Deadline on Jill Carroll passes; no news on her fate

The latest deadline set by the terrorists who kidnapped reporter Jill Carroll has passed with no news on her fate.

Today, on ABC news Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabur al Zubaidi said he knew who had abducted the 28-year-old journalist.

"We know his name and address, and we are following up on him as well as the Americans," Zubaidi said. "I think she is still alive."

The recent turmoil in Iraq following the bombing of the Shiite shrine at Samarra has impeded any major efforts to locate Carroll.

Zubaidi said the problem was that authorities don't know where Carroll was being held, and that the original kidnappers may have sold her to another group. The demands could be upped for her release. This is a common tactic with Islamic terrorists.

"They want to get more and more," he said. "The release of women, the release of some bad guys from the terrorists and maybe at the end they will need money."

On Sunday, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said an extensive search was under way for Carroll.

"Our forces raided some suspected places, but she was not there," Maj. Falah al-Mohammedawi said. "We are watching the situation closely."

Also unheard from is Canadian hostage, James Loney of Canada.Loney was one of four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams seized Nov. 26 in Baghdad by the previously unknown group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. The other three are a Canadian, an American and a Briton.

Things are not looking good for any of these people, considering what value Islamists place on the lives of unbelievers, however innocent. We can only hope and pray for the best.