A reader from Romania has agreed to keep The Jawa Report up to speed on reactions from the Romanian press. It seems that speculation abounds that the whole hostage crisis may have been planned in advance.

He notes, though, that such conspiritorial speculation is common in his country that has seen such hard times in recent decades.

It seems that one of the hostages, Marie-Jeanne Ion, is the daughter of an important PSD member (the former government party). Thus, releasing her may be a top priority for the government. It also may explain why she was targetted.

What really seems to be raising suspicions, though, is that the entire expedition to Iraq was arranged by and planned by Omar Hayssam, who is described as a wealthy Arab immigrant to Romania. Hayssam is also being investigated for unrelated criminal activities. Hayssam is also business partners with Ion's father.

It was Hayssam that sent American Muhammed Monaf to accompany the journalists to Iraq. Mr. Hayssam also received the only known phone call demanding ransom and is said to be going to Iraq to act as an intermediary to obtain the hostages release.

This translation made by Adi, of a Jurnalul National article titled "Kidnapping or Framing?": more...

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U.S. news sources are finally reporting that an American was taken hostage in Iraq late Monday evening. CNN has a blurb here and AP is running a similar story. The name of the American hostage is Mohammed ( Muhammed ) Monaf, although no major U.S. media outlet is yet broadcasting that information. Mr. Monaf and the other hostages remain in our prayers.

Notice how both stories mention the State Departmen'ts silence? Something, ahem, we warned you about earlier....

Hat tip Confederate Yankee and Decision '08.

Related: 3 Romanians and One American Shown on Hostage Video
Romanian Journalists Taken Hostage in Iraq, Plea for Help
American Kidnapped in Iraq

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Al Jazeera has aired a video showing the three Romanian journalists and their American translator taken hostage by an unknown group Monday evening.

The three Romanian hostages seen in the video are Marie Jeanne Ion, Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, and Edward Ovidiu Ohanesian. The major media still remains silent on the identity of the American hostage. Reuters, for instance, says:

a fourth unidentified person appeared on the undated tape on Wednesday sitting on the floor in front of what seemed to be blankets hung on the wall.

Two armed men were also seen on the hostage video. Al Jazeera did not say what group, if any, had given them the tape. The pro-terrorist and anti-American television station also did not mention any demands being made for the hostages' release.

Romanian media have reported that the kidnappers have made ransom demands. It is not known whether those who abducted these hostages are insurgents looking to fund their activities or common criminals.

I would caution against jumping to any conclusions about this hostage crisis. Unlike the Giuliana Sgrena episode, these seem to be legitimate journalists.

However, I think the Italians, French, Fillippinos, and others who have paid ransom for the release of hostages never learned the lesson of my 5 year old daughter's book, If You Give a Mouse Some Cheese. Giving terrorists money is not a good idea on so many levels.......

Related entries: Romanian Journalists Taken Hostage in Iraq, Plea for Help
American Kidnapped in Iraq

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Various news agencies are now reporting that a fourth hostage may have been abducted with the three Romanian journalists taken yesterday. The fourth hostage is reputed to be a naturalized American citizen, born in Iraq.

His name is Mohammed Monaf, reports the Romanian Realitatea TV station.

JPost relays the following information:

One of his business partners in Romania, Ommar Hayssam, told Realitatea TV that he received two calls from the kidnappers Tuesday morning.
"There was a voice speaking in Iraqi dialect ... he asked if I know Mohammed," he said. "They say to pay ... and threatened that if we come with the army they will cut their throats." He declined to specify the amount of money demanded by the kidnappers.

However, that group did announce today that it had murdered three Jordanian truck drivers.

UPDATE 3/30: So far only two other media outlets are reporting on an American being held hostage in Iraq. The Jawa Report is the only American media covering this!!

Roy Hallums redux.

It's a sad day when the MSM will not even report allegations that an American citizen has been taken hostage in a war-zone. If they are waiting for State Department of Pentagon confirmation, forget it. It is the official policy of the United States not to comment about civilian workers taken hostage.

It took nearly two months between the time that Roy Hallums was taken hostage and the State Department confirmed that 3 American hostages were 'probably in Iraq'.

UPDATE II: Xinhua now reporting that American Mohammad Munaf has been kidnapped and identified the Romanian state news agency Rompres as their source.

That makes three foreign news agencies plus The Jawa Report....no news from the American MSM.

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UPDATE 10:40 PM: Reports are coming in that a fourth hostage was taken. The fourth hostage is an American......Check main page for updates......

---------------------------
Three Romanian Journalists have been kidnapped in Iraq. The three victims are Marie Jeanne Ion, Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, and Edward Ovidiu Ohanesian (although the MSM is still reporting the last man as simply 'Ovidiu', his first name is Edward).

As we have noted many times before, paying the ransom demands of hostage takers often leads to more hostage taking...eh, Giuliana Sgena?

Images: top, Prima TV camera man Sorin Dumitru Miscoci; bottom, Prima TV reporter Marie Jeanne Ion

AP:

Three Romanian journalists had finished interviewing Iraq's interim prime minister hours earlier when one of them sent an ominous text message back to her newsroom: "Help, this is not a joke, we've been kidnapped."

The three were abducted Monday night near their Baghdad hotel, officials said Tuesday - the latest journalists to be taken hostage in Iraq.

