Analyzing the video
Al-Jazeera aired more video of kidnapped American journalist Jill Carroll today. We spent the morning analyzing it. Carroll appeared to be in the same white room she was shown in on Tuesday, when al-Jazeera aired a 20-second clip. Today’s video, just a few seconds long, was probably taped at the same time. So what’s different? Today Carroll was kneeling or sitting below three masked gunmen – a much more ominous picture than Tuesday’s video, which showed Carroll alone in the room. Both videos are silent. Did Carroll’s abductors have an audio malfunction on their camera and forget to check their tape before it was delivered to al-Jazeera? Or did al-Jazeera choose not to air the audio? Given that Carroll and the gunmen appeared to be making statements, the latter seems more likely. Al-Jazeera wouldn’t comment today, though one employee we reached confirmed the two videos were from the same tape. What to read into this? There are lots of people trying to secure Carroll’s release, and their efforts are a sensitive. So sensitive that the media, including NBC News, has been asked to refrain from broadcasting information that could compromise their efforts. With any kidnapping, especially with one involving a fellow journalist, we have obliged. After 9/11 and the Iraq war, al-Jazeera has been target of plenty of criticism. But hold your fire. The audio problem, and the decision to parcel out the video over two days, could be there for good reason – to bring Carroll home.
On Tuesday, al-Jazeera said the video had been delivered with a demand for the U.S. to release women prisoners in Iraq.
Responding to Blogging Baghdad Comments
EMAIL THIS
advertisement
Slide Show
- Life beyond the violence
Suicide attacks and murders due to sectarian conflict continue around Iraq. See how residents live their lives amid the attacks.
Read the Nightly News blog
