January 26, 2005

Ghadaffi calls for Roy Hallums Release

Via Chad at In the Bullpen this story:

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi on Wednesday called on Iraqi insurgents to release a U.S. hostage [Roy Hallums], responding to the captive's plea for his intervention...

"As a response to the begging, we ask the Iraqi resistance in the name of Islam and Arabism to free him, implementing the principle of forgiveness," the Arab satellite news channel Al-Jazeera quoted Gadhafi as saying in a statement...

What was really meant by Roy Hallums' plea for the Libyan leaders help was that he pay the $12 million ransom demand. Presumably so the terrorist could buy the baby heard in the background of the hostage video some new pampers and some bling-bling.

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Religion of Peace Roundup 1/26/05

Brought to you by the Religion of Peas in a Can Council.

After videotaping himself beheading civilians for the past year and a half and publicly proclaiming himself the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, the UN finally designates Abu Musab al-Zarqawi a 'terrorist' and freezes his assets.

England to free 12 terror suspects. (ht: Chad Evans)

Two ex-Gitmo inmates return to England--promptly promise to sue US.

They're guerrillas, not terrorists says Italian Judge--then sets them free! (ht: Robert Spencer)

Profile of foreign terrorists fighting in Iraq (ht: Evan)

Are the Saudis funding Wahhabi extremist propaganda on Iraqi 'independent' TV? (ht: Captain Ed)

80 lashes given to 12 year old pick-pocket in Kingdom of the Religion of Peace (ht: Robert Spencer)

Terrorism caused by ideas, yeah but I wonder what ideas those would be.... (ht: Spencer, again)

Jihad recruitment on the rise in Europe...no connection to massive influx of Muslims immigrants, though. (ht: Charles Johnson)

UN Blames Zionists and Jew Controlled America for Arab Social Problems (ht: Daniel)

Let's face it, Islam doesn't mean Peace...(ht: Cameron)

Where are all those Leftist human shields when you need them?? You know, to guard the polling stations.... more...

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Hallums Family Reacts to Hostage Video, $12 million dollar ranson demand made

Susan and Carrie are finally getting some MSM press again. As suspected, the bastards holding Roy are demanding a $12 million ransom. KESQ:

The former wife of an American who was kidnapped in Baghdad and appeared in a recent hostage video is urging President Bush to save him.

Speaking on the "Today" show this morning, Susan Hallums of Corona, California says her former husband Roy is a "patriotic" American hero who needs help....

[speaking of Roy's allusions to Bush] Hallums' daughter, Carrie, says she believes that statement was scripted. She insists he's "always been a supporter of our U-S government."

San Bernadino Sun:
"It was terrible to see him, but good to see him,' said Susan Hallums, Roy's ex-wife. "He's strong, but I could tell he was fearful for his life. He had a machine gun next to his head.'

The Corona woman said she thought Roy looked "pale, thin and fearful.'...

"The week before (the abduction), he e-mailed me every day, and he called (the) kids two or three times a week,' she said. "We were both very close to our children, so that should keep you close friends, and we were.'

Susan Hallums said that although the U.S. government adheres to a strong policy of non-negotiation with terrorists, Roy's former employer, Riyadh-based Saudi Arabian Trading and Construction Co., had been in contact with the hostage-takers since his abduction. The company told her $12 million was being demanded in exchange for her ex-husband's release....

"It hit me this morning when I was crying,' she said despondently while packing her suitcase. "I was devastated. It's still hard to see him. But he's strong and he's brave. If anybody could get through this, he will.'

Fox41.com:
The ex-wife of hostage Roy Hallums is appealing to President Bush to do something to win her ex-husband's freedom in Iraq.

On the tape, Hallums says he won't ask Bush for help because of what he calls Bush's "selfishness and unconcern."

But Susan Hallums says she believes he was forced to say those things. She says he's "an American hero" who "never hurt anybody" and "needs our help."

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Google Search: Is THIS how the MSM works??

In the past 24 hours I've gotten e-mails from producers at Fox News, CNN, NBC's Today Show, and several regional newspapers. Why me? Google.

Has Google become the foundation for MSM research? I certainly hope not.