They were identified as reporter Marie Jeanne Ion, 32, and cameraman Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, 30, from Bucharest-based television station Prima TV, and Romania Libera reporter Ovidiu Ohanesian, 37.

Petre Mihai Bacanu, managing editor of Romania Libera newspaper, said the three disappeared late Monday, shortly after interviewing interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

Bacanu said no group had claimed responsibility and no ransom demand had been made.

The three were abducted about 8:30 p.m. from a street next to the hotel, which is not in the city's heavily fortified Green Zone, a hotel employee who works at the reception desk told The Associated Press by telephone.

A group from the Romanian Embassy told the hotel staff that their driver reported the three had been kidnapped, the employee said. The hotel, where other foreign journalists also stay, is in Baghdad's upscale Jadriya neighborhood and is surrounded by a concrete barrier, he said.

A Prima TV statement said Ion called the newsroom, speaking a mixture of Romanian, Arabic and English, and was heard apparently talking to her abductors.

Prima TV said Ion had made a mobile phone call to the station shortly after the three were abducted.

"Don't kill us, we are from a poor country and we have no money," Ion was quoted as saying.

Their translator said that they were from Romania, a poor country and don't have money to pay a ransom. All I know they have been taken by force and we can't reach them any more," Mr Dumitru said.

The disappearance of the three Romanians is just the latest kidnaping incident involving journalists in Iraq.

Romania has 800 troops in Iraq and President Basescu made a surprise Easter visit to Iraq on Sunday.

Image: Marie Jeanne Ion (L) and cameraman Sorin Miscoci (R) from Romania's Prima TV

UPDATE 11:22 (Central): The Sgrena effect has begun. FT:

Romania's government may face its first test in sustaining public support for the country's military presence in Iraq after three Romanian journalists went missing in Baghdad on Monday, presumed kidnapped.

One official in Bucharest said the government expected “some negative public reaction”, but added that much would depend on how the crisis was resolved....

Romania has been a strong supporter of the US mission in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. But an opinion poll released on Tuesday showed 55 per cent believed their country's 800 troops in Iraq should be brought home.

UPDATE 1:08 (Central): A well informed source tells me that rumors have begun circulaiting that Ansar al-Sunna is responsible for the abduction of the three Romanian journalists.

This would indeed be odd given that the journalists were abducted in Baghdad.

Developing.......

Others: Chad at In the Bullpen, Interested Participant, Opinion Bug, Hyscience, Digger,

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1 Note that there have not been any sensational beheadings in a long long time. Was the insurgency discouraged from this tactic by religious clerics who are trying to maintain support among the Sunnis? Or did the terrorists feel that they were "conditioning" the world to ignore this brutality and it was time for a break?

Posted by: electronicIDF at March 29, 2005 10:09 AM (MBd2J)

2 Indeed. And hardly anyone seems to be searching these names anymore, either.

Posted by: James Joyner at March 29, 2005 10:33 AM (UjbiU)

3 "I understand 'old Europe' wanting to see democracy fail in Iraq, but 'new Europe' as well?" The new ukrainian govt, that all the blogs loved dressed in orange, announced a pullout shortly after they came to power.

Posted by: actus at March 29, 2005 11:30 AM (CqheE)

4 I don't think any Europeans governments want 'democracy to fail in Iraq'. Also the old / new Europe distinction holds absolutely no weight in this continent whatsoever. Trust me... English people identify and sympathise a hell of a lot more with French people that we do with Polish (not that we don't love the Poles - their women are hot and they make great sausages) - the old / new contrast is just expedient rhetoric for Bush; its totally contrived and it's not at all representative of (splits in) European opinion. Above all its just ridiculous to call two of Europes former (and now fallen) colonial powers 'new' - how can Italy and England be 'new' when we've been losing influence for thousands of years??? 'Europe' is an incredibly fragile amalgamation - splitting its members into arbitrary poles (no pun intended), and doing so based purely on our relation to American politics, is meaningless and frankly offensive. IF there are ANY pan-Euro linkages then they are defined by overlappings of our histories, cultures and languages; NOT by Iraq, America, or the WOT (a concept most Europeans don't at all buy into).

Posted by: Martin at March 29, 2005 11:46 AM (oe5ye)

5 >>>"The Sgrena effect has begun." Yup. It's the Liberal effect. Their good intentions usually lead to bad results.

Posted by: Carlos at March 29, 2005 02:05 PM (8e/V4)

6 But I thought it was /American/ forces who were targeting journalists. After all, Eason Jordan said so.

Posted by: Achillea at March 29, 2005 02:14 PM (8BLEU)

7 According to Sgrena, her vehicle was hit from behind. Italian investigators are being denied access to the evidence. Why?

Posted by: Collin Baber at March 29, 2005 04:16 PM (Hkppj)

8 Martin Well, I'm Welsh/English & rate the Poles much more than the Frogs. In WW2, they gave us Enigma decrypt and a ton of very effective fighter pilots. Then they were the first to chuck out the Sovs. Just an opinion. I agree that Europe doesn't exist as a political entity (& likely never will). The Romanians (and other ex-Warsaw Pacters) I know are conditioned by their struggle to get out from under the Russians, and think that the US made that possible. My call is they'll hang tough in Iraq.

