The blogosphere went nuts after hearing Jill Carroll give what sounded like an anti-American statement in a video released by her captives. Well, turns out she feared her life was in danger, so she repeated the propaganda fed to her by the terrorist thugs. Why? Maybe it was because she had guns pointed at her head? Her actions were quite understandable, in my opinion. After all, if I were in the same spot, I would have done the same thing. What about you?
In a video, recorded before she was freed and posted by her captors on an Islamist Web site, Carroll spoke out against the U.S. military presence. But in a statement Saturday, she said the recording was made under threat. Her editor has said three men were pointing guns at her at the time.
“During my last night in captivity, my captors forced me to participate in a propaganda video. They told me I would be released if I cooperated. I was living in a threatening environment, under their control, and wanted to go home alive. So I agreed,” she said in a statement read by her editor in Boston.
“Things that I was forced to say while captive are now being taken by some as an accurate reflection of my personal views. They are not.”
She deserves some slack. Others agree.
Here’s her full statement. Judge for yourself.