4 New York Times Journalists Disappear in Libya
- Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:32pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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NEW YORK (AP) — Four New York Times journalists disappeared while reporting on fighting in Libya, the newspaper said Wednesday.
Editors at the newspaper said they last heard from the journalists on Tuesday as they were covering the retreat of rebels from the town of Ajdabiya. Libyan officials told the newspaper they are trying to locate the four, executive editor Bill Keller said in a statement.
“We are grateful to the Libyan government for their assurance that if our journalists were captured they would be released promptly and unharmed,” Keller said.
The missing journalists are Pulitzer-Prize-winning reporter Anthony Shadid, the newspaper’s Beirut bureau chief; Stephen Farrell, a reporter and videographer; and photographers Tyler Hicks and Lynsey Addario. In 2009, Farrell was kidnapped by the Taliban and later rescued by British commandos.
“Their families and their colleagues at The Times are anxiously seeking information about their situation, and praying that they are safe,” Keller said.
The White House on Wednesday urged the Libyan government to refrain from harassing or using violence against journalists. Obama spokesman Jay Carney said the United States is firm in its belief that journalists should be protected and allowed to do their work.
Pro-Gadhafi forces have largely gained control of Ajdabiya after two days of relentless shelling but still face pockets of resistance in the city of 140,000 people. Habib al-Obeidi, a doctor at Jalaa Hospital in Benghazi, said that a colleague in Ajdabiya had told him 25 people were killed when pro-Gadhafi forces opened fire on civilian cars fleeing the city. That report could not be independently confirmed.
The breakdown in rebel defenses in Ajdabiya threatened to open the gateway to the long stretch of eastern Libya that has been in the control of the opposition, including Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest city and the de facto capital of the opposition.
In September 2009, Farrell and Sultan Munadi, an Afghan journalist and interpreter who worked regularly with the Times and other news organizations, were taken hostage when they went to cover the aftermath of a NATO airstrike that killed scores of civilians in northern Afghanistan.
Munadi and a British commando died in the raid that rescued Farrell, a Briton. British forces said they had to leave Munadi’s body behind because they were coming under such heavy fire.
In 2008, New York Times reporter David Rohde was kidnapped while trying to make contact with a Taliban commander in Afghanistan. Rohde and an Afghan colleague escaped in June 2009 after seven months in captivity, most spent in Taliban sanctuaries in Pakistan.
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Comments (112)
DallyWama
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:24pmMaybe they went incognito like Okeefe. We’ll see tapes that decry “Libyan Leader Upset After Donating To NPR”
Report Post »lawrench
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:24pmUnless it is a Fox reporter.
Report Post »paulusmaximus
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:22pmDont They know thier on their side no mater which side it is?
Report Post »SND97
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:18pmI pray these people get home safe and unharmed
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:14pmWell its along the lines of this joke…. What do you call a 1000 layers sitting at the bottom of the ocean? A: A good start.
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:12pmHow stupid do you have to be to go in that cesspool? I really don’t feel sorry for these people. Maybe these stupid liberals will realize these people are our ENEMIES.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:20pmKinda like those kids that went mountain climbing in N. Iraq and got taken by the Iranians. Feel bad for them but how stupid to play with fire!
Report Post »chuck_wagon
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:37pmNigel2, I’ve had my doubts about that story all along. It doesn’t make sense. Of all the world to go hiking in they chose Afghan/ Iran border. Really. I think Iran might have a legitimate beef on that one.
Report Post »TotalCredence
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:12pmNot missing, just misguided.
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:11pmYou are right. Glenn was actually described as a sick, twisted freak by Rosie, Roseanne or Whoopi…not sure which one. So, Glenn took that slam on him and turned it around to be a term of endearment. Now he makes money off it too. Pretty damn savvy if you ask me. :)
Report Post »Uriel
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:10pmThat’s too bad. ….. for the Libyans.
Report Post »GdavidH
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:25pmWHY?
Report Post »I’m sure no Libyan from either side gives a crap?
I just hope nobody gets hurt rescuing these guys. Not like it hasn’t happened before.
medeziner
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:08pmHas anyone checked the restrooms at the New York Times office building in New York. There reports do most of there research and story writing from there. I mean why face the danger of actually going to Libya when you can just rewrite stories posted on Al Jazeera.
