$2 Million Ransom Paid to Release FOX News Reporters Last August

[Ian David]

$2 Million Ransom Paid to Release FOX News Reporters Last August
Reported by Marie Therese - November 14, 2006 -

WorldNet Daily reported today (November 14, 2006) that last August an unnamed American source paid $2 million in ransom for kidnapped FOX News reporter Steve Centanni and his cameraman, Olaf Wiig. The U.S. government issued its usual "we don't negotiate with terrorists" and, oddly, at the time FOX News remained curiously silent on the whole topic of the Centanni-Wiig abduction until it became impossible to stay quiet any longer.

WorldNet Daily reports:

Palestinian terror groups and security organizations in the Gaza Strip received $2 million from a United States source in exchange for the release of Fox News employees Steve Centanni and Olag Wiig, who were kidnapped here last summer, a senior leader of one of the groups suspected of the abductions told WND.

The terror leader, from the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees, said his organization's share of the money was used to purchase weapons, which he said would be utilized "to hit the Zionists."

He said he expects the payments for Centanni and Wiig's freedom will encourage Palestinian groups to carry out further kidnappings.

On August 29th, I wrote a post about a report that appeared in Al Hayat, an Arab newspaper, claiming that it was the United States government that paid the ransom.
http://www.newshounds.us/2006/08/29/al_hayat_u_s_made_a_secret_deal_with_centanniwiig_kidnappers.php

Which brings up an interesting question.

If Israeli citizens are killed as a result of weapons purchased with ransom paid by agents of the federal government, can those agents be prosecuted for aiding and abetting terrorists under the Patriot Act?

In other words, can the government prosecute itself for breaking its own laws?

More:
http://www.newshounds.us/2006/11/14/2_million_ransom_paid_to_release_fox_news_reporters_last_august.php


See also:


Al Hayat: U. S. Made a Secret Deal with Centanni-Wiig Kidnappers
Reported by Marie Therese - August 29, 2006 -

According to ABC News' Blotter, Arab newspaper Al Hayat has reported that FOX News correspondent Steve Centanni and his cameraman Olaf Wiig were released as the result of a secret deal made between the United States government and "The Holy Jihad Brigades", helped along by an unnamed European country.

From ABC's report:

"... U.S. secretly negotiated with the group through leaders of 'the Palestinian popular resistance committees.'

****

"... reports that the public demand was not serious and that the group's 'real demands' were that the U.S. press Israel to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Palestine and cease the shelling of 'Palestinian activists'' residences.

"According to the report, the mediators contacted a representative of a European country who in turn contacted U.S. and British diplomats. The paper's sources said in the report that members of a senior FBI delegation, who had arrived in the area a few days earlier, were also involved in the negotiations.

"The announcement that the two journalists had converted to Islam as a reason for their release was only a camouflage to conceal the fact that the U.S. had agreed to the hostage-takers' demands, according to the sources cited in the article. A few days ago the Rafah crossing was reopened for a few hours daily, and the Israeli forces stopped shelling residences of activists in the past few days, noted the paper's sources."

COMMENT
It is interesting to note that FOX News Senior Vice President John Moody was also in the mideast at the same time.

Guess when it comes to FOX News employees, the administration is willing to "negotiate with terrorists".

One sincerely hopes that such secret negotiations were being conducted behind the scenes during the abductions of Daniel Pearl, Nick Berg, Jack Hensley, Eugene Armstrong and the other hostages who were subsequently murdered by their captors in Iraq.

More:
http://www.newshounds.us/2006/08/29/al_hayat_u_s_made_a_secret_deal_with_centanniwiig_kidnappers.php

[izzie]

1. If I could get them back and had the money I guess I would do it.

I know how the USA feels but heck we payoff millions to bad people if they will turn in people and stop fighting. It is sort of one hand hardly knows what the other is doing. We gave millions to the Northern Tribes and they sure 'sold' us some nice taxi drivers. To bad non were bad guys but seems only poor men in the wrong place yet we paid for them and some still sit in Cuba.

[Ian David]

2. They're using that money to kill and kidnap more people.

Meanwhile, Fox "News" is more responsible than most for creating this mess in the first place.

[izzie]

4. I know the reason not to do it. But I bet I would still do it.

I would have such a hard time not thinking of the two men and the families. I can see my self reason this may be the last time. It is an emotional results to feed your self I guess.

[TheBaldyMan]

3. Fox finances Palestinian terror group !

there's a headline you'll never see.

[HaggardsMethDealer]

5. Send this to Olberman

So he can stick it to Fox News and insinuate that they are terrorist-appeasing cowards.

This is too good to pass up.

[snappyturtle]

6. AMEN! n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Should have traded Hannity and Blo'Reilly

Then again, they're worthless.

[Turbineguy]

8. Well, that's 2 million

they can't spend on pimping for the GOP.

[ClintonTyree]

9. So much for not negotiating with terrorists.

Why would the good, red-blooded, flag waving, "with us or against us" United States government negotiate with terrorists? :shrug: THE TERRORISTS WIN! Is THAT the message we want to send to the terrorists?
Our government has become terrorist appeasers and that $2 million they paid in ransom will now be used to kill countless other Americans.
Apparently the Bush administration feels that their propaganda outlet, FUX News, is worth every penny of ransom they paid.
What would have happened if it was a CBS journalist? Nothing, that's what. As if we needed more proof that FUX News is securely in the pocket of the Bushistas. :grr:

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. If a ransom was paid... isn't that "aiding and abetting terrorists"?

You know, what Faux has consistently called treason?