Kidnapped CBS Journalist Freed In Iraq

Freelance Producer Working For 60 Minutes Rescued After 2 Months In Captivity

(CBS)  Iraqi troops rescued a British journalist for CBS News in the southern city of Basra on Monday two months after he was kidnapped, the Iraqi military said.

The dramatic rescue came on a day in which at least 37 people were killed or found dead nationwide.

Richard Butler was in good condition when he was found with a sack over his head and his hands tied inside a house, Lt. Gen. Mohan al-Fireji said. The discovery came during an Iraqi military sweep in the Jibiliya area, a Shiite militia stronghold in Basra, 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.

Butler was working as a producer for 60 Minutes when he was taken by gunmen, along with his Iraqi translator, from the Sultan Palace Hotel early on the morning of Feb. 10, 2008.

The translator was released several weeks ago.

CBS had refrained from releasing the men's identities or details surrounding their disappearance pending their safe release.

CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer says tension started to build quickly after the translator's release, as Butler remained missing and violence in Basra intensified.

Defense ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said that an army patrol conducting a search came under fire from the house where Butler was being held. One of the gunmen was wounded in an exchange of fire and another captured while two men escaped, he said.

Butler was later shown on Iraqi state television laughing and greeting his rescuers.

"Thank you and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and my friends at CBS and thank you again," Butler told al-Askari.

He described the soldiers' performance as "brilliant."

"The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and they burst through the door," Butler said. "I had my hood on, which I had to have on all the time, and they shouted something at me, and I pulled my hood off."

In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband welcomed Butler's release and said he was "very grateful to (Iraqi) security forces for the professionalism of the task they have undertaken."

He said Butler was in the care of the British consulate in Basra.

In New York, CBS News spokeswoman Sandy Genelius said the network was "incredibly grateful that our colleague ... has been released and is safe."

In recent days, Iraqi forces have started house-to-house sweeps for arms, weapons, drugs and criminal elements in several parts of Basra, Iraq's second-largest city. The military said it has uncovered an improvised explosive device factory, along with significant arms caches and numerous roadside bombs, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

Serious fighting in Basra has abated since a failed government offensive last month to dislodge militia groups. But sporadic violence has continued.

[borris007-2009]

If this CBS reporter was from Fox News, he''d probably be dead.

[jetlizhan]

wonderful news!! so happy for him and his family

[prinzowhales]

It would be nice to see the place where he was held and have learned something about his kidnappers.

[lilyred]

Congratulations to Iraqi forces. Good job!

[lilyred]

On Early Show, Harry says "release" due to negotiations.??? How about giving credit where credit is due, Harry, baby? Your reporter plainly states he was freed in an Iraqi forces raid...Defeatist at work.

[chloesteele]

thank goodness he''s free!!! was the al-ariya reporter his friend?

[airport1207]

welcome back.sir.

[pfd572]

Maybe some of the unpleasant critics who commented on the 1300 soldiers from yesterday''s story will be big enough to apologize or at least give credit where credit is due, put I doubt it. It was heartening to hear a positive story out of Iraq regarding the progress with the Iraqi security forces. It gives us hope that there might be a day when our troops will be able to turn over security to the Iraqi people.

[pfd572]

borris007: tacky, but definitely earns a ironic laugh. I did get a kick out of it.

[swwils]

I bet that guy is happy as hell to be cut loose by his captures.Many of those journalist have died over their in Iraq,and Afghanistan.He is lucky they didn''t post his beheading on the internet.

[jumkey]

lilyred, pfd572: why worry about reality? You people have been operating on fantasy and wishful thinking for about the last 8 years as far as I can tell.

Every defeat is a victory, every military action honorable, every civilian death unavoidable, every enemy a terrorist. So on the basis of one successful military operation all is good and happy and great and to he$$ with anything else.

Maybe you should explain your thinking about our glorious military misadventure to the families of the 19 American servicemen who died last week in Iraq.

[demslie]

You guys are a hoot. You think the Iraq Fiasco is some contest between you and the Dems.
You don''''t care how many dead American Soldiers it takes for you to save face.
You scour the news looking for any little thing you can try to call a victory - just to save face.
And the death of children, not yours, goes on...
Tell it to Jesus next time you see him....

Posted by FloydZepp

Does FloydZepp ever have anything to say other than Hate American, Hate The Military, Hate Christianity, Hate Bush. Like All Democrats, FloydZepp has never had a bad word to say for the Terrorists who strap bombs to children and send them out to murder and die for Islam. Somehow that is all America''s fault. Never would Democrats call for the prosecute a Islam Murderer but, If a terrorist claims an American Soldier did them harm, then the Democrats are right there to scream for the execution the entire military chain of command. And its the Angry Hateful endless Negatives of the Democrats that have McCain polling ahead of Obama and Hillary in most major news polls. The voters are tired of the Same Endless Anti-American Rants of IRAN, Al Qaeda and Their partners The Democrats.

[lilyred]

Amen, Bro...

Oh please Mr. Obama, come and scorn me too. Tell me all my faults so I can do my penance and make restitution. Tell me all about my ancestors and their past transgressions.

Then when you%u2019ve finished, point your scrawny %u201CSkeletor%u201D body to the east and walk until your hat floats.

[jumkey]

Obama? Democrats? Christianity? McCain love? ***???

Hehehe, I love this stuff...demslie does one of his standard stream-of-consciousness mindless rants - to which lilyred shouts with agreement and adds his own bile and crazy talk. Who''s next? Step right up with the stupid! All retards are welcome under the big Republican tent!!!

We''ve apparently reached the bottom of the wingnut barrel where the 10% dead-enders live, gibbering and drooling and $hitting all over themselves.

What a pathetic pack of losers you dummies are.

[far_point200]

This guy was in no danger once the Shiites found out he was working for 60 Minutes.

He was only detained for so long so Osama and Obama could reach him and give him "Sorry for the mistake... Keep up the good work!" congratulatory calls.

[michellem99-2009]

Freed..Look what happened to Miss Dozier..She paid the paid if my memory is right has hearing in one ear..I am pointing out how many more...THAT WAR IS OVER OIL..OIL..We talked about this in the 70s. We had no say in a war I want no part of..It over oil..I did not vote for Bush..I don''t care for Obama and it not that he is black/white he is groomed in the ways of Bush..I have family over there too.

[jumkey]

Hehehe...far_point200, another bottom feeder is heard from.

This is hysterical.

I realize your crazy drooling hatred stops you from reasoning, but do you think saying stupid $hit like "Obama is a terrorist" helps your cause? Or do you HAVE a cause, other than whatever was programmed into you by your handlers?

Whatever, guess what? Obama is going to be the next president of the United States. And you''re gonna have to live with this for 8 years.

And I love it.

[far_point200]

jumkey, I was just attempting satirical humor to point out liberal bias in the news media.

You, on the other hand, need a rabies shot!

[royalnavyman]

I worked with Richard in Basra and have the ultimate respect for him as a journalist and investigator. He is a dedicated and brave man and he is the last of a dying breed of TRUE investigative reporters. I look forwards to his and Lara Logans forthcoming documentary on the region. Good to see you are safe home mate. Take care, and well done for holding it together.

[royalnavyman]

I worked with Richard in Basra and have the ultimate respect for him as a journalist and investigator. He is a dedicated and brave man and he is the last of a dying breed of TRUE investigative reporters. I look forwards to his and Lara Logans forthcoming documentary on the region. Good to see you are safe home mate. Take care, and well done for holding it together.

[bgwinnett]

What about the 150,000 or so American soldiers who are also kidnapped in Iraq at the moment too?