Our Romanian affairs reporter, Adi, informs us that former hostage in Iraq and American citizen, Mohammed Monaf, has been indicted in Romania for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to abduct three Romanian journalists in Iraq. The three Romanian victims were Marie Jeanne Ion, Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, and Edward Ovidiu Ohanesian.

The Jawa Report, with the help of Romanian reader Adi, has been reporting from the beginning that speculation abounded that Muhammed Monaf was involved in the kidnapping.

As we reported here on March 31st:

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.

Adi e-mailed me about this several days ago. I postponed doing a post on this until it hit the MSM in the US. As of today, this is getting little to no US press coverage. Why is that? An American citizen is taken hostage in Iraq, released, and then is found to have been part of the plot to take journalists hostage? Outrageous!!

Swiss Info:

Romania on Friday charged the translator for three Romanian journalists who were held in Iraq for 55 days, and an Arab businessman, of orchestrating the kidnapping.

Prosecutors said the reporters' guide, Mohamad Munaf, who was seized with the journalists on March 28, and Romanian-Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam were charged with "initiating, funding and coordinating the March 28 kidnapping."

The general prosecutor's office said the kidnapping was part of an elaborate plot aimed at turning Hayssam into a hero in Romania in the hope that it would help him escape potential punishment for previous charges of organized crime and economic-financial wrongdoings.

"The abduction and threats by the Iraq group were aimed at triggering a strong psychological impact on the (Romanian) population, to depict Hayssam as a liberator of the journalists," it said in a statement.

"Warrant arrests for 30 days were issued," it said.

Prima TV reporter Marie Jeanne Ion, 32, cameraman Sorin Miscoci, 30, and reporter for Romania Libera daily Ovidiu Ohanesian, 37 were kidnapped along with Munaf while on a short trip to Baghdad. They were shown in tapes aired by Al Jazeera.

The three returned home on Monday but Munaf remained in Iraq under U.S. custody for investigations. The U.S. embassy in Bucharest said he had information indicating "an imminent threat" to the coalition forces in Iraq....

Hayssam, who lives in Romania, had told local media immediately after the kidnapping that he received a telephone call from the insurgents asking for $4 million in exchange for their freedom.

Authorities, suspecting foul play, immediately arrested Hayssam for questioning.

Romanian prosecutors said nine people captured in Baghdad in April in connection with the case, supplied the information leading to the charges brought against the two Arab businessmen.

Posted by: Rusty at 01:37 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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UPDATE 6/09: Clementina Cantoni has been freed!!! Click here for 6/09 update announcing the CARE International aid worker's release.

Clementina Cantoni was abducted from her car in Kabul on May 16th. The 32 year old Cantoni works for CARE International, the same organization that executed hostage Margaret Hassan worked for. Unlike Hassan, though, Cantoni was working in a country who's occupation and invasion was approved by the UN. So much for the international cooperation theory of terrorism......

Photo right: A still image from the Clementina Cantoni hostage video.

On the streets of Kabul today, hundreds of Afghan women took to the streets to protest Cantoni's plight. CARE International has helped countless women receive food aid in that nation's capital.

Canoe:

A video of a kidnapped Italian aid worker was broadcast yesterday on Afghan television, showing her wrapped in a brown blanket and flanked by two men aiming rifles at her head -- a tactic reminiscent of Iraqi abductions....

In the video, Clementina Cantoni, 32, a CARE International worker, responded to prompts from a man not shown on the video, identifying herself and naming her father, mother and an uncle.

The tape, broadcast by independent Tolo TV, then zoomed in on her face. She had a blue scarf on her head, spoke quietly and looked nervous.

It was not clear when the recording was made. But near the end, the man speaking off-camera asked Cantoni the date.

"Today is May 28, Sunday," she said. The date referred to Saturday and the discrepancy was not explained.

Cantoni was abducted May 16, dragged from a car by four armed men on the way to her Kabul home. She has been in Afghanistan since 2002 and was working on a project to help Afghan widows and their families.

Italy's foreign ministry confirmed the woman on the video was Cantoni.

Posted by: Rusty at 01:07 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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The al Qaeda linked Army of Ansar al-Sunnah website has announced the death of Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito. The group claimed in their earlier website to have attacked his convoy on May 9th killing all civilians except Saito [earlier post here along with pics and screenshot of now defunct website]. They also had previously claimed that Saito was injured. The video may be download here. Graphic images below.

Today's announcement was also accompanied by a nearly four minute propaganda video. Unlike other Ansar al-Sunnah propaganda videos in the past, this one did not show Saito being killed. Rather, it shows a number of photographs and documents taken from Saito when he was captured, and then cuts to graphic images of an already dead victim.

According to the SITE institute:

The group claimed that Mr. Saito fired at its members with his automatic weapon, so “the Brother had no choice but to shoot him with multiple bullets.” According to the message, Mr. Saito was not immediately killed. As American forces surrounded the area, the group claimed they were forced to retreat. Upon their return to the area, the message said, they had found that Mr. Saito had died of his wounds.

