Update: Mr. Johnson has been beheaded. Details here.

**************
This is very sad. American Paul Johnson, kidnapped in Saudi Arabia a few days ago, appears blindfolded in a video made available on an Islamic website. CNN reports:

The gunmen threatened to kill the man within 72 hours unless their demands are met. In the four-and-a-half minute videotape, which was extensively edited, Johnson spoke for 25 seconds, identifying himself by name. "I'm an American out of the United States. ... I work on a Apache helicopter," he said, stumbling over some of the words.

Both the Saudis and the U.S. have policies of non-negotiation with terrorists. Thus, it is unlikely they will meet the demands of the kidnappers to free "the mujahedeen held in the prisons in Haer, Ar-Ruwais and Allecha within 72 hours." The kidnappers say they will kill Mr. Johnson if their demands aren't met.

CNN has aired the tape on television.

[comments now closed]