Reporters CNN Journalist Christianne Amanpour and Former CBS Journalist Dan Rather, and an Israeli sergeant were all captured by terrorists in Iraq. The leader of the terrorists told them that he would grant them each one last request before they were beheaded.
Dan Rather said, “Well, I’m a Texan, so I’d like one last bowlful of hot spicy chili.” The leader nodded to an underling who left and returned with the chili. Rather ate it all and said, “Now I can die content.”
Christianne Amanpour said, “I’m a reporter to the end. I want to take out my tape recorder and describe the scene here and what’s about to happen. Maybe someday someone will hear it and know that I was on the job till the end.” The leader directed an aide to hand over the tape recorder and Amanpour dictated some comments. She then said, “Now I can die happy.”
The leader turned and said, “And now, Mr. Israeli tough guy, what is your final wish?”
“Kick me,” said the soldier.
“What?” asked the leader? “Will you mock us in your last hour?”
“No, I’m not kidding. I want you to kick me,” insisted the Israeli.
So the leader shoved him into the open and kicked him.
The soldier went sprawling, but rolled to his knees, pulled a 9 mm pistol from under his flack jacket, and shot the leader dead. In the resulting confusion, he jumped to his knapsack, pulled out his carbine and sprayed the terrorists with gunfire. In a flash, all terrorists were either dead or fleeing for their lives.
As the soldier was untying Rather and Amanpour, they asked him, “Why didn’t you just shoot them in the beginning? Why did you ask them to kick you first?”
“What?” replied the Israeli, “And have you two schnooks report that I was the aggressor?!”