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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Americans released by Syria back in Jordan
2008-10-11
This story just doesn't add up.
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon were quoted Friday as saying they were "kidnapped" by their taxi driver and taken into Syria, where they were held in custody for a week before being released. The two--Taylor Luck, 23, and Holli Chmela, 27--spoke to their newspaper Jordan Times upon returning to Jordan early Friday. They were released on Thursday in Damascus, where authorities said they had crossed the border illegally with the help of smugglers.

In the report, Luck said the two had hired a taxi driver to take them from Lebanon to Syria. But instead of driving to an official border crossing where they expected to get an entry visa for Syria, the driver went off the main road, then "locked the doors" and demanded their money. Luck, of Oak Park, Illinois, said they refused to give the cab driver anything.

As they drove on, a military car showed up and pulled the taxi over, then moved the Americans and their luggage into their vehicle, Luck recounted. "We did not know we were in Syria until we saw a sign for Al Hosn Castle after 20 minutes of driving."
Posted by:Steve White

#2  See P.J O'Rourke's Holidays in Hell.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2008-10-11 10:10  

#1  "Two American journalists who went missing during a vacation in Lebanon"

Doesn't add up is right.

Who the hell goes to Hizzie-Land Lebanon for vacation?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2008-10-11 00:27  

00:00