That's how I do research.

So, tell me again why the MSM is superior to blogs?

On a related note check out Take Back the News, which integrates MSM stories with Bloggers and their takes.

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January 25, 2005

Plane Forced Down by Feds

Flight school catering to foreigners....terrror alert....why does this all sound so familiar? Michelle Malkin is on the case from top to bottom.

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Terrorists Release Video of American Hostage Roy Hallums (UPDATED)

royhostagevid.jpg

UPDATE 9/07: ROY HALLUMS RESCUED IN IRAQ!!!! Details here. Or try the Main Page.
-------------------------------------------

A new video has surfaced showing American hostage Roy Hallums. I have posted a transcription of the video below.

Roy Hallums was abducted on Nov. 1st, 2004 from his apartment in Baghdad along with several other foreign nationals. Roy is a civilian and was in Iraq working on the reconstruction effort. A Fillipino hostage, taken with Roy, was later released [ht: Digger] seems to be still in captivity, even though the government of the Phillippines is directly negotiating with the hostage takers. Roy's abduction was first broken at the Jawa Report on November 30th. We also reported on Roy in the post Remembering the Forgotten American Hostages in Iraq and in our Tribute to American Hostage Roy Hallums). I would urge readers to check the comments on those posts as many of Roy's family and friends have left comments.

UPDATE III: I have obtained a copy of the video. A transcription of it follows. Roy seems in good health, but is obviously agitated. He is seen sitting on the floor, crosslegged, an rubs his hands as he makes the statement. An AK-47 is pointed at his head throughout. At several points in the video a baby can be heard crying in the background. The copy of the video I have may be incomplete as the audio cuts off as Roy continues to speak:

My name is Roy Hallums. I'm an American national and I have worked with the American forces.

I have been arrested by a resistance group in Iraq.

I'm please asking for help because I...my life is in danger because it's been proved that I worked for American forces.

I'm not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those that have been pushed into this hell hole.

I am asking for the help of Arab rulers, especially President Muammar Gaddafi because he's known for helping those who are suffering.

I also ask that Arab leaders help me in this situation so that I can be released as quickly as possible from this definite death. I would remember this favor for the rest of my life, should my life remain.

And I ask my family to help because my health is in a very bad situation.

So please, please I'm asking any one, Arab leader, especially President Gaddafi, please help me in this situation so I can be reunited...(audio ends but lips keep moving)

It is not clear whether this is the end of the video, or if my copy is only partial. No demands are made by his captors. The entire video is in English and Roy is the only one that speaks. The pleas for Ghaddafi's intercession are a first to my knowledge in a hostage video. It is also obvious that Roy is unaware of his families efforts to free him.

Xinhua:

One US citizen, apparently taken hostage in Iraq, has pleaded for his life, according to a video tape released on Tuesday.

The man identifying himself as Roy Hallams said, "I have been arrested by a resistance group in Iraq. I am asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved that I work for American forces."

But the authenticity of the video has to be verified.

On the video, the man asked for help from Arab leaders instead of US President George W. Bush. But he fell short of saying when or where he was captured.

UPDATE I: More details of the tape are emerging.....

News24:

A videotape found on Tuesday shows an American abducted last November by gunmen in Baghdad pleading for his life and appealing to Arab rulers including Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to intercede to spare his life...

On the tape, Hallums, with a rifle pointed at his head, stated his name and said "I have worked with American forces."

"I am please asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved I worked for American forces," he said. "I'm not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who've been pushed into this hellhole."

Hallums, speaking slowly, said he was asking for help from "Arab rulers especially President Muammar Gaddafi because he's known for helping those who are suffering."

"I also ask that Arab leaders help me in this situation so I can be released as quickly as possible from this definite end," he added. "I would remember this favour for the rest of my life should my life remain and I ask my family to help because my health is in a very bad situation."

Ghaddafi?? Bad words against Bush?? This does not sound like the Roy Hallums as described to me by his family and friends. I'm sure the rifle pointed at his head had something to do with his pleas.

Further, the intervention on the part of Ghaddafi may be a hidden plea for money. Robert Tarongoy, the Fillipino abducted with Roy, was released reportedly after ransom was paid. How else could Ghaddafi help??

