Let Your Mind Wander a Bit...

A BBC reporter covering a story in a Muslim-diminated country is kidnapped by Muslim extremists. He is held for what turns out to be a number of months, reports of his death surface, the western world is up in arms (pardon the ironic pun). The reporter is photographed by his captors showing him losing weight under duress, pictures are sent around the world to the various sensationalist media houses to further their cause. The details are sketchy, but sufficient to keep diplomatic channels open, family members questioning their government involvement and demanding the release of their father/brother/countryman, and the media wires burning with the story. A number of months later, the reporter, as a result of diplomatic negotiations and prisoner exchange, is released back to the country of his origin.

But maybe...

A BBC reporter, due to be sent on assignment to a Muslim-dominated country and sympathetic to "the cause", makes contact with some local extremist sources to determine how he can become part of the movement. Once he gets on his assignment, the extremists arrange his "disappearance" (transport at the BBC's expense) and, while the media is hype-ing the story and inadvertently furthering the "cause", the journalist begins his training in subversion techniques, bomb manufacturing, weapons, methods of contacting and enlisting other sympathisers, as well as other techniques in civil terrorism. He is losing weight, not due to duress, but due to the strict diet his new religion forces him to adopt and his body naturally sheds excess "infidel" fat. He is photographed partly to show his progress to commanders but also to send to the western press to hype the story and gain sympathy for the "captive". Diplomatic efforts are delayed, promises broken by both sides, sketchy details sent to the press gaining more sympathy for the "captive" and eventual agreement is reached to exchange extremist prisoners for the "captive". The exchange takes place and the gaunt, brave, reporter is revealed to the world, unknowing of his new capacity. The world breathes a sigh of relief as another hero is returned safely to his countryfolk and family. The reporter, after selling his story to the same media he supposedly works for, passes on the proceeds to his new masters, disappears from public view supposedly into stress-related retirement. All the while, he arranges infiltration, plans destruction, mayhem, murder and suicide. But, because of the tortuous time he went through, he is squeaky clean so he is not suspected...

How feasible is that.....?