A Rope and a Prayer: A Kidnapping from Two Sides Review

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A Rope and a Prayer: A Kidnapping from Two Sides ReviewOn a morning in November of 2008, David Rohde a NY Times journalist, set out with an Afghan journalist to interview a Taliban commander. This was to be a safe interview, but as it is known, the risks are always there. David was kidnapped. David, the Afghan journalist and the driver were all taken by car over many hours to an unknown place somewhere in Afghanistan. David's wife of two months, Kristen, a photography director, for a well known magazine, was working on a project when she received word from David's brother, Lee, that he had been kidnapped. This is their story from each of their perspectives.
David was treated well. He was never beaten, was fed well, given water and housing but was held hostage. It is believed that the Pashtun tribe wanted to negotiate for money, millions of dollars and exchange for other terrorists. Kristen became involved immediately with the FBI, the NY times administration and owners, the State Department, security companies and various journalists and others who had been involved in previous kidnappings. Their story is one that ended happily, but the seven months that David was kept hostage were filled with woe and fear and extreme times for Kristen and their families. She spoke daily with government officials, kept in touch with family and at one point her mother came to stay with her, to help keep her spirits buoyed. Their experiences are well documented, and they both share their emotional highs and lows and how they kept themselves together.
An important aspect of this story is that David's kidnapping was kept secret. It was felt that would give them a better stance in negotiation. At one point Al Jazeera had a video that had been sent by the kidnappers and showed it on their channel, but once it was found and a request was made to redact the video, they complied. Many people knew about David's kidnapping, but they kept it close. Kristen and David's brother, Lee, became the center of the world that revolved around David. They made decisions after involving family and their close confidents. Kristen particularly felt that Sec Of State Clinton, Richard Holbrooke, their security team and friends were the most helpful throughout the ordeal. Kristen found herself sifting through all of these people and the information they supplied. They were not sure who could be trusted and as time went on, they found their way.
One portion of the book that I found most helpful is the history of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan that David gives us. He keeps us privy to the region with his knowledge, and the history he has shared. The tribes and how they were formed and the history of the regions. It is helpful to be able to put names and tribes together with their regions. Background of the areas, the religions and the day to day tribal rituals was an added piece to try and understand, to give us a piece of how these Pakistani and Taliban live. David Rohde explains some of his beliefs and his knowledge of Pakistan and Afghanistan. David had been kidnapped years before for 10 days in Bosnia, but he found these seven months so very trying. He firmly believes that if he and Asad had not escaped, he would still be there as a hostage. In discussions after David got home, the negotiations seemed to be futile, and no one expected a positive outcome. David was held by the most hardline of the Taliban tribes. They firmly believed that they could control the entire region, they were radical in their beliefs and he is indeed lucky to have escaped.
David's escape is especially telling and forceful. The Pakistani Army received them with open arms after they understood who David was. They were very kind and generous. David was very surprised and pleased, but did not believe he was safe until the US Army flew him to Saudi Arabia. He reunited with Kristen, and they began their lives, anew.
A forceful book, full of factual history and emotionally laden at times. The day to day existence combined with the history of the region and interspersed with Kristins life in New York City. We see and understand the story from both sides, and it gives us great insight into these seven months. I find a renewed interest in the history of Afghanistan and Pakistan. A much more informed person about our war, and the people we are fighting for and with.
Highly Recommended. prisrob 12-16-10
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