Hostage Recalls Basra Kidnapping Ordeal

60 Minutes: CBS News Producer Was Held By Gunmen For Months In Southern Iraqi City

(CBS)  The city was on the verge of a humanitarian crisis, with no end in sight.

The Iraqi army was unprepared to fight the well-armed militants, who quickly took the upper hand in the battle. What's more, at least 2,000 Iraqi soldiers deserted in sympathy with the militias.

The Iraqis were desperate, and turned to the U.S. for help. Eight hundred American soldiers joined the battle, along with U.S. advisors. U.S. bombers provided critical air support.

"I heard the American jets scream over the top. And then I heard the sickening sound of the house down the street being reduced to rubble. And that's when I really got worried," Butler remembered.

"When the bombs started falling?" Logan asked.

"Yeah. 'Cause there's nothing I could do about that," Butler explained.

The bombs missed the militia's safe house where Butler was being kept. The U.S. effort forced the militias to put down their arms, and they called for a ceasefire, sparing the Iraqi army a humiliating defeat.

With the Iraqi army finally in control of Basra, images of militia leaders were slashed, a sign the people were happy they were no longer in charge.

Two weeks later, Iraqi soldiers stormed the house where Butler was being held.

"I told him I'm a British hostage. And then the second soldier said, 'You're safe now. Come with me. Come with me. You're safe.' And he pulled me through the door, and down the corridor. And there's a lot of gunfire in the corridor. He was firing with his left hand, up the staircase, down the corridor. And at the same time, he's got his arm around me, almost lifting me off the ground, to move down. I mean, my legs were so stiff, you know, to suddenly need to move quickly like that," Butler said.

His legs were stiff because he had been tied up. "And he took me out into the street," Butler remembered. "And we hugged. And he was giving me cigarettes, packets of cigarettes not one at a time and then everybody started giving me cigarettes. And they're coming up and slapping me on the back, and saying, 'Good, you know, Iraqi Army good' and thumbs up. And several people said to me, 'This is the new Iraq.' Which was quite emotional."

[rrozsa-2009]

Thank you, CBS, for finally showing a news story that actually shows the positive aspects of the war in Iraq! The improvement in women's rights alone is something I wish we heard more about in the media.

[notblue]

Most likely he would have been beheaded as the rest before him but in his case there must have been monetary gain for his release. Those who think he was better off with the militants doesn't give those savages enough credit or is just ignorant to the reality of what happens to their prisoners.

[nor-one]

What's all the crying about? It could have been worse, he could have been in Gitmo or Abu Grave? And for seven years at that!

[notblue]

Iraq is a success despite what the leftwing news outlets and the libs claim. It is no longer in the news because of that success. THe troops should be proud, America should be proud, we now ghave an allie in the heart of the middle east where once an enemy ruled.

[jkutilek1]

It is an interesting story about the changes in Iraq. I suddenly realized that the release of Butler took place in the spring of 2008. I don't think that story would have appeared on 60 minutes if Bush was still in office.