re: re:wood's release!! a negotiated deal??>
Heaps of different versions going around as to how this played out based on this article it was just luck that Wood was found when he was
Maybe as Hilaly is reported to have stated that Woods was moved to this house he was found in prior to being released, Maybe Hilaly's involvement bought Woods more time and if he had not got involved Woods would have been found in a gutter weeks ago minus his head
Maybe Hilaly's involvement had sweet F/A to do with the outcome
Maybe the involvement of DFAT and the Australian hostage team made no difference.
Regardless if any invividual's or group's efforts were mainly responsible or made no difference at all, they still deserve praise for effort put in.
Even Hilaly, his efforts in regards to Woods IMO do not suddenly make him a good guy but credit were credit is due
Firefight as Wood rescued From correspondents in Baghdad, Iraq June 16, 2005 BRIGADIER General Jaleel Khalaf Shewi, commander of the Iraqi brigade which rescued Australian hostage Douglas Wood, said a brief firefight had taken place during the operation.
Brig-Gen Shewi said his troops had learned of "suspect activity" in a Baghdad house and carried out a cordon and search operation.
Once inside, they heard English being spoken and discovered Mr Wood under a blanket with his hands bound.
Asking who the man was, they were told by those holding him: "This is our father, he is sick."
The general said soldiers took up combat positions and a brief firefight with insurgents on a rooftop followed, but no casualties were suffered on either side.
The militants were taken "completely by surprise", he said.
A US military adviser to the 1st Iraqi Army Brigade's commander said the discovery of Mr Wood had been unexpected.
US military officers said the Iraqi soldiers had effectively "stumbled across Wood" during a "routine" raid on a suspected insurgent weapons cache.
"Iraqi soldiers ... discovered Wood and an Iraqi hostage in the northwest Baghdad neighborhood of Al-Adel while conducting a planned cordon-and-search operation for a weapons cache," said a statement.
Three people were arrested during the operation, which also resulted in the release of an Iraqi hostage.