Report Post »NHABE64
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:08pmI wish the entire Socialist Paper of the United States (formerly the New York Times) would completely disappear. I once read their paper on an airplane then used the front page for potty paper.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:33pmI find it leaves dingle berries. Not to be confused with POTUS Berry.
Report Post »Diablo4965
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:05pmTo bad one of them wasn’t Paul Krugman!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:17pmThat guy thinks he’s a foreign journalist if he leaves Manhattan!
Report Post »GdavidH
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:19pmHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
Report Post »Too bad
LadyIzShy
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:57pmmy prayers are with these reporters.. I hope they are found safe and sound. I do not wish harm even to the progressives at the NYT
Report Post »Rubicon Cross
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:56pmAnd the world is a better place for it…
Report Post »beckwill
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:51pmNah, Barry’s not making any sudden moves without consulting the Rev & Louie first.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:45pmPrayers for these guys. Let‘s hope this will spark O’Barry to give a crap about what’s happening in Libya.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:51pmHe’ll be right on it–just as soon as he finishes his NCAA brackets and gets back from Rio.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:54pmHe‘ll watch the CNN coverage while he’s in Rio this weekend. He’s on top of Libya, don’t you worry.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:09pmYeh, has to go to Rio to shake the hand of the revolutionary guerilla turned prisoner turned President of the country! Hear Hugo’s going to be there, too! Hey, they could have a revolutionary party.
Report Post »dcwu
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:38pmIs there money budgeted for return trip fuel?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:46pmWhere is the Presidential Golf stop this weekend?? Oh yeah, the Rio Presidents & Tyrants Open. In the foursome,. Barry Barack Hussein Obama Soetoro. 57 Handicap, Kim Sum ILL (The only golfer ever to have 18 holes in one in one round,). Hugo Chavez, Proclaimed himself ““WINNER ” already, Hosni Mo rounds out the group, Hillary in a Burka is caddying for him
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:08pmToo true NICKDERRINGER
Report Post »This is so odd nonetheless, NON? Does not Gadhafi and company know that the N.Y. Times are there BFF’s?
Does Gadhafi not know that the Editorial board at the Old Gray Lady only deals in propaganda?
I certainly hope that the 4 journalists are fine but Mon Cheri….,those four were certainly not enemies of Ghadafi’s Libya.
Could this be a situation so dire that even the New York Times cannot ignore the truth?!
Marylou7
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:45pmThis is absolutely terrible and I will pray for them BUT people PLEASE STAY OUT OF THESE COUNTRIES.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:44pmOh, Darn.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:38pmSend Geraldo Rivera over to look for them…please.
Report Post »Sinclare
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:12pmThat country has enough problems… I wouldn’t wish that man on my worst enemy, not to mention if he did disappear we would never hear the end of how he was such a great reporter he was…….
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:59pmThey would throw him back.
Report Post »Cherynn
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:38pmYou stick your head in a lions mouth and wonder why you get bit????
Report Post »aLinedog
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 1:49amI sympathize for the families, but in truth if you leave the United States there are no guarantees. It’s a wild world out there.
Report Post »And seriously, what these kids did was about as smart as my ******* ass walking through east LA, at night, then wondering why I’m getting my butt kicked. And Uncle Sam doesn’t send in the cavalry anymore. Sage wisdom, garnered from many years of life experience:
Do not go hiking and camping in a region populated by Racists.
Do not build nuclear reactors on a fault line. (yeah, im talking about you, California)
Do not eat the yellow snow.
That is all.
-line
OrdinaryCitizenForPresident.com
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:36pmHopefully, they’ll keep their heads.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:48pm…connected to their necks!
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:40pm@ show
That was perfect. I do pray that someone can get these guys out unharmed. Maybe the NYTs can because they certainly can’t depend on Obammy, he will not be available anyway he is going on Spring Break.
Report Post »aarondav
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:35pmThey’re probably having tea with Quadaffi….
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:21pmAre you telling me to walk 30 feet into that quicksand pit and ask the guy what it feels like to be up to his waste? OK!!!!