Posted by: Gandalf at March 29, 2005 04:39 PM (P/kBa)

9 I hope Gandalf. Collin, not true. The vehicle was sent to Italy. On the other hand, the Italians are not cooperating with the Iraqi investigation into who purpetrated the kidnapping.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at March 29, 2005 04:59 PM (JQjhA)

10 Collin, do you have a source for that? I'd like to check it out.

Posted by: Carlos at March 29, 2005 05:05 PM (8e/V4)

11 http://www.musicforamerica.org/node/73959

Posted by: Collin Baber at March 29, 2005 05:53 PM (Hkppj)

12 >>>"The papers said the request came after the U.S. command in Iraq reportedly blocked two Italian policemen from examining the car." Collin, it's a fluff peace with one hysterical Leftist woman (Amy Goodman) interviewing another hysterical Leftist woman (Naomi Klein), talking about a third hysterical Leftist woman (Sgrena). The only reference in the article to Italian investigators being blocked was the sentence I quoted above. Flimsy to say the least, wouldn't you say? So much from the Left is just rumour mongering.

Posted by: Carlos at March 29, 2005 06:06 PM (8e/V4)

13 I had recent chance to train with many American allies, Poles,Slovaks,Czech,Hungarians,Zimbabwean,Swiss, French,Canadian,etc. By far the most enthusiastic about America were the new Europeans. And the Africans. Real Africans not those fake ones you see in Mississippi.

Posted by: Bullshark at March 29, 2005 06:54 PM (drVg7)

14 It is good the vehicle was sent to Italy. As for me, the kidnapping and shooting of journalists over there is outrageous and must end.

Posted by: Collin Baber at March 29, 2005 06:58 PM (Hkppj)

15 Bullshark: All the fake africans have moved in with collin babler.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 30, 2005 05:01 AM (CBNGy)

16 >>>"As for me, the kidnapping and shooting of journalists over there is outrageous and must end." Collin, obviously. Are you of the thinking that our GIs are intentionally targeting journalists? There's no evidence for that, and to even insinuate it without evidence is despicable. Yet Michael Moore calls insurgents "minutemen" who go out of their way to kidnap journalists. I don't want to personally lump you in with the rest of your compatriots, but what in the hell is wrong with your side???

Posted by: Carlos at March 30, 2005 10:04 AM (8e/V4)

17 I believe there is a lot of confusion in Iraq and journalists get shot by jittery troops.

Posted by: Collin Baber at March 30, 2005 05:42 PM (FV4oJ)

18 According to Sgrena. Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 30, 2005 10:05 PM (JRpVI)

19 What's wrong with their side? It's composed of lying, low life, America hating, pieces of cowardly dog shit like Colon Babler.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 30, 2005 10:08 PM (JRpVI)

20 >>>"I believe there is a lot of confusion in Iraq and journalists get shot by jittery troops." They've also been shot by Michael Moore's minutemen.

Posted by: Carlos at March 31, 2005 12:54 AM (8e/V4)

21 i think it's scary to think people would just kiddnap any one

Posted by: bob at March 31, 2005 08:28 PM (qOYMX)

22 hhhwhat i your faverit colour? blue no red ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Posted by: joe at March 31, 2005 08:32 PM (qOYMX)

23 i pray for the journalists to came home...there is a God who take care of them, i know!

Posted by: evy at April 01, 2005 11:36 PM (xpINR)

24 I'm still praiyng for their health.Waiting for their soon return at home.Good take care of them !

Posted by: radufluture at April 02, 2005 05:12 AM (iR2B4)

25 hello, i am oana my opinion is that the one from irak are looking to us like real enemy, because we are there to help the american people.the romanian army, there in irak, is a political interest and we can't say anythyng against or for.. they were just doing their job....they are journalist...what's their fault? they didn't deserve that oana from romania

Posted by: oana at April 02, 2005 02:34 PM (ug89m)

26 Oana: OK. How is Romania these days? Better? Worse? We hear so little.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 03, 2005 06:56 AM (CBNGy)

27 oana , just shut...up. Wait and pray. don´t forget to spoil your face with makeup any way...It takes a romanian madness to go nowadays to Irak as a reporter...Better enter here: http://www.grish.com/beheading_videos.html (put an "o" before "grish"... i am filtered,moderated :´( ...) and pray that these... does not happen anymore! hags ang kisses...abrazos and besitos...pupici si imbratisari ---> Dany

Posted by: dany (romanian) from Spain at April 09, 2005 07:34 PM (91vDL)

28 Hi everyone! I want to correct our fellow Gandalf and reply that he should study some history and then comment about a country he knows so little. Now between us Romania is not the third world country some tv stations and some ignorant people try to picture. I bet u've never been to Romania, have u? Second how can somebody say Europeans have no identity? Isn't Europe the cradle of civilisation? Or again we are talking about a person who probably doesn't know on what planet he's living since he affirms something like this. Third, all the reporters in Iraq are doing their job and their mission is to find out the truth. They are unfortunate because they get to find out what the truth is and this is certainly one thing that bothers both certain American and Iraqi big guys. The real thing is that USA are running out of resources and they play the role of saviours hoping that a whole world is too stupid to see more than they want them to see, but meanwhile real, innocent people die every day! May God have mercy on us! Cheers!

Posted by: Andreea at April 22, 2005 02:52 PM (P/kBa)

29 these attacks over journalists must end.And ,in romanian journalist crisis,i want to do something...go there and take care of the problem on my own...i wish to have some help..from anybody...

