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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/21/john-cantlie-failed-us-attempt-rescue-isis-hostages-raqqa-video
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| John Cantlie speaks about failed US attempt to rescue hostages in Isis video | |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Jihadis have released a video of British hostage and journalist John Cantlie speaking about a failed US raid to save him and five fellow captives from months of imprisonment. | Jihadis have released a video of British hostage and journalist John Cantlie speaking about a failed US raid to save him and five fellow captives from months of imprisonment. |
| Speaking from behind a desk and dressed in an orange jumpsuit, the freelance photojournalist, who has previously explained that he is speaking under duress, blames the British prime minister, David Cameron, for not going far enough to help him. | |
| In the seventh installment released so far in a “series” entitled Lend Me Your Ears, Cantlie says that Islamic State (Isis) militants were put into cars and moved days before a US raid on 4 July to save the hostages. | |
| Speaking to camera, Cantlie who has worked for the Sunday Times, castigates the US government for mounting the raid instead of initiating prisoner release negotiations or paying for his release. | Speaking to camera, Cantlie who has worked for the Sunday Times, castigates the US government for mounting the raid instead of initiating prisoner release negotiations or paying for his release. |
| “I will tell you about a failed raid to rescue us and how it feels to be left for dead by your own government. | “I will tell you about a failed raid to rescue us and how it feels to be left for dead by your own government. |
| “On July 4, Independence Day, the Americans did try to get us out of prison. Not by negotiation or prisoner exchange but by an incredibly complex, risky and expensive rescue attempt that failed,” Cantlie says in the video. | “On July 4, Independence Day, the Americans did try to get us out of prison. Not by negotiation or prisoner exchange but by an incredibly complex, risky and expensive rescue attempt that failed,” Cantlie says in the video. |
| He says that two dozen Delta Force commandos, Black Hawk helicopters, drones and fighter jets were involved in the rescue, adding “but we weren’t there”. | He says that two dozen Delta Force commandos, Black Hawk helicopters, drones and fighter jets were involved in the rescue, adding “but we weren’t there”. |
| “Why would you put all those lives in danger when you could have peacefully negotiated?” Cantlie asks. | “Why would you put all those lives in danger when you could have peacefully negotiated?” Cantlie asks. |
| In August the US administration released details of the failed night-time mission in Raqqa which had been authorised by the president. The Cantlie video provides no further details beyond those released at that time. | |
| Over the weekend an Isis militant, thought to be from the UK, was seen standing over the severed head of US aid worker Peter Kassig in a village north of Aleppo. Kassig and four other now dead US and UK hostages are understood to have been held captive alongside Cantlie. | |
| Last month, Cantlie was seen delivering a “report” from the Syrian border town of Kobani showing how Isis militants were “mopping up” and on the verge of defeating Kurdish rebels. This latest release is a return to previous form. Graphics tweeted by Isis propagandists suggest there will be two further videos to come. | |
| Cantlie says the UK and US’s policy to not pay for the release of captives has meant that the six hostages were “left to die”. | Cantlie says the UK and US’s policy to not pay for the release of captives has meant that the six hostages were “left to die”. |
| “It’s the worst feeling in the world being left behind like that,” he says. “To be left behind so cynically by the country you thought you knew – is some kind of ultimate betrayal. | “It’s the worst feeling in the world being left behind like that,” he says. “To be left behind so cynically by the country you thought you knew – is some kind of ultimate betrayal. |
| “You spend your whole life working, paying taxes, not getting into trouble with the police … paying your bills and for what? The first time you need your country … they turn their back.” | |
| He adds he did not want Cameron’s sympathy and would have instead preferred for negotiations to have worked. | He adds he did not want Cameron’s sympathy and would have instead preferred for negotiations to have worked. |
| Making clear the threat to his life, Cantlie added at the end that he was against intervention. “I will continue to speak out against this military action … for as long as the mujahideen allow me to live.” | Making clear the threat to his life, Cantlie added at the end that he was against intervention. “I will continue to speak out against this military action … for as long as the mujahideen allow me to live.” |
| His father Paul who recently passed away after battling illness and Cantlie’s sister Jessica have made public appeals to Isis to reopen dialogue and ensure his safe return. | His father Paul who recently passed away after battling illness and Cantlie’s sister Jessica have made public appeals to Isis to reopen dialogue and ensure his safe return. |