UPDATE II: More details from ABC News:

The undated video shows American contractor Roy Hallums, who was seized with five colleagues in Baghdad in November, sitting cross-legged in front of a black background anxiously rubbing his hands as he makes an appeal to the camera....

"I have been arrested by a resistance group in Iraq," 56-year-old Hallums, dressed in civilian clothes and his beard flecked with white, says on the tape.

"I'm asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved that I work for American forces."

As he speaks, the barrel of an assault rifle is held inches from his head. Unlike other tapes made by militants of hostages seized in Iraq, no flags or banners of an organization appear in the picture and no demands are made.

ABC News:

Susan Hallums said she kept her ex-husband's kidnapping a secret for weeks after finding out that he had been abducted in Iraq this past November.

Now her former husband's pleas for mercy are being heard by the world. A newly released videotape shows missing American Roy Hallums pleading at gunpoint for Arab rulers to let him live.

Susan Hallums told ABC News' "Good Morning America" — in an interview that aired on Dec. 19 — that she hoped speaking out about her former husband of 32 years might help him be released.

"He's on the quiet side Â… in every walk of life he's always been very well-liked and well-received," Susan Hallums said on "GMA."

When Susan Hellums and her two grown daughters were first told of her her ex-husband's abduction, she said they were asked by authorities to refrain from discussing it with anyone else. She said she decided to speak out after reading about his fellow captive.

Roy Hallums, 56, was abducted on Nov. 1 along with Robert Tarongoy of the Philippines. The kidnappings took place after an armed assault on their compound in Baghdad. Roy Hallums and Tarongoy had been working for a Saudi company that does catering for the Iraqi army.

Susan Hallums, 52, said her former husband was supposed to come home in late November. She said he'd planned to stay through his daughter Carrie's birthday in late December.

His daughter Carrie Cooper told "GMA" that she hoped his captors would show mercy if they knew he had a family.

"Please let my dad go," she pleaded with his kidnappers on "GMA," before telling her father "I love you and I hope you can come home soon."

Carrie Hallums has set up a tribute page to her father here.

Susan Hallums, Roy's ex-wife, sent me this e-mail a week ago. Let me share part of it with you:

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and email buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your race. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings.

Amen.

Amen.

Roy's family has made these 'Save Roy' magnets, and may be purchased by sending a minumum donation of $3 to the 'Free Roy Foundation' at:

Hallums Family
PO Box 947
Westminster, Ca. 92684

Click Image to Enlarge

more...

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January 24, 2005

Religion of Peace Update

As time is short, here are a few headlines. This post sponsored by The Religion of Peas...have you eaten your peas today?

Iraqi Forces Arrest Top al-Qaeda Lieutenant

New Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Tape Calls For A "Bitter War" On Election Day

Zarqawi executes hostage on street, posts video online. (video here)

Brazilian Engineer Taken by "New" Terror Group

The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah executes Iraqi Colonel on video.

Islamist TV Guide

Domestic Front

Doubts cast on Boston dirty bomb tip

University of Oregon BANS support of the troops

Last but not least, reader Andre sports his new '72 Virgins' shirt, and wishes the jihadis a speedy trip to their eternal reward!!

wellhookuup.jpg
Shirts may be bought by clicking above image.

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January 22, 2005

Zarqawi or bin Laden: Who is the bigger threat??

Two must reads: Professor Chaos and James Joyner.

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Al Qaeda in Iraq Releases Beheading Video (Images)

alqaeda1.jpgAbu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaedi in Iraq terrorist organization has released a video of the beheading murders of two Iraqi civilians. The victims identify themselves in the video as Ali Hussein Jassem Mohammad al-Zubaidi and Ahmad Alwan Hussein al-Mahmadawi. Graphic Images from the video are posted below.

The video begins with the taped 'confession' of the two victims who admit to the 'crime' of being truck drivers for a Lebanese firm servicing a US base in Ramadi. After the taped 'confession' the two are taking outside where they are slowly beheaded with a knife. The beheading appears to take place on a sidewalk in broad daylight.
alqaeda2.jpg

News.com.au puts the story this way:

THE group of al-Qaeda frontman Abu Musab al-Zarqawi posted a video on the Internet today showing the beheading of two Iraqis after they "confessed" to working at a US base in the country.