Posted by: arcan28 at April 23, 2005 05:27 AM (/TEW4)

30 They (NOTO) don`t need us (romanians)in Irak. The romanian army must go home. I bet we won`t win any price if we stay there, but tree of us will live with their family in their country. PLEASE HELP THEM TO LIVE!!!

Posted by: doina at April 23, 2005 05:08 PM (nv6dz)

31 We must never forget our common humanity.We all must be soldiers of peace.I hope and I pray for the release of the journalists,not only for the Romanian ones but also for the French. La paix soit avec vous!

Posted by: maria at April 24, 2005 12:56 PM (Epckr)

32 que la paix l'emporte sur la guerre et que le bien l'emporte sur le mal et que l'amour l'emporte sur la haine

Posted by: jugurtha boumrar at April 24, 2005 01:10 PM (Frwag)

33 i am looking at tv and i can't believe what i see. is this war so unfair ? i see right now the last recording with those three journalists, and all i think is ... . i am romanian too and i believe that the kidnappers should release them. they didn't do anything wrong only the job. what would happen if we kidnap arabian persons and treat them the same?

Posted by: mihai lucaciu at April 26, 2005 02:56 PM (27M2S)

34 I am watching on TV... I don't wanna think about it... The kidnappers just gived another deadtime... And we hope it is not the Last one. I am working with journalists everyday, I know them, I feel them, and I can say they don't deserve to be treated like that... May God give us the peace!

Posted by: Valentin at April 27, 2005 01:01 AM (WpfU3)

35 FREE ROMANIAN JOURNALIST'S NOW! THEY ARE INNOCENT! THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR WAR! PLEASE DON'T MAKE SOMETHING , YOU'L LATER SORRY! LIFE IS THE MOST BEAUTYFUL THING IN THE HOLE WORLD! PLEASE RELEASE ROMANIAN JOURNALIST'S!!

Posted by: ADI at April 27, 2005 05:08 AM (03+Cm)

36 orange is the American favourite colour...go ahead cutting a head, someone will cut yours!

Posted by: antiSAMfrom romania at April 27, 2005 07:55 AM (Q+H7C)

37 know what.....if they do something to those hostages WE WILL INVADE WITH ALL OUR F__ing TROOPS IRAQ AND KILL ALL TERO there and end the war! so they better calm down...... THEY DIDNT KNOW EVEN WHAT THEY REALY WANT BECAUSE THEYRE SO RETARDET freaks LETS BOMB THE HOLE DAMN CITY AND END THEIR GOOD $ nothing, pathetic law people do you agree me?

Posted by: MajorZoltar(Romanian warrior) at April 27, 2005 10:59 AM (R6fVh)

38 What american idiot belive Romania is a third world country ? If is true, why YOUR GOVT need OUR troops in Afganistan and Iraq ( paid by our money, from my taxes ) ? KISS MY ROMANIAN ASS STUPID! LET'S FREE OUR REPORTERS AND GO BACK HOME OUR SOLDIERS TO NOT SPEND MONEY FOR NOTHING!

Posted by: Ovidiu at April 27, 2005 01:35 PM (3xtCu)

39 Free Romanian Journalist's, Withdraw troups from IRAK! Life is the MOST BEUTYFUL THING in the hole world! Don't make something, you'll later SORRY! Release Hostages! Free romanian journalist's! Withdraw troups! Our man's are in front of other political games!

Posted by: adi at April 28, 2005 09:28 AM (03+Cm)

40 I think everything started as a political game trying to discreditate the new romanian government. I do believe that some important people in opposition knew about all these. But unfortunately all these might cost lives, even i believe it will be a good ending. Withdrawing the troops might be a solution but it cannot happen as long as we want a better future and we want protection. romanian people needs evolution(just face this truth). And this is not possible without obeying the rules. I do believe that the new government will find a way to bring those people home. I am not for troops to be in Irak and I want to believe that these troops are there for PEACE and this is all what they do. I don't like the americans(and I mean their leaders) for what they did, but unfortunately they are the masters they rule the world.we are small we are nobody and as you can see they don't give a damn if somebody dies. So we are just like the arabic people we are in the same situation. So the people who kidnapped the journalists should think about this. I believe from all my heart that they know all these and they will free them.They'll do a lot of good to so many people releasing them!I understand the anger of arabic people. Imagine what will you do if somebody tries to rule in your home. But I can't accept their ways to do things. I hope that the journalists will be freed.

Posted by: ana-maria at April 28, 2005 10:53 AM (WcD3O)

41 What rules??? draguta mai esti! If you beleive in Basescu, then you heard what he said, that this is not a joke, this is serous!!! We are waiting you home!!

Posted by: adi at May 01, 2005 05:49 PM (03+Cm)

42 Ana Maria - I agree with you all, just don't say, that they were implicated, because you can't know that! And for me their message was a really a frightening one, i don't think somebody(from 3) could play with these situation!

