 | Filed under 'Europe' to fit with the companion piece. Fred, I think it's pretty clear now that the US was played on this one, though I also didn't make the connection last week. The Germans caved, and with Ms. Osthoff vowing to go back, my question is: do the jihadis have anyone else in a German prison that they want released? |
Cairo - Archeologist and ex-hostage Susanne Osthoff who was freed two weeks ago in Iraq told Al Jazeera on Monday that she will return to the war-torn country.
Dismissing the threats foreign nationals are subject to in Iraq, Osthoff expressed her wish to continue her work as a bargaining chip archeological work on Iraqi sites.
Osthoff said she was well-treated by her kidnappers, especially after she discussed with them the fact that Germany is not part of the war coalition. Her abductorsâ realization that she was not a political figure eventually led to her release.
| That and getting their pal sprung from prison. And the money. |
She told Al Jazeera that her captors had first to verify her identity first and when they learned she was an archeologist, they transferred her to a safer and cleaner location. âWhen I spoke Arabic, they knew I was not their enemy and they had to return me to my embassy,â she said.
| I'd be curious to know what she said in Arabic. |
But her kidnappers wanted to make use of her being in their custody anyway, she said. They told her they did not want money, but did request Germany provide humanitarian aid to build schools and hospitals in the Sunni triangle. âI was glad because they were not criminals seeking money,â she said.
"They just wanted to get their comrade cousin released from that awful prison back home. And they wanted money for guns and ammo a hospital. They're just mis-understood, that's all," she added. |
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