The men identified themselves as Ali Hussein Jassem Mohammad al-Zubaidi and Ahmad Alwan Hussein al-Mahmadawi, both residents of Sadr City, a teeming Shiite slum in Baghdad...

After making their "confessions" in front of a banner carrying the name of Zarqawi's al-Qaeda Group of Jihad in the Land of Two Rivers, the video showed each man having his head cut off.

The severed heads were held aloft by the men's slaughterers and put on their backs to shouts of Allahu Akbar, or God is greatest.

The grisly footage of the beheading, in which about four men appeared to be involved, was followed by a chilling written warning from the group that "anyone who helps the occupying enemy in any way" would meet the same fate.

UPDATE: Fellow blogger Interested Participant was already on the case, unknown to me, as well as Hyscience.

UPDATE: This comes on the heels of a slew of murders. Note that the two stories below are DIFFERENT MURDERS.

Army of Ansar al-Sunnah (linked to al Qaeda in Iraq) murders two.

Terrorists behead Iraqi policeman in broad daylight--Others ITB, Diggers Realm, OTB, JQuinton, Hyscience, Command Post, Daily Dish, Decision 08


WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW!!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT PROCEED IF UNDER 18!!!!! more...

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January 21, 2005

'Cool Mom' Has Sex-Drug Parties for Teen Boys

(Denver, Colorado) A 40-year-old woman, Sylvia Johnson, has been charged with sexual assault and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for hosting weekly sex-drug parties for teenage boys. According to the affidavit, she gave them marijuana, methamphetamines, and alcoholic drinks and then had sex with some of them. Eight boys got drugs and drinks and five boys got sex. The jig was up when one of the Johnson party boys told his mommy who called police.

The media seems to be reporting more and more instances of adult woman engaging intimately with young boys and one wonders how much of this type of behavior remains hidden.

Companion Post at Interested-Participant.

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Aurora Alert! (Yeah, it's off topic.)

by Demosophist

I posted a few days ago about an unprecedented series of sunspot and solar flare events that would lead to some electromagnetic pyrotechnics in the atmosphere, and it looks like it's coming to pass. For those in the mid-lattitudes who have never seen an aurora this may be your chance-in-a-lifetime. According to an astrophysicist friend of mine:

There is a distnct possibility of auroral activity in the mid latitudes for the next few days. If you happen to be outside, look up, you "might" get a show.

The latest event was another X-level, but it was 7.1 vice 3.8 (bigger numbers are much more powerful).

And he updated recently with this:

WOW! Mid-latitudes are experiencing one right now and did those numbers climb in the last couple of hours.

Do check tonite....... you might actually see one this time. Reports areindicating that those who are currently in darkness are experiencing an aurora in the mid latitudes. Dang.... and it's daylight here!

He lives in Arizona, but since there have been flares within the last few hours one would not expect this event to be over very soon. Once it gets dark, take a look outside, weather permitting.

(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Demosophia and Anticipatory Retaliation)

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Rusty Shackleford is a Vietnamese Whore

Still sick.

Any blogging will be done under the influence of a fever......

Bloggie-bloggie, $5 Joe?

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New Internet Message From Terrorist Zarqawi

The Scotsman.com reports that Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has released a new Internet audio recording which denounces Iraqi Shiites for fighting alongside US troops and ridicules Iraq's prominent Shiite Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Zarqawi also asked his terrorist followers to be patient and "prepare for a long struggle against the Americans."

From another report comes the news that a top Zarqawi lieutenant, Omar Hadid, was killed during the Battle of Fallujah in November.