Ansar al-Sunnah had previously released video of that ambush which can be found here. The fact that several weeks passed between Saito's death and the release of this video today may indicate that the group is under heavy pressure from US forces. The group is also linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who is rumored to be dead.

Thanks to Chad Evans of In the Bullpen for alerting me. He has more commentary here. Digger also has images here.

Vlad has mirrored the Ansar al-Sunnah website here since the terrorists make it a habit of using short-lived free webhosting services.

James Joyner has the MSM reaction and blogger round up.

Screenshots and graphic images below. WARNING: THESE IMAGES ARE GRAPHIC AND SHOW THE TRUE FACE OF THE TERRORIST ENEMIES WE FIGHT. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 02:32 PM | Comments (28) | Add Comment
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I received word of American Mohamed Monaf's release from Romanian reader Adi a few days ago. It's just hitting the Western press today, though. Three Romanian journalists were also released. As Adi reminded me in his e-mail, though, there are many questions that remain unanswered about this hostage crisis. Most important of these questions is that Monaf did not return to Romania where it seems he is now wanted in connection for unrelated crimes committed with Omar Hayssam. Omar Hayssam is also the man who is said to be responsible for freeing the hostages. Very odd and sordid tale indeed. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 04:16 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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The family of an Australian man taken hostage in Iraq has started a blog. The Douglas Wood Family Website makes an appeal to Wood's captors to release him and is written in both English and Arabic. The site appears to use a standard blogger template.

It's an interesting approach to helping free Mr. Wood. Let's hope it works.

The family has announced that it has made a 'large charitable contribution to the people of Iraq' in an effort to free Douglas Wood. I'm not sure whether that is a veiled way of saying they paid ransom or if the family expects Wood's captors to view him more favorably because of it. It seems a bit out of touch with reality, though.

There are two types of hostage takers in Iraq. First are terror groups. They care about using the hostage situation only in so far as it serves their propaganda needs. Second are criminal gangs. They care about using the hostage situation only in so far as it seves their financial needs. In neither case would a charitable donation mean anything.

We hope and pray for Mr. Wood's quick release, his good health, and that his captors meet a swift and violent death.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:06 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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I don't think Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has his sights set so low. Ananova:

An Australian prison guard held hostage for two days was released after a ransom demand for pizzas was met.

Up to 20 inmates at the Risdon Prison in Hobart, Tasmania, seized the guard in a protest over conditions in the maximum security jail.

Initially they made 24 demands to authorities, but eventually gave up their hostage after agreeing to 15 pizzas, Coke and garlic bread instead.

"At midnight, the final sticking point with the inmates was that they were requiring pizzas to be delivered. Our staff member was negotiated out with the delivery of 15 pizzas," Graeme Barber, Tasmania's director of prisons, told The Advocate newspaper.

Posted by: Rusty at 11:54 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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No word from the Army of Ansar al-Sunna on Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito. Then again, their websites were sort of taken down last night. I wonder how that could have happened? Anyway, our original story is here along with screenshots of the now defunct website's announcement that Saito had been captured. Since these sites go down quickly, Vlad had the foresight to mirror the orginal here.

Also, the deadline for Australian hostage Douglas Wood has passed. Still no word as to his fate.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:55 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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1 Praise be to Amaterasu, the Jap is free.

Posted by: A Finn at May 11, 2005 02:59 AM (cWMi4)

2 So... what's قال تعالى (قَاتِلُوهُمْ يُعَذِّبْهُمْ اللَّهُ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ وَيُخْزِهِمْ وَيَنْصُرْكُمْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَيَشْفِ صُدُورَ قَوْمٍ مُؤْمِنِينَ * وَيُذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَيَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَى مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ التوبة الآية 14-15 الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر ... تمكن إخوانكم المجاهدين وبعد وصول معلومات حول خروج عدد من السيارات من قاعدة الأسد الأمريكية العسكرية التي تحمل مقاولين ومخابرات غربيين تساندهم قوات الردة متخفين بملابس مدنية وسيارت صالون طبيعية فكمن لهم المجاهدين كميناً عند وصولهم في منطقة بالقرب من هيت، وعند وصولهم تلك المنطقة خرج عليهم المجاهدين كالأسود حيث كان عدد المرتدين 12 عراقي إضافة إلى خمسة أجانب متسلحين بأحدث أنواع الأسلحة الرشاشة والرمانات اليدوية، ودارت معركة طاحنة استدعى خلالها المرتدين والأجانب إلى إمدادات القوات الأمريكية وبالحال أرسل المجاهدين إمدادات فوصلت مفارز المجاهدين قبل وصول المروحيات الصليبية فهجم عليهم المجاهدين هجوماً كاسحاً أدى إلى إصابة العديد منهم إصابات بالغة مما اضطرهم إلى الاستسلام في هذه الإثناء وصلت المروحيات الأمريكية فقام المجاهدين بأسرهم وقتلهم بالحال باستثناء أحدهم وهو ياباني الجنسية كما مبين في وثائقه إدناه وهو الآن في قبضة المجاهدين إلا أنه مصاب بإصابات بالغة وسنقوم بتصويره ونشره قريباً، وكذلك سنقوم بنشر وثائق وصور الذين تم قتلهم أما المجاهدين فقد من الله عليهم بالنصر وبفضل الله لم يصب أحداً منهم، وعند انسحابهم قامت المروحيات الأمريكية in English/any reasonably understandable writing?