Report Post »Fina Biscotti
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:35pmLybia has taken control of 4 US citizens -
Iran has 2 US citizens……
Report Post »LetUsReason
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:41pmYeah, what ever happened to that girl that was supposed to go back to Iran after getting medical treatment? Sure left her fiance in the dust, literally I suppose, but I can’t really blame her, either. I don‘t expect we’ll see those two again, and I don’t have the most optimistic thoughts about these 4 in Libya. Angry Muslims aren’t exactly known for mercy or reason.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:49pmBarry learned from Carter’s mistakes. I guess he figures if he doesn’t talk about American hostages in Iran, they don’t exist. Seems the press agrees with him.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:45pm@Letusreason
No mercy is an understatement, and that is directed at the men; what they are capable of doing to a woman is beyond purest of savagry and barbarity.
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:19pmI’m sure the “journalists” are safe in the hands of Muslims….After all….religion of peace and tolerance.
Report Post »MeteoricLimbo
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:35pmI hope they are ok and didnt just run off
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:50pmThey ran off and joined the Taliban
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:33pmDUHHHHHHHHHH
Report Post »how come ? it’s a civilized country .
iheartusa
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:47pmSilent Watcher…that is a very strange response from the moderator. I am offended!
Report Post »GBMBulletsSKNRD
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:47pmIf I worked for the Times I would go missing to.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:49pmThat’s bad news even for the liberal New York Times!
Report Post »LAM2
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:50pmSilentWatcher
fyi — On his radio show, Glenn affectionately refers to his listeners as “sick, twisted freaks,” so that reference probably was not meant to be a personal slam or judgment of your post.
Haven’t read any of your posts, so I can’t comment on any other part of your note. Take care.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 2:52pmWait… The NYT supports these people, why are they worried? It’s those racist, dangerous Tea partiers that are a concern.
Note:With that said, I hope they are safe.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:00pmMy first reaction was that to use New York Slime & journalist/ism in the same sentence is laughable, I doubt if many NYT folks believe in God, so to hear they are praying leads me to raise an eyebrow, but I will pray for their safety.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:19pmModerator? You are joking right?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:22pmDon’t worry, don’t worry, Islam is a peaceful religion. I‘m sure they won’t molest Lynsey, but Farrell is pushing his luck.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:32pmSooo .. does this mean Obama has picked a “side” in Libya .. … after the NCAA … and Rio is he going to “get tough” … ROFL …. okay okay .. I do hope the jouranlists are safe and that they are NOT counting on Obama and will soon be found safe ….
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:45pmI hope they are safe also
Report Post »but with that said what the he$$ were they doing in a war zone
I know getting the news
dumb is as dumb does
exdem
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:52pmYou reap what you sow???
Report Post »What goes around comes around??
Karma’s a bit@h??
Therightsofbilly
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 3:55pmI did not know that they had any “Jounalists” at the Times.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 4:39pmoh well….life goes on…
Report Post »stifroc
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 5:03pmThe important thing to remember in the midst of this crisis is this… Obama picked Kansas, Ohio State, Pitt, and Duke in his final 4 bracket.
BOOM! WINNING!
Report Post »IntrepidSI
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 6:32pmWhat do you call 4 New York Times reporters missing?
A Good Start!
Report Post »billy555
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:22pmthe 4 missing journalists is our reason to install the no fly zone……lets do it
Report Post »ggr1868
Posted on March 16, 2011 at 11:28pmNew Headline: NY TIMES MAKES FOX NEWS AUTHORS DISAPPEAR FROM THE BEST SELLER LIST!
Report Post »restorehope
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 12:41amOf course we all want the reporters to come home safely. That said, expect the White House to go all out to find them. After all, the NY Times is one of Obama‘s biggest fans and he’s got to keep those adoring columns coming. Too bad Obama has ignored the plight of other US private citizens who faced peril, such as the 2 young hikers currently being held in an Iranian prison or the 4 senior citizens slaughtered by the Somalian pirates.
Report Post »butler180
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 1:27amI hope they are all right. Hopefully they just got lost and will be in contact with their office ASAP.
Report Post »Pray for all in the war zone
SonOfaCommunist
Posted on March 17, 2011 at 12:49pmHey we’re going into a hostile country! No one will touch us because we’re special…we’re from the New York Times, blah, blah, blah.
You’d think after all the nice things the New York Times has said about Libya and Gadhafi, the 4 journalist would have had the RED carpet treatment.
Who knows, maybe they‘re just hangin’ with Johnny Gadhaf!
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on March 18, 2011 at 9:19ammaybe they are just “guests” of kadaffhi?
Report Post »