Posted by: adi at May 04, 2005 04:42 PM (03+Cm)

43 Ma fratilor deja o fost eliberati!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DD

Posted by: Nu stiu at May 22, 2005 08:29 AM (nXbG1)

44 Mai uitati-va la stirii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cu bine nustiu

Posted by: Nu stiu at May 22, 2005 08:30 AM (nXbG1)

45 Mai uitati-va la stirii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cu bine, nustiu

Posted by: Nu stiu at May 22, 2005 08:31 AM (nXbG1)

46 The most of the people doesn't know how Romania is in fact. Gandalf says : "I know are conditioned by their struggle to get out from under the Russians, and think that the US made that possible" loool. I've never heard such a big stupid thing like that, and sincerely, I've never seen an Russian. People ! Before you want to write something like this, please check a history book ! Most of us live like Occidentals..... I know that you have a very wrong impression about us, but I don't know why.

Posted by: Monica_Romania at May 29, 2005 06:12 AM (Xq8Sh)

47 email me and tell me what you think about this

Posted by: jake at June 08, 2005 11:21 AM (q97pI)

48 The Lord Is My Hope Dear Beloved Brother And Sister, Loving Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am in full confidence in faith in our Lord’s blessings. I am much interested in you and your blessings. As my father too was a reverend and my mother too was a evangelist in our Lord’s services and they both passed away in our Lord’s services. And now I have a small family with two younger daughters and my wife. My most worrying matter has been my financial debts unpaid. MY STARTING DARE IS 1999 YEAR $ 1,316=00 With Interest $ 300=00 With Interest $ 920=00 With Interest $ 264=00 Without Interest $ 878=00 with Interest PLEASE KINDLY PREY FOR MY FIVE DEBTS AND DEBTERS, TO PAY THEM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AND GET GOOD PEACEFUL LIFE. With my professional matters, I had a traveling agency and run it with lots of eave but I lost lots in this profession. And I am now in a unmovable position. My sincere request for you is to plea pray for me, my profession and my family member all the time with your dear blessings and our Lord’s blessings. I live only in our sacred Lord’s and your dear blessings and prayers. Yours in the sacred Lord, M. RATHNAKUMAR Mission Compound PUTTUR-517583 Chittoor Dt AP India

Posted by: M.Rathnakumar at July 15, 2005 05:29 AM (Bq5V7)

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The video of the murder of an Iraqi Interior Ministry official--what the MSM is calling a vidotaped 'execution'--has been posted on an Islamic bulletin board. The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the video and will provide a link to it as soon as it is uploaded to a suitable site. Graphic images from the video are posted below.

Various news agencies are claiming the video is still unauthenticated. However, the video shows the banner of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq and bears the trademark of that group's propaganda arm.

The only strange thing about the video is the weapon used. A silenced pistol is used to shoot the poor hostage in the head. The preferred method for murder by Zarqawi has been the use of an AK-47 or a dull knife to behead the victim.

The victim is identified as Colonel Ryad Kateh Olyway (also translitterated as Aliwi ), a liason officer for the Iraqi Interior Ministry. Olyway was kidnapped a month ago.

As in past Zarqawi snuff films, Olyway is first forced to 'confess' to the 'crime' of 'collaboration' before he is blindfolded and shot in the back of the head.

The execution of 'collaborators' is a common practice for terrorist groups and is routinely used by Palestinian, Chechen, and Kashmiri rebels. The 'collaborator' is branded an 'apostate' and then, in accordance with Islamic law, is executed. Apostasy is a capital offense under Islamic law.

Before Olyway is murdered, his al Qaeda captors claim that he is to be executed as retaliation for the abuse of women prisoners in Iraq by the Coalition. This is a common allegation made by Arab and left-wing media, including by Italian propagandist and ex-hostage Giuliana Sgrena.

Al Qaeda has at various times demanded the release of female prisoners being held by the Coalition. The U.S. has denied that they are holding any women in prisons in Iraq. Pro-terrorist media outlets such as al Jazeera and Giuliana Sgrena's Il Manifesto routinely publish the accusation that American soldiers rape and torture Iraqi women.

Graphic images from the Colonel Ryad Kateh Olyway's murder are posted below. The images are not terribly bloody, but may be disturbing.

Others: Chad Evans at In the Bullpen links to video. more...

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Yeah, you heard it right, pirates. The official line, that is, says it was pirates. However, the GAM Islamist group operates in the area. GAM advocates an Islamic state in Indonesia's Aceh province. Hostage taking is often used as a method to fund insurgent activities around the world. Earlier report here. more...

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More background on Minas al-Yusifi can be found in my earlier posts here and here. Al-Yousifi is the leader of a Kurdish Christian political party, recently returned to Iraq after exile in Sweden since the 1084.

Can a day go by without some European country paying ransom so that terrorists in Iraq can buy more weapons to kill Americans? His captors had said he would be beheaded unless a $4 million dollar ransom was paid. How many IEDs do you think they can make with $4 million?AP: more...

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Hostage taking is already the #2 source of cash for Columbian Maoist rebels (next to taxing cocaine), it is fast becoming the #2 source of cash (#1 is still 'charitable donations') for Islamist insurgents in Iraq. Yahoo News:

An Iraqi-born Spanish businessman kidnapped in Baghdad several weeks ago has been freed after a ransom was paid, Spain's leading daily reported.

El Pais reported that the kidnapped man, identified only by his initials, UAH, was freed on Tuesday, El Pais said, citing unidentified government sources.

The paper said the sources refused to give details of the ransom paid so as not to put people involved in the operation at risk.

The man was said to have Spanish nationality and passport since 2000, and for the past 30 years has lived in Spain, where he runs a translation firm and a real estate company, the daily said.

