by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 29, 2006
All Rights Reserved.

hen 60-year old Fox News journalist Steve Centanni and his 36-year-old New Zealand cameraman Olaf Wiig disappeared Aug. 13, the network confirmed its nightmare that the veteran team had been abducted by a shadowy Palestinian group. Feverish efforts were made by Fox News and U.S. authorities, pressing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and recently elected Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to secure their release. Both denied knowing their whereabouts or any specifics about the group responsible for the kidnapping. Ten days after their abduction, the group released a video showing the cross-legged journalists praising their captors for good treatment. Thirteen-days later, both men were handed over to PA officials, driven to a Gaza beach hotel and faced the mics along side Haniyeh, still playing like he didn't know the Palestinian kidnappers.

      Before Fox News could step in, Centanni faced the mics and exposed his ordeal and trauma. “I want to thank everybody. I am happy to be here. I hope that this never scares a single journalist from coming to Gaza to cover the story because the Palestinian people are very beautiful and kind-hearted,” said Centanni, displaying the extent of his “Stockholm Syndrome.” Instead of denouncing the terrorists, Centanni had nothing but kind words, warning reporters, “the world needs to know more about them, don't be discouraged.” Centanni was obviously delighted he didn't meet the same fate as civilian contractor Nick Berg, reportedly beheaded by Abu Musab Al Zarqawi May 11, 2005. Fortunately for Centanni, the U.S. military ended Al Zarqawi's rampage June 7, 2006. Centanni showed no antipathy for his captors, only concern for their cause—a clear sign of brainwashing.

      While Centanni praised his captors, reports surfaced about how he and Wiig were hogtied in painful positions, pushed face down on a concrete floor in a dark garage, deprived of food and water and forced, at gunpoint, to convert to Islam. “I'm a little emotional because this is overwhelming, but I'm fine,” adding, “I'm so happy to be freed,” said Centanni, oblivious to the extent of his psychological injuries. Overwhelming stress, including intense fear of death, causes the mind to bend and eventually snap, creating the mental gyrations responsible for making outrageous statements about his captors. Despite Al Zarqawi's death, Centanni and Wiig were acutely aware of Nick Berg and others, terrified about the outcome. Before Centani and Wiig can begin to recover from their nightmare, they need “critical incident debriefing,” a therapeutic form of deprogramming.

      Both Abbas' Palestinian Authority and Haniyeh's Hamas denied knowing the specific Palestinian faction responsible for the kidnapping. Yet a shadowy group calling itself “Holy Jihad Brigades” claimed responsibility for the abductions. PA claimed to have known the captors but refused to identify them. Hamas blamed the PA, accusing a faction of Abbas' Fatah militia of kidnapping the reporters to blackmail officials for money and favors. U.S. counsel-general in Jerusalem Jacob Walles told reporters that Abbas played an crucial role in winning the release of Centanni and Wiig. No one knows the concessions or ransom, if any, paid for their release. It was no accident that Haniyeh appeared together with Centanni and Wiig at their post-release new conference. Popular Resistance Commmittees—an alliance of Fatah and Hamas—claimed to negotiate the journalists' freedom.

      Abbas and Haniyeh find themselves strapped for cash, fighting for control over Palestinian society. Winning concessions and ransom from Western governments and publicly traded companies gives the groups instant cash. While denied by both groups, Western journalists fetch rich bounties from cash-strapped governments and terror groups. “I expressed my thanks to him [Abbas] on behalf of the American government and the American people for his assistance in securing the safe release of the two journalists,” said Walles, admitting the PA's role in extricating the journalists. While Haniyeh remained mum, he disputed the idea that Al Qaeda or foreign terroristd held the reporters, lending more support to the idea that the PA and Hamas were actively involved in the abductions. Believing otherwise doesn't explain Haniyeh's smiling face at the press conference.

      Going through living hell, Centanni and Wiig now suffer from the Stockholm Syndrome, having clearly embraced the Islamic cause, despite obvious mistreatment and torture. Victims of brainwashing are the last to recognize psychological injuries, adopting values and beliefs induced by what psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton calls “coercive persuasion.” Lifton studied Chinese thought reform and knows the systematic application of prolonged fear causes otherwise healthy personalities to disintegrate, leaving normal individuals susceptible to indoctrination. “We were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint,” Centanni admitted. “Don't get me wrong here. I have the highest respect for Islam . . .” revealing that, despite his release from captivity, he still identifies and sympathize with his captors. Before Centanni and Wiig return to work, they need some serious deprogramming.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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