NBC News' Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and members of his network production team were captured and held in Syria for five days, but are now safe and unharmed. They spoke about their ordeal on the "Today" show this morning.
Note, Engel said he had a "very good idea" about who his captors were: members of the "shabiha" militia, loyal to Assad, trained by the Iran's Revolutionary Guard and allied with Lebanon-based group Hezbollah.
Savannah Guthrie summarized the sentiments of many at the end of the interview: "We are just profoundly grateful to see you this morning. I think we can just take a moment to say how loved you are by this organization and how thankful we all are that you're here with us."
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Richard Engel is the best. I have always admired the accuracy and insightfulness of his reporting. He gets it right!
I am thankful that he and his crew are safe.
XOXXOXOXOX for Richard Engel. Such a sigh of relief over here.
I know you had to do the blackout, but ordinary PEOPLE who worry about him and want to be praying and lighting candles for him felt like they couldn't talk about it either, and that was a new and odd constraint. Are we people or are we media?
And do you suppose, Richard, that you could stay in Turkey for a while longer this time, or maybe take some downtime in the States?
Nobody is superhuman, tho you often appear so.
Seriously, NBC did that to protect him. Would you knowing about him at that time have done any good? Certainly, you can pray without notification.
Of course, but since when are ordinary PEOPLE subject to a MEDIA blackout?
Online is our water cooler. Is it a publishing medium, or a discussion board? It's like telling folks they can't talk about Richard at the beauty parlor or barbershop, or over lunch at work.
OTOH, in WWII, Civil Defense did engage the public in window blackouts from potential bombers. So I guess there is that kind of precedent, in meatspace.
If 'ordinary PEOPLE' know about what's going on, then the people who aren't supposed to know, like the trigger happy kidnappers, know too. There are things you really don't need to know. That is why there are state secrets sometimes.
That's my problem. I refuse to accept the idea of some kind of "big daddy" paternalistic state out doing secret things "for my own good." On principle. It's the antithesis of small-d democracy. The antithesis of government in the sunshine.
And when you unpack the assumptions behind most paternalism, authoritarianism, etc. mostly what it is about is consolidating power and influence, with a smidgen of noblesse oblige thrown in for a nice cover.
Goddess save me from all these "big daddies" in the sky who are just dying to pat me on the head and tell me, "Don't worry, we'll take care of all those hard things for you. Those kinds of things are just too difficult for democracies to think about."
Poohey!
I've been seriously worried for Richard Engel's safety for years...he's always in harm's way, reporting from the most dangerous places on earth and doing a really great job. He really should get a medal, and so should his loved ones, who must be nervous wrecks!
Richard Engel is one of very few "foreign correspondents"- Christian Amanpour is another- who know what they are doing in very dangerous places.
Kudos.
Richard Engel is one of the brightest and most intelligent journalists and someone I respect.Your reporting and your knowledge and respect for the various cultures is incredible. I am grateful that you and your crew are safe and unharmed.
Amen!
Richard Engel is not only very good at what he does, he must be the luckiest man on the planet.
So glad this turned out well -- I think we all needed some good news right about now.
Now, if we can just keep him safe (ok, well, safer)? I know I'm being selfish, but I want more people to survive to 2013 than the current trends are predicting.
Thank you, Richard Engel and crew, for all you do to keep us informed. For all the risk you take as a reporter, please know that it is appreciated. We need to know about the world as you report it to us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Frightening, but now relieved. I always worry about Richard Engel - he's so often in the thick of things that are incredibly dangerous, doing incredible work. Thank God he and his crew are safe. They all deserve a rest and vacation.
Richard Engel you don't know me, but I've seen your reporting and I am happy that you are safe and home again. Welcome back!
Absolutely wonderful news!
Glad you're all safe. Now please spend some time HOME with your families!
So very glad to hear this. Richard is one of the only reporters out there who I trust to tell us exactly what is going on in that region of the world. Stay safe Richard and team!
Engel is one of the very few people on the TV machine that when he explains something I believe what he says. I am so glad he and his team are safe.
Glad to see everyone is safe.
and finally, some good news
Whew! Finally, some good news to wake up to.
Meanwhile I'm just amazed at the professionalism Rachel and all her colleagues displayed going on with their shows while they must have been terrified for him and his crew. Best wishes to everyone and very glad they're safe.
You said it Nicole. Keeping it together while one of your own is "the news" ...
I'm SO glad you and your crew are safe and that NBC did such a good job of keeping the whole thing quiet, which was absolutely necessary.
You ALWAYS impress me with your knowledge and your bravery, and it would have been terrible if anything had happened to you or the people with you.
Richard Engel is one of the most respected journalists in the world, and I am glad that he and his entire crew are safe. Sometimes we forget what these people do and the danger they put themselves in to get to the truth for us, sitting safely at home.
This country is indebted to the invaluable work that Richard does.
...breathing a heavy sigh of relief right now.
I can only join in the comments already posted. Thank you all for what you do and so happy to hear everyone is safe.
I know Rachel and the entire TRMS staff are close with Richard Engel and his staff. I can hardly imagine what you all have been through, seeing some of what we all fear come to light. Thoughts with you all and very glad those involved are physically safe.
I can only express my shock as well as relief reading this. So glad Richard Engel and his crew are okay (as okay as they can be right now, but they're alive at least) and safe. Pretty much echo-ing what everyone else here has already said, but it bares repeating, over and over.
Thank you for what you do. Thank you. My thoughts are with you and your families as you recover from this.
It is great to see him back.
I wonder when he is going to get a desk job? I have often thought what an adrenaline junkie he must be.