On August 14, 2006 two journalists working for FOX News were kidnapped in Gaza City near the Palestinian security services headquarters. Abducted were Steve Centanni, 60, national correspondent for FOX News and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand.
Questions are arising over the blackout of information regarding the investigation of the missing FOX journalists. The FOX News Network itself has been virtually silent concerning the story. There is little or no mention of the incident by FOX’s hard news division, including FOX’s lineup of primetime political talk shows.
The mainstream media, including other cable news networks, have also seemingly ignored the kidnappings. In the past, when journalists were abducted by Islamic extremists in the Middle East their stories were widely covered, bringing daily headlines about the status and condition of the abductees.
Some are speculating the silence over the disappearance of Centanni and Wiig is due to the fact negotiations may be underway regarding the release of the two men and the media may not want to antagonize those who perpetrated the crime by heavily reporting on the search for the FOX News journalists. However, it is not clear who would be negotiating with who–if there are indeed negotiations taking place.
FOX News has been a harsh critic of what some are calling Islamic fascism, leading many to believe its journalists were targeted for this reason. However, critics feel this strategy may be setting a dangerous precedent concerning the safety of other journalists working in the Middle East and whether such a strategy might influence how the war against terrorism is covered in the United States.
Wild Thing’s comment……..
I have not mentioned the kidnapping of Fox News reporter Steve Centanni and his free-lance cameraman, Olaf Wiig, because it was my understanding that Fox was working hard to negotiate a release of these men.
I am not a patient person and so in war I know I have to go into the patient mode and I can handle that. But this is different and I have thought about these men every day since they were kidnapped. Not saying one word on my blog about them trying to be supportive of the negotiations. I still am supportive but I am no longer going to keep silent.
I am not the only one that has decided to speak out about this, Michelle Malkin, Ace of Spades . Riehl World, and others are speaking out about it as well.
For their families you are in my prayers.
I hope and pray Steve Centanni and his cameraman Olaf Wiig may be recovered safely.
I think that the terrorists were pissed off at Fox for telling the truth. For the human pieces of flesh that have kidnapped these men there is a special place in hell for you and I hope you get there soon.
Curtis Lemay had the right philosophy only the wrong war, I’d support that philosophy in Palestine, hell, all of the MiddleEast.You can’t negotiate with madmen, pull the lanyard on these slime.
I seldom watch any of the news, broadcast or cable. I did not know the media was not covering this abduction. Have they given any updates on that female news reporter who was so b adly wounded by an IED, or did she die?
Jack I agree, no one can can’t negotiate with madmen.
Tom she is alive and doing good.
But these two that were kidnapped there has been nothing. I just hope that doing it the way Fox has been working on it is working. But no words about it at all. The families of the journalits have made pleas for their returns.