The authenticity of the tape has not yet been established, however, one has to wonder why the Internet message has no video of Zarqawi, only audio.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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January 20, 2005

Inaugural Notes: Congratulations Culver BHT

by Demosophist

My high school alma mater has a unit marching 17th in today's Inaugural Parade, and I just want to congratulate the kids from the Culver Black Horse Troop and Equestriennes who will be in the event. It's the 19th time for the cadets and the 5th time for the equestriennes. (I'm actually not sure whether that's 19 times at the inaugural, or 19 state events. Going by the BHT website this will be the 14th Inaugural.) I was a member of this contingent in LBJ's 1965 Inaugural, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. We took the train from Indiana along with the horses, and (at the time "little") Stevie Wonder was on the same train. I barely slept, and it could fairly be called the first "adult" experience of my life. My horse was approriately named "Jughead" and he managed to canter backwards in front of the Presidential Reviewing Stand without any input from me at all. It was quite a circus trick, but really represented a lack of skill rather than any great proficiency. I'm afraid old Jughead was the boss. Still, I did stand out enough as a result of that nonsense to be readily identifiable to my family who were watching on TV.

The parade today starts at 2:30PM EST and the best place to view it is CSPAN.

(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Demosophiaa and Anticipatory Retaliation)

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Tsunami Survivors 'Eating Leaves'

According to this report, people in a camp in the village of Beurawang in the Aceh region on Sumatra have been eating leaves to stave off hunger, increasing fears of mass starvation and disease. The news comes from American nurse Linley York and is at least second-hand information.

Meanwhile, Indonesia's Health Ministry has confirmed additional dead that were believed to be only missing. The Indonesian death toll has been raised to 166,320 which brings the global total for the tsunami disaster to 226,566.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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January 19, 2005

Four Baghdad Car Bombings

A suicide-homicide car bomb exploded outside the Australian Embassy and close to the Australian military barracks in central Baghdad today. At least two Iraqis died and six others, including two Aussies, were wounded.

A short time later, a second suicide-homicide car bomb explosion occurred near the Al-Andalus traffic circle at the edge of the Baghdad neighborhood of Karrada. Less than an hour after the second car bomb, an Iraqi army base in Western Baghdad was targeted for a third suicide-homicide attack. Two deaths and five wounded were reported.

Based upon available information, at least eight deaths and more than a dozen wounded have been reported to have resulted from today's three suicide car bomb attacks.

[Update 0645 EST] A fourth car bomb is reported to have exploded at a military complex in Baghdad, killing two civilians and two Iraqi soldiers. An update on the second car bomb has 18 dead, including five Iraqi police. The total dead is now believed to be at least 26. There's also been a report of an explosion at a Baghdad bank, but no casualties have been identified.

Also, according to this report, a message on the Internet stated that the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi group called al-Qaeda Organization for Holy War in Iraq sent "martyrdom squadrons" to detonate the bombs at the Australian Embassy and other locations today.

Companion posts at Interested-Participant.

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January 18, 2005

Sick Blogging

I'm sick. Going home early to sleep. I blame the Mossad. Oh, and the CIA.

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Of What Use?

In a recent post on the landing of the Huygens probe on the surface of Titan, a lamentable, if predictable response was left in the comments, about how this provides value for the taxpayer. I guess the thing of note that this was posted on a blog, which is directly made possible by basic research done by the then Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) which led to the creation of the Internet. It is, of course, debatable whether or not the internet would have arisen without the aid of ARPA, but it is undeniable that, in the history that has unfolded, ARPA has played a significant role.

And this, in particular, was an irony that I just couldn't pass up.

more...

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Leader of Jaish Muhammed Admits Iran-Syria Connection

This MEMRI translation of the taped confession of Jaish Muhammed leader Muayed Al-Nasseri, who was captured last month.

Highlights:

The Army of Muhammad was founded by Saddam Hussein after the fall of the regime

We got aid primarily from Iran. The truth is that Iran has played a significant role in supporting the Army of Muhammad and many factions of the resistance. I have some units, especially in southern Iraq, which receive Iranian aid in the form of arms and equipment." more...

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Terrorist Webhost on Sale at eBay

What do you give a guy like Osama bin Laden who has everything? Why not give the gift that keeps on giving--a terrorist website! Hosting Anime is up for sale at eBay.

You might remember Hosting Anime from such memorable websites as Tawhid and Jihad Beheads Paul Johnson and Tawhid and Jihad II: Kim Sun-Il.

Good riddance. (hat tip: Terrorist Media)

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