John Cantlie Gets a Day Pass From ISIS Jail

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Mon Oct 27, 2014 at 07:58:36 PM EST
Tags: John Cantlie, ISIS, Syria, Iraq (all tags)

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ISIS hostage John Cantlie was let of out of ISIS jail to take a road trip to Kobane to make a new video. He also got to shed his orange jumpsuit and wear a nice black shirt.

You can view the video at Daily Motion here. Cantlie is quite animated as he shows off Kobane in the background and explains why the U.S. and its coalition won't succeed in controlling Kobane.

His hair is longer, and while his face appears haggard, his mood is quite upbeat and his delivery is very enthusiastic. He's either gotten quite adept at using a teleprompter, or he's a naturally gifted speaker who doesn't need one. If we didn't know he was a hostage, he could easily be taken for a network news reporter.

What would account for his enthusiasm? Perhaps ISIS rewarded him for his video work with a get out jail free card, rather than just a day pass. I hope so.

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John Cantlie Gets a Day Pass From ISIS Jail | 23 comments (23 topical)

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I feel deeply for Cantlie (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 02:06:05 PM EST

Certain he's so terrified he will never fully recover even if they ever do release him.

As for Kobane/Kobani and what ISIL controls there, the video is pure propaganda. Investigative journalist Paul Cruickshank says that factions supporting ISIL will now begin to peel off and instead join the anti-ISIS/ISIL coalition because the region sides in the fight based on momentum.

This video is only about ISIL losing the momentum. And they are the ones who propagandized Kobane until it became iconic and emblematic. Now they have placed poor John Cantlie up there because a video with him in it will get more Western press. ISIL is desperate to be perceived as having momentum, but they don't. And now that the power is shifting, I expect the coalition to really pick up the pace in aiding the Kurds of Kobane and destroying ISIL in the region.

I hope you're right MT (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Jack203 on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 08:56:24 PM EST

about the different Sunni factions peeling off of ISIS if they are defeated in Kobani.

It has turned into a huge propaganda battle. By all accounts ISIS is suffering heavy losses. This is a great opportunity to hand them a major defeat.

The biggest wildcard is Turkey who is now publicly claiming they want the FSA to control Kobani. IMO, it is nonsensical to think Turkey would have saved the Kurds in Kobani. Even with the airstrikes, if we weren't putting heavy pressure on Turkey, Kobani would have fallen by now.


: Peter Clifford online (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 09:06:31 PM EST

Reports rumors that the UK has SAS on the ground since yesterday to guide coalition airstrikes against ISIL. Turkey is allowing fresh Peshmerga troops with heavy artillery to join YPG via the border crossing Wednesday morning.....technically right now.

: And Paul Cruikshank (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 09:21:27 PM EST

Said that ISIL had a faction of 150 fresh fighters that were supposed to be traveling to Kobane to join the fight. He predicted that faction would change its mind and not complete the journey once it was clear to them what the reality on the ground in Kobane was.

: According to Twitter #Kobane (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by Militarytracy on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 09:45:26 PM EST

The Peshmerga arrived at the Mursitpinjar gate 40 minutes ago.

I'm guessing (5.00 / 1) (#9)
by Jack203 on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 08:27:57 PM EST

Cantlie will not be released because of his performance. We can always hope though. A strong performance may save his life however. He is just trying to survive day to day.

What would account for his enthusiasm? Seriously?

odd to see those 'mouse marks' (none / 0) (#1)
by ZtoA on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 05:22:39 AM EST

on the video. Thank you again J for all of your posts which amount to reporting on this subject. (not optimal for those of us who have insomnia tho! ha). Good input tho!!! Sweet dreams......

IMO he is a very gifted natural speaker. You always ask the deeper questions tho.

: Utter terror (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by jondee on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 01:30:19 PM EST

and desperation have been known to be a great motivators.
As Samuel Johnson said, impending doom focuses the mind.

it's so difficult to understand such hate... (none / 0) (#4)
by fishcamp on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 02:31:52 PM EST

Really? (none / 0) (#5)
by bocajeff on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 02:40:18 PM EST

Do you understand it? (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by fishcamp on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 02:47:48 PM EST

: Well, (none / 0) (#22)
by bocajeff on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 11:51:54 PM EST

If you are told that "X" is the reason for all evil in the world then you will probably end up hating "X". I think there is something inside almost every human which seeks to understand why bad things happen, and they hate those things. Sometimes rationally, sometimes irrationally.
The reason I'm not surprise at the hate is because the people doing the hating don't see it as hate. They see it as getting rid of the bad things.
I am in no way excusing it or condoning it. Just curious as to why some are surprised by the level of evil amongst us.

David Caruso (5.00 / 2) (#7)
by jondee on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 02:48:26 PM EST

could do a passable King Lear if he were threatened with further torture and a sure slow, terrifying death..


what kind of a lame one word (none / 0) (#8)
by fishcamp on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 03:08:44 PM EST

game are you playing bocajeff? I said what I meant. What do you mean ?


: bocajeff, are you out there? (none / 0) (#10)
by fishcamp on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 08:28:17 PM EST

Whose (none / 0) (#19)
by lentinel on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 10:33:01 AM EST

hate are you referring to?

If it's a portion of the Muslim world's view toward us, I can think of a few reasons....

If it's our hatred towards them, I can think of a few reasons for that too...


: lentinel, yes I too can think (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by fishcamp on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 11:36:11 AM EST

of many varieties of hate from both sides, but I wondered what bocajeff's word, really, with a question mark meant. But he must not know since he won't answer. That's ok. Like Donald says, dogs bark, and the caravan passes.

An unfortunate (none / 0) (#15)
by Jack203 on Tue Oct 28, 2014 at 11:15:35 PM EST

but distinct possibility is John Cantlie dying in Kobani. Either by our air strikes or by ISIL saying it was us.

I hope not.

: That may be why SAS is on the ground (none / 0) (#16)
by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 08:15:23 AM EST

Now guiding the strikes. They have the ability to read heat signatures in buildings and attempt to avoid that by gathering intelligence before they okay a strike. Doesn't mean that won't still happen if he is there.
Me, I think he had been long removed from the area before they released the video. The video is believed to have been filmed between the 12th and the 16th.

: Reports that the FSA is (none / 0) (#17)
by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 08:37:48 AM EST

Being allowed through in greater numbers. Just as many Peshmerga want to join but only 150 through so far. If the YPG can become more bonded with the FSA in protecting the innocent from ISIL, then maybe one more group conflict in the region may find enough resolution to sit at the table together and not feed ISIL.

Strange photograph (none / 0) (#18)
by Militarytracy on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 10:02:35 AM EST

In a series of photos from Kobane in this article mostly dealing with FSA and Peshmerga fighters arriving in Kobane. In one photo a driver is wearing an American flag on his uniform. His face is covered, and I know that is because he is driving an open air vehicle in the dust...but why is he wearing the American flag?

He's wearing the flag so you don't (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by Mr Natural on Wed Oct 29, 2014 at 08:25:18 PM EST

look too closely at the boots.


: It somewhat concerned me (none / 0) (#23)
by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 30, 2014 at 08:15:45 AM EST

I asked. I had forgotten that whenever anyone is representing the United States in combat there is a new flag patch now. It isn't colorized, it is the flag in black and white probably made to be more easily identified at night as well as day. So most likely this is an Iraqi Kurd expressing U.S. sentiment. I thought maybe he was seeking a way to be more easily identified as a coalition member but the Iraqi Kurds are not supposed to be in direct combat, only logistic support.