Something to think about the next time a hostage criticizes the US

I think most people realize that the hostages who make political pleas or offer political commentary with guns pointed at their heads may not be speaking their own beliefs. Douglas Wood, who seems like a very brave gentleman, makes that point quite clear:

An Alamo man held captive in Iraq for more than six weeks was back home today in his native Australia, where he apologized for his televised plea for the Australian government to withdraw from that war-torn country and said he might return there to pursue "business opportunities." Douglas Wood told reporters in Melbourne, Australia, that it felt "bloody good" to be reunited with his wife Yvonne -- whom he met last week in Dubai before flying to Australia on Sunday -- and the rest of his family after 47 days in captivity at the hands of insurgents he called "a--holes." Wood, who will be 64 on June 30, said he regretted his comments critical of the Bush administration and his demand that Australia withdraw its 1,400 troops from the country -- comments he made in a video released shortly after his capture on May 1 by insurgents calling themselves the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq. "Frankly, I'd like to apologize to both President Bush and (Australian) Prime Minister (John) Howard for the things I said under duress," Wood said, flanked by his wife and two brothers. "I actually believe that I am proof positive that the current policy of training the Iraqi Army, of recruiting, training and bloodying them worked because it was the Iraqis that got me out. Perhaps I'm proof positive that the current policies of the American and the Australian governments is the right one."