Background: earlier this month Clarissa Ward, their
international military reporter (who generally does
a good job) was with a camera crew, along with some
minders from the New Group In Charge, walking through
the newly liberated [a] Syrian prison.
They came to a locked cell door and saw some blankets inside.
Thinking there might be a body, or a live prisone.. under
them, her escorts shot the lock off (not on camera),
they entered, and found a person under the blankets.
A male, approx age mid 30's (hard to tell), loosely dressed.
Didn't appear to be in any major distress as they stood him
up and walked him out.
Ms. Ward translated the Arabic discussion saying he claimed
he had been a prisoner for 3 months , and hadn't been fed
any food or water for a week.
When they walked him outside he looked at the sky and
said (again, as translated by Ms. Ward) that he thought
he'd never see the sun again.
....
The minute this aired people (including me) had doubts.
Basically he looked damn good for someone who hadn't
eaten/drinken for a week, let alone three months. Good
haircut, half decent clothing, etc.
So now... CNN (transcribed from a screen grab):
"No one other than the CNN team was aware of our plans to
visit the prison building featured in our report that day.
The events transpired as they appear in our film.
"The decision to release the prisoner featured in our report was
taken by the guard-a Syrian rebel. We reported the scene as it
unfolded, including what the prisoner told us, with clear attribution.
"We have subsequently been investigating his background and are aware that
he may have given a false identity. We are continuing our reporting into
this and the wider story."
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