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Yes, you heard that right, pirates. What is missing from this report is that the 'pirates' are often GAM rebels who wish to set up an Islamist state in Indonesia's Northern Aceh province. Money from piracy is used to fund the insurgency in the same way that hostages and drugs are used elsewhere.

BBC:

Armed pirates have kidnapped two Japanese and a Filipino from a tugboat in the Malacca Strait. The pirates struck on Monday night and seized money and documents from the Japanese-registered boat.

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So, the Italians pay ransom for the release of a woman who was in no danger of being harmed. The money is used by insurgents to buy weapons to kill Italians. Italy not cooperating in finding Giuliana Sgrena's captors. Italians announce withdrawal from Iraq. Sgrena's captors use money to kill Americans instead. I'm speechless.

Oh, and check this new message from al Qaeda to Italy (via LGF) “Jihad (holy war) has started to bear fruit.”

New York Times:

Iraqi investigators who are trying to find the kidnappers of the Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena say their work has been stymied by a lack of cooperation from the Italian intelligence services that won her release exactly a month after she was abducted on Feb. 4.

The Iraqi investigators say they conducted as many as half a dozen raids in a northwest Baghdad neighborhood where they think Ms. Sgrena, 56, a reporter for the far-left Rome daily Il Manifesto, was being held. But the kidnappers slipped through their fingers, and she was released after the abductors negotiated with Italian intelligence agents. One of those agents was killed when American troops fired on the car taking Ms. Sgrena to freedom.

Even after her release, Italian officials have refused to share information with the Iraqis, said Col. Jabbar Anwar, chief of the major crimes unit in the sector of Baghdad that includes Gazalea, the neighborhood where she was thought to be held.

The ring that committed the kidnapping was a profit-making organization that is likely to repeat the crime, he said.

Colonel Jabbar and a second officer in the crimes unit said the investigation suggested that the kidnappers were tipped off to Ms. Sgrena's itinerary on the day she was seized. On Feb. 4, Ms. Sgrena went to a district near the University of Baghdad to conduct interviews at a Sunni mosque where refugees from Falluja had been staying.....

Security guards at the mosque gate were acting suspiciously, Mr. Pagetti said. "They were asking us how many weapons we have," he said, "how many foreigners and if we had a second car."...

The Iraqi investigators say eight kidnappers brandishing pistols and Kalashnikovs, their faces hidden by head cloths, had arrived in a gray Opel and a black Kia. Witnesses heard Ms. Sgrena scream as the kidnapping unfolded.

Her frightened driver neglected to inform a nearby university guard. The driver was later detained by the police and is still being held, according to the second officer in the crimes unit.....

Information from the Italians, Colonel Jabbar asserted, could have made the difference in cracking the case and bringing the kidnappers to justice. Instead, he said, his investigators saw the lines of communication shut down once the Italians began negotiating with the kidnappers.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:50 AM | Comments (15) | Add Comment
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Sir George over at AIR has this from The Times (UK). Several important questions need answering:

But then the report mentioned a message from a group named the Jihad, saying that if Berlusconi did not withdraw Italian troops from Iraq by the next evening, she would be killed. “I believed it, even though my guards told me they didn’t want to kill me,” she says.

One kidnapper told her they had a right to liberate their country. “You’re telling me,” she shot back. “I’ve always said that and I’m not an Iraqi.”

“If you want to kill me, you might as well do it now . . . In any case it’s easier to kill a woman than to go and fight the Americans in the street.”

She did suggest that she appeal to the Italian people to demonstrate in favour of a withdrawal of the countryÂ’s 3,000 troops. But when the guards filmed her, they told her the film wasnÂ’t dramatic enough. She was a hostage, they insisted, she must be more convincing and ordered her to make a direct appeal to her boyfriend of 25 years, Pier Scolari. For the first time, Sgrena broke down in tears.

Achmed: We demand 1 million lira for Sgrena's release! (pinky to mouth)

Sgrena: Er, 1 million lira is like $700 U.S. dollars.

Achmed: Oh? Really.....

Sgrena: Yeah........

Achmed: Ok....We demand 1 billion lira! (pinky finger to mouth)

Sgrena:....

Achmed: What? Too much??.....

Sgrena: Well.....er.....better. That's like $700,000 U.S.

Achmed:.....

Sgrena:......

Achmed:.......So?

Sgrena: Wouldn't you be able to fund more Iraqi 'Minutemen' to kill the Zionist-Crusader forces with like a trillion lira......???

Achmed:.......

Sgrena:...............

Achmed:You know we invented the zero, don't you?

Posted by: Rusty at 11:40 AM | Comments (20) | Add Comment
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Go to Google News. Do a quick search for 'Sgrena'. Notice all the headlines questioning Sgrena's veracity? Now breathe big sigh of relief.

Oh, and check this out via Flopping Aces. Italy is telling Sgrena shut shut her pie-hole. Do you think it was the constant changing of the shooting story or the tales of the US using nuclear weapons in Iraq that they are concerned with? News.com.au:

ITALY'S justice minister has urged former hostage Giuliana Sgrena to stop making "careless" accusations after being shot by US forces in Baghdad, saying she had already caused enough grief.

Ms Sgrena has repeatedly suggested US soldiers shot her on purpose and said today she had little faith in a joint investigation by Italy and the United States into the "friendly fire" incident.
"She has created enormous problems for the Government and also caused grief that perhaps was better avoided," Justice Minister Roberto Castelli told reporters in Bologna.

