News-Record.com

Jill Carroll's release from captivity in Baghdad was a happy story Friday. It was widely reported that the American freelance journalist said, "I was treated very well," and never threatened.

I don't really blame news organizations like the Washington Post for taking that statement at face value. The main story line was that Carroll was safe after nearly three months of captivity.

Still, a little time should have been taken to evaluate the circumstances of Carroll's statement, which she later disavowed.

In fact, she says now, she was under duress.

With guns pointed at her, she made what she described as a propaganda videotape Thursday. Even after her release the next day, when she was dropped off outside the office of an Iraqi political party and took refuge there, giving the initial interview, she still did not feel secure enough to speak freely.

Here's her real feelings, as reported by her employer, the Christian Science Monitor:

"The people who kidnapped me and murdered Allan Enwiya (her translator) are criminals, at best. They robbed Allan of his life and devastated his family. They put me, my family and my friends - and all those around the world, who have prayed so fervently for my release - through a horrific experience. I was, and remain, deeply angry with the people who did this."

Carroll calls herself a journalist whose job is to discover the truth. It sounds as if she is now truthfully describing her captors.

They're not freedom-fighters, insurgents or patriots. They're not defending themselves or their country from an American occupation. They're murderers and kidnappers - criminals, at best. Iraq won't be safe until they're put out of business.