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New Taliban Leader Had Been in Afghan Custody; Released in Hostage Deal
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ShareJune 20, 2007 12:01 PM
The Taliban military commander who led the "graduation ceremony" for 300 suicide bombers was one of five men released from an Afghanistan prison earlier this year in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist.
On the tape, Dadullah, whose notoriously brutal brother was killed by the U.S. last month, introduces and congratulates new teams of suicide bombers as he sends them off to conduct suicide missions in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Germany.
"These Americans, Canadians, British and Germans come here to Afghanistan from faraway places," Dadullah says on the tape. "Why shouldn't we go after them?"
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
Dadullah has been quite busy since his release. He reportedly organized the deal to obtain his brother's dead body for burial in exchange for the release of four medical workers.
Dadullah also received a condolence letter from Osama bin Laden following the death of his brother.
Journalist Daniel Mastrogiacomo was kidnapped along with his interpreter and driver by Taliban fighters in early March.
A hostage trade was negotiated, in part by an Italian-run hospital organization, for his release in exchange for the release of five senior Taliban commanders that were in the custody of the Afghan federal government.
The deal was harshly criticized at the time, and protests took place in front of the Italian-run hospital.
Mastrogiacomo's driver and interpreter, who were not included in the exchange, were both beheaded.
Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?
June 20, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (49)
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When Daniel Mastrogiacomo was released in exhange for the freedom of Dadullah, among others, I said that was a big mistake. Why even negotiate with these guys? The Italians screwed up by pushing the deal, and letting this guy out (did they think he was just going to go get a job at the local tea shop after being freed?)
When somebody says, "I am going to kill you", do not negotiate with them; it does more harm than good...
Posted by: Jazz | Jun 20, 2007 12:40:22 PM
Amen
Posted by: Larry | Jun 20, 2007 12:57:30 PM
Proof that the lib media and terrorism support each other.
Posted by: Mr. Twister | Jun 20, 2007 1:12:26 PM
Leave it to the bleeding heart Liberals, they would all be released....unreal, people just don't get it. We need Fred for pres...not Hilary...GOD HELP US
Posted by: Freddie | Jun 20, 2007 1:38:43 PM
Boy, sure looks like Italy has egg on its face!
Posted by: Jack | Jun 20, 2007 1:42:28 PM
The only way to deal with those Islamic extremist is death to all of them and every single blood line and off springs. Doesn't anybody understand they all want us dead or under their sword? Let the CIA or the U.S. Military torture them to save a thousand of American, so what's the big deal if we torture those jihadist, I think we should let the Chinese do the torturing for the U.S. they do a better job.
Posted by: Triange One | Jun 20, 2007 1:46:33 PM
I am sick of sacrificing the lives of Americans for these ungrateful people in the middle east. Enough already. Lets bring our children home and let them kill each other.
Posted by: Andy | Jun 20, 2007 1:46:41 PM
All the Western Europeans - Spanish, Italians, French, and Germans - have already surrendered to the terrorists.
Posted by: John Kantor | Jun 20, 2007 1:56:03 PM
Another victory for the Al-Qaeda Broadcasting Company!
Posted by: USARocks | Jun 20, 2007 2:13:53 PM
Why did Bin Laden have to send his condolences?? Didn't this dumdullah dude die "for the cause"? Wouldn't he be considered a martyr or does he have to strap a bomb to himself and kill himself for that to happen?
BIG dummies.
Posted by: Enn Eff | Jun 20, 2007 2:19:49 PM
Andy, it's a bit more complicated than that, and I think you know it...the US withdrew it's interests from Afghanistan after the Soviet pullout, and look what eventually transpired there...and ultimately transpired in Manhattan and Arlington.
Unfortunately, force and regional development is required to protect energy interests in the region. That's energy that YOU consume on a daily basis, and could not live without UNTIL the US loses it's dependency on this energy (petroleum).
oh well...
Posted by: Jazz | Jun 20, 2007 2:32:50 PM
How pathetic are they that they just let him go.they should have known who he was!!!! And to the person named TRIANGE ONE..... We are not sacrificing any live 99.99% of the soldiers over there have said if we leave now we will be letting down our country and the people here who were helping. and it is not like they are made to join the millitary they choose to cuz they like it
Posted by: Cory Woessner | Jun 20, 2007 2:34:20 PM
Better get all the flight manifests from all over Europe and start questioning people with passports from or to any mideast countries starting with the kids up. Can't assume it is just Muslims or young men anymore who want to blow Americans up. The fact that Ali-C4 hasn't blown anyone up yet is a miracle.
Posted by: Bob | Jun 20, 2007 2:35:29 PM
Now exactly how is the liberal media responsible for this? Except maybe if these journalists are too stupid to realize that they are putting themselves in harms way if they go to these countries. If they go to those countries voluntarily and get kidnapped, it's their own fault. STAY OUT. DUH. Now we have a terrorist released from custody because of some idiot. Liberal, conservative or whatever, going there is DUMB DUMB DUMB.
Posted by: BigT | Jun 20, 2007 2:35:44 PM
I guess this guy is an extremist muslim because of the liberal media.
This extremist muslim looks at the US and sees and sees extremist right wing politics led by the Christians and supported by a kill-all the middle easterns militiary and he may as well be looking in the mirror...the only difference is the religion.
Posted by: Joe | Jun 20, 2007 2:42:00 PM
When you make a deal with the Devil - it comes back to bite you in the *##. Now when one of these "graduates" blows himself up - we can thank Italy.
Posted by: Gene | Jun 20, 2007 3:00:23 PM
Let's all write to George W Bush and ask him why we authorized the release of Dadullah? The Afgans wouldn't even fart without his approval.
Posted by: Chuck | Jun 20, 2007 3:00:39 PM
Seems the Italians are now reaping what they sowed.
Posted by: Jupmod | Jun 20, 2007 3:02:10 PM
If any news organization from any country are afraid of being kidnapped, don't go!! This is a great example that you can't negotiate with these animals. There goal is to Kill all of us or convert. The next time a journalist gets kidnapped, O-well--- wrong place, wrong time.
Just think, trade a journalist in a war zone for a known killer!!!!
Posted by: brian | Jun 20, 2007 3:11:15 PM
exchange a known killer for journalist. God help all of us, what's next a lawyer
Posted by: brian | Jun 20, 2007 3:13:29 PM
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