Moonbat Alert Update: uruknet has written some pretty nasty things about Charles Johnson and myself in the past. Check out their new theory on what really happpened:

Adding it all up, it appears that John Negroponte became aware that Giuliana Sgrena was leaving Iraq with dangerous information about what American forces had been up to in committing war crimes in Falluja. Negroponte's experience in Honduras (12) gave him a certain expertise in covering up human rights violations, and he ordered his own personal bodyguard to assassinate Sgrena in a staged incident which was supposed to look like the usual problem at an American checkpoint in Iraq.

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Interesting development, Sgrena being questioned by police AGAIN. Hmmmmm, could it be all the inconsistencies in her tale? AP:

Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors conducting their own investigation on Thursday questioned former Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena again in the Rome military hospital where she is recovering from a shoulder wound sustained in the March 4 shooting.

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I'm not complaing, though. As long as the word on Sgrena gets out I'm happy. Need I remind new readers that I've been bitch-slapping Sgrena since the day she was taken hostage? Check it out.

Oh and speaking of plagiarism: calling Ward Churchill!!

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Wait, so even the Italians didn't know of Sgrena's release?

Giuliana Sgrena photoshop contest.

Sgrena, the musical.

Stalin vs. Bukharin--Sgrena's take.

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NPR ran a six minute segment of an interview with Giuliana Sgrena yesterday. Sylvia Poggioli, in typical NPR fashion, let's Sgrena's inconsistencies pass. Here is a transcript of the lie I caught Sgrena telling:

(Poggioli's voice) She [Sgrena] denies the U.S. military account that the Italians' car was speeding, that soldiers made hand signals, and flashed warning lights to get it to stop.

(Sgrena's voice then a translation) Suddenly we were riddled by gunfire, but the lights went on only after we had been hit.

The Americans shone a flashlight at the car and then fired

According to the division, the patrol attempted to warn the driver to stop by hand and arm signals, flashing white lights, and firing warning shots in front of the car."

Can some one please remind me why US taxpayers are paying Sylvia Poggioli's salary if she believes her job is to smear the good name of US soldiers and repeat the lies and inconsistencies of a woman actively working for their deaths?

UPDATE: Captain Ed notices more evolution in the Sgrena story. With each day, her story cahnges and gets worse and worse.

UPDATE II: Right-wing Nuthouse on the same page. OCC chronicle speculates on what I have been saying since the beginning.

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Major K. reports an incident in Iraq, where he is stationed:

A short distance from our FOB, A US convoy was driving down the road. As they headed to their destination a civilian vehicle pulled on from a side alley and attempted to get into the convoy....Unable to deter the vehicle from approaching the US convoy or make it pull over, the IPÂ’s [Iraqi Police] fired at the engine of the encroaching vehicle. At this point, the driver detonated the IED inside his vehicle. Yes, this was a classic VBIED.

This suicide bomber killed himself and the four IPÂ’s in the vehicle holding him at bay. The device was so powerful that the bomberÂ’s vehicle was literally obliterated. The engine block was thrown over 25 meters. The IPÂ’s vehicle was nothing but a burned out shell. All four IPÂ’s inside perished in the blast, but not a scratch was inflicted on the vehicles or personnel of the US convoy.

Posted by: Rusty at 01:29 PM | Comments (26) | Add Comment
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1 it's not just Americans who are dying for Iraqis, but Iraqis dying for Americans. Poor bastards. Poor, poor bastards.

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at March 10, 2005 03:30 PM (9+bUG)

2 Sgrena can consider herself extremely lucky to be alive. If someone had to die in that car, too bad it was Calipari.

Posted by: Van Helsing at March 10, 2005 04:11 PM (vC1jc)

3 Gee, didn'tke I say that somewhere here in these postings? Any car that is not going to stop and is going the speed it is, is going to be taken as a suicide bomber. Man, I know that comment is somewhere on these pages. Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at March 10, 2005 04:38 PM (PEKrh)

4 Any car that is travelling near an US convoy is going to be taken as a suicide bomber and shot at? Men, you have to be proud to have freed Iraq like this! Keep freeing it, and there won't be any Iraqis left to be freed. Who's to be freed next? Iran, Syria? Russia? Or China maybe? Why not Canada and France?

Posted by: paul at March 10, 2005 05:06 PM (53m2/)

5 Good job Paul of making the violence in Iraq the fault of the victims. Zarqawi would be proud of your efforts.

Posted by: Robin Roberts at March 10, 2005 05:38 PM (xauGB)

6 I think we need to annex Canada. They have plenty of fresh water. As for France...well, I like beaujolais, ok, lets annex France too but pass a law that requires women to shave their armpits.

Posted by: Mr. K at March 10, 2005 08:06 PM (yfis9)

7 Don't let the cat out of the bag, Mr.K, but I think the Albertans will support an invasion to free them from Ottawa's domination.

Posted by: Robin Roberts at March 10, 2005 10:53 PM (xauGB)

8 Jawa You people are some scary motherlovers. Blood lust describes this site.

Posted by: Patsy at March 10, 2005 11:58 PM (6MOxp)

9 Don't let the cat out of the bag, Mr.K, but I think the Albertans will support an invasion to free them from Ottawa's domination. You are kidding, arent'you? Because, if you are not, Canadians really should begin to worry.

