up to the Feb. 26 deadline. Also, the U.S. Government probably convinced the media that attention would jeopordize attempts to rescue her. I think the reverse is true, which is why I flapped about it. I know I am but a butterfly in the winds of the world wide web, but the web is a complex nonlinear system. It probably has directions in which it has sensitive dependence on initial conditions. A butterfly flapping his wings in one place can cause a typhon on the other side of the world.
There was some mainstream coverage around the time of the deadline and the blogosphere essentially followed suit. The silence returned. There is a problem of fatigue. How many ‘no news’ news bits are people willing to read? Even the guy by the door has to worry about that.
Perhaps the techtopian dream of ordinary people all over the world breaking down the barriers of space, time, censorship, and hatred has not been realized in Iraq well enough to help Jill. Or perhaps it’s unreasonable to try to create a typhon in place where there is one already going on.Apparently the previously reported detente between the Sunni’s and the Shia was a mere flash in the pan. TV coverage on one of the Boston channels compared an early video tape of Jill with the last one received. I agree with their male terrorism expert. She did appear frightened to distraction in the early tape and calm and resolute in the latter. He opined that she is her own best instrument of survival. This may be self-serving for those who won’t dothe right thing to save her. It may be self-serving for those of us who have run out of improbable ideas to help her. But it is probably true.
- previous:
- Another night in Iraq
- next:
- CODE PINK: URGENT CALL FOR ACTION!!!
Debbie
March 3, 2006 @ 8:47 pm
I have searched for more information on Jill Carroll, but alas there isn’t much to be found. I am very concerned about her.
Don’t take this the wrong way, (I am NOT saying any of this is her fault in any way.), but she is young, impressionable and had expressed sympathy with the people and the insurgents. Seeing both sides is a good thing for a reporter, but I hope there is not some form of brainwashing going on here.
Also she presently works for the Christian Science Monitor. Just having the ‘name’ Christian in the title of the publication may not be good for her in the eyes of the terrorists.
I am very worried about her. I hope as you search the WWW you can find something. I will also keep searching. I pray for her safety while in the hands of her captors and pray she will be unharmed physically and emotionally.
Debbie