Wood: Rescue Shows Policy Working

Douglass Wood, the Aussie recently freed from captivity in Iraq, has returned home and has had some choice statements regarding his capture and rescue.

The Australian hostage held captive for nearly seven weeks in Iraq before being freed last week has said his rescue by Iraqi troops is a sign that U.S. and Australian policies are working.

“I actually believe that I am proof positive that the current policy of training the Iraqi army — of recruiting, training and buddying them worked — because it was the Iraqis that got me out,” Douglas Wood told reporters in Melbourne after returning to Australia Monday morning.

The 64-year-old engineer also apologized to U.S. President George W. Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard for statements he made at gunpoint in a DVD his captors released to the news media.

On the DVD, Wood pleaded for Australian, U.S. and British troops to withdraw from Iraq.

[…]

Wood was kidnapped April 30 and released [sic, as I’m just sure CNN meant to type rescued] June 15, when Iraqi forces supported by coalition forces stumbled across him during an unrelated raid in the Al Adel neighborhood of Baghdad.

“Perhaps I’m proof positive that the current policies of the American and Australian governments is the right one,” he said.

Wood would not even rule out a return to Iraq, despite his ordeal.

I blogged last week that Wood’s immediate requests after rescue were for beer and football updates. Now, Wood gives even more reason to admire him.

Asked what he thinks of his captors, Wood needed little time to reflect.

“Arseholes,” he shot back.

Wood said he did not know who the men were who kidnapped him.

“I didn’t know whether it was al Qaeda or who it was,” he said. “I didn’t know … obviously, my head is intact, so it wasn’t al Qaeda.”

I’d really love to buy this bloke a brew.