Posted by: paul at March 11, 2005 02:42 AM (S5JC5)

10 PAUL: How many years did it take you to learn to turn a computer on? It was humor. Leave this blog now. We have enough moonbats.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 11, 2005 03:01 AM (CBNGy)

11 Well, I was stupid not to understand it was a joke, I can't deny that. But think about it... Think how the US image has changed if not-US people (like me) find it conceivable that they could invade Canada! The problem is that I used to love America, and now America scares me to my bones.

Posted by: paul at March 11, 2005 04:41 AM (8U5to)

12 We should annex America Lite (Canada) but I think we should ethically cleanse the French out of Canada and Europe The bunch of cheese eatin' surrender monkeys! I am sooo glad that everyone is afraid of the US and what we might do....that's the way it ought to be (tongue slightly in cheek)

Posted by: Moriarti at March 11, 2005 06:50 AM (dLFsa)

13 Yea, Yea. Most moonbats are always afraid of something.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 11, 2005 08:37 AM (CBNGy)

14 Don't worry we won't invade Canada. If we did, we would have to take in the ragsheads on every street corner in Toronto. Maybe there are more in Montreal. Don't know as I don't travel to French territory.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 11, 2005 08:42 AM (CBNGy)

15 I guess I shouldn't tell Paul about the tv show Southpark, should I? Back to topic, Sgrena has started telling yet another version of her story that shows her lack of credibility link here to Captain Ed's discussion.

Posted by: Robin Roberts at March 11, 2005 09:07 AM (xauGB)

16 During an argument between the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Peres said that Israelis' policies of continued violence might "turn the US against us".   To this Sharon retorted:   "EVERY TIME WE DO SOMETHING, YOU TELL ME AMERICANS WILL DO THIS AND WILL DO THAT. I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING VERY CLEAR: DON'T WORRY ABOUT AMERICAN PRESSURE ON ISRAEL;   WE, THE JEWISH PEOPLE, CONTROL AMERICA. AND THE AMERICANS KNOW IT."   -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon October 3, 2001 (IAP News)

Posted by: greg at March 11, 2005 04:52 PM (/+dAV)

17 Greyrooster welcome back your wit and charm have been sorely missed

Posted by: sparky at March 11, 2005 06:15 PM (F1nba)

18 Paul, For your positive opinon about America to change so easily means either it was never earnest, or, that you have no clue what this country has historically done when attacked - do not let eight years of Clinton's passive foreign policy and weakness convince you we are something we are not.

Posted by: jcrue at March 11, 2005 06:47 PM (Qs+xB)

19 "greg", You don't mention that "IAP News" is an islamic terrorist organization. The bottom line? You are an anti-semite liar found on the sole of my shoes. And a terrorist symp. CAMERA debunks the lie by "greg".

Posted by: SPQR at March 11, 2005 08:51 PM (xauGB)

20 greg: either share your drugs or quit posting the same thing over and over. Sparky: Back, but a little lighter in the pockets. All in family either sore or sick. The crap tables are better than ski slopes even if you pay a little. Local brothel now run by the Federal Government. No shit! They took it over for back taxes. Figured if the feds were there I wouldn't be. Rather buck the dice than the feds. Never heard of taxing P___y before. Only in America. God, I love it.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 11, 2005 11:26 PM (CBNGy)

21 A well sick and sore means you had a great time I hope you and your family are visiting my Beautiful Country when you come to the UK Bonnie Scotland has no P---- Tax you should love it

Posted by: sparky at March 12, 2005 08:33 AM (F1nba)

22 And some bonnie redheads.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 13, 2005 12:44 PM (CBNGy)

23 I must be slipping. Cindy hasn't corrected me yet. She's my politically correct conscience. Now, now greyrooster, you must be more sensitive of the feelings of others. After 4 shots of Johnny Walker she's probably correct. Sparkys fault. Got me thinking about Scotland. Just heard 6 people were killed in a church this morning. I kill you in the name of God who is all merciful. Bullshit. If I were Emperor of the United Nations I would outlaw religion. Ah. United Nations. Now thats a bunch of bullshit. No such animal. United, yea sure! United to protect their jobs and stupid diplomatic immunity.

Posted by: greyrooster at March 13, 2005 09:17 PM (CBNGy)

24 Think me'll hav nothr ohnny Walkie

Posted by: greyrooster at March 13, 2005 09:24 PM (CBNGy)

25 US Report of Caliapri's death http://www.marcoworld.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=47

Posted by: Marco at May 02, 2005 02:21 PM (ck64Q)

26 You can't be 24238 serious?!?

Posted by: Mary Box at August 02, 2006 04:58 PM (rVMOQ)

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In another contradiction from earlier stories, Giuliana Sgrena's boyfriend now claims she "collected handfuls of bullets on the seats." In related news, eye-witnesses to the Sgrena shooting now are reporting that they heard shots fired from "the grassy noll". Developing....... (multiple shout-outs to the many people who tipped me on this)

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Isn't it more likely that the military official who told ABC that Sgrena's car "was traveling in excess of 100 mph" is a little confused about the metric system and meant to say "100 kph"? That would be about 60 mph, still too fast for a bombed out Baghdad road yet consistent with Sgrena's (or at least, one of her contradictory) version and the US version of the story.

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