After more than 80 days after her kidnapping from the streets of
Before her release, her captors demanded that she make anti-U.S. remarks that were subsequently video recorded. The recording was posted on jihadist Web site that has also shown beheadings and attacks on American forces.
Following her release, Carroll denounced the video, saying that she was forced to make the statements.
Seems reasonable enough. Do what your captors tell you to do or risk dying. Arizona Sen. John McCain seems to agree. He would know, given his experiences as a prisoner of war during
Many people were stunned and shocked about Carroll's comments, but a surprisingly large chunk of the blogosphere reacted to the news with a torrent of scathing hatred.
Orrin Judd at the BrothersJudd.com declared that Carroll "may as well just come right out and say she was a willing participant." Debbie Schlussel labeled Carroll a "spoiled brat America-hater" and a commenter at RedState.com asserted, "she was anti-America when she went over there and I say the kidnapping was a put up deal from the get go."
Remember, they were saying this about a woman who had been kidnapped and held hostage for months. Videos of her crying and pleading for her life had been shown.
Carroll renounced the statement a day later, stating, "fearing retribution from my captors, I did not speak freely. Out of fear I said I wasn't threatened. In fact, I was threatened many times."
At their best, blogs can pressure established news organizations (mainstream media) to produce their best work. But, when blogs stop checking the facts and start declaring that Jill Carroll faked her tears on her hostage tape, this is not progress.
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