Posted by: A Finn at May 11, 2005 04:21 AM (cWMi4)

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UPDATE 5/28/05: The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah has posted a video and images of Saito Akihiko's dead body. Apparently, Mr. Saito was killed in the initial battle.

News, links to the video and Ansar al-Sunnah website, and images from the video may be FOUND IN THIS UPDATED POST HERE.

If you are looking for the latest information about hostages and terrorists in Iraq, please GO TO THE MAIN PAGE HERE.

------------------------------------
Begin original post:

The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah claims to have taken a Japanese man hostage. The man, Akihiko Saito, is alleged by the al Qaeda linked group to have been taken from a convoy 'during a fierce battle in Western Iraq,' in what might be a reference to earlier reports of a successful U.S. attack near the Syrian border. The group also posted a photo of Akikiko Saito's passport and promised more photos would be forthcoming.

Scotsman:

Iraqi militants claimed today they took a Japanese security contractor hostage after ambushing a convoy of foreigners and Iraqi troops in western Iraq.

The Ansar al-Sunnah Army identified the Japanese hostage as Akihito Saito, 44, and posted a photocopy of his passport, including his picture, on the group’s official website. It said Saito was “severely injured” in the fight.

The report could not be independently confirmed. Junji Gomakudo, First Secretary at the Japanese Embassy in Baghdad, said officials were trying to confirm a report of a kidnapped Japanese citizen but said they did not know if the claim was true.

The group posted other photo ID cards allegedly belonging to Saito, with one identifying him as a security manager of Hart GMSSCO, a British-based firm that provides security in Iraq. Another document seemed to be a weapons permit....

JapanÂ’s Kyodo News agency said Saito was employed by a security firm from Cyprus and may have been working as a security officer at a US facility.

The group said Saito was seized after Ansar al-Sunnah fighters ambushed a convoy of five foreign contractors, protected by 12 members of the Iraqi security forces. It claimed all of them were killed in the fight except for the Japanese. It said some of the foreigners were intelligence agents.

If Akihiko Saito is still alive, he won't be for long. His life only serves the propaganda purposes of Ansar al-Sunna. The group just released the videotaped murder of a dozen or so Sudanese worders last week.

Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq (formerly known as Tawhid and Jihad) murdered Shosei Koda last year in a gruesome beheading video. Ansar al-Sunna has close ties to Zarqawi and often collaborates with him.

UPDATE: Screen shot and more photos from Ansar al-Sunna website below along with more photos and announcement. (Thank to Vlad and Polish Expert for links)

Developing......

Others: John Little, Chad at In The Bullpen more...

Posted by: Rusty at 01:48 PM | Comments (57) | Add Comment
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1 I think that the terrorists keep making stupid mistakes. If they think that kidnapping and killing Japanese citizens will make Japan pull out of their promise, they are sadly mistaken. The Japanese, at least those in the military, still hold to Bushido, and they are our greatest ally in our fight against terror. The Japanese peacekeeping forces, as well as the South Korean's, won't put up with people killing their citizens, and one day, I'm sure, there will be a cleaning out of the terrorists hideouts. Those of us, who hold our allies very dear, pray that this man will be returned to his country alive and in good condition.

Posted by: A Texan at May 10, 2005 01:12 AM (LtbPK)

2 NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not Akihiko Saito! Why, oh why is this world such a bad place? He was only 44 years young, he shouldn't die yet... rofl

Posted by: A Finn at May 10, 2005 02:19 AM (cWMi4)

3 You people just dony understand islam - no matter what you do there will always be frredom fighters (so called 'insurgents') willing to scarifice their lives to stop the US forces oppressing the iraqi people. YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ISLAM AND FOR THAT REASON YOU WILL NEVER SUCCEED!!

Posted by: sbhgvvr at May 10, 2005 02:46 PM (bXAtD)

4 Nice. I guess beheading prisoners of war is acceptible in Islam? Oh, I forgot, Mohammed started the practice.......

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at May 10, 2005 04:34 PM (JQjhA)

5 I'm currently stationed in Baghdad, and have dealt with Iraqi's and have some understanding of what's going on over here. The only ones doing the oppressing are the insurgents. As far as Islam is concerned, the insurgents are twisting it around for their own purposes. For the most part, Iraqi's and those who practice Islam are good people who want to make a better life for themselves. They just keep getting screwed over by extremists who try to destroy anything made by the USA and the other foreign governments over here. They end up killing more Iraqi's and Muslims then anyone else.

Posted by: T at May 10, 2005 07:40 PM (2kVHQ)

6 http://www.infovlad.net/mirror_alansar_alsunnah/

Posted by: yoshiya at May 11, 2005 12:47 AM (llpaM)

7 Its good that this people are kidnapping person in Iraq they should not be there. the Americans started it we this people will finish it. I want them to be take and abuse. The Americans do it to us why should we not do it to them. The Americans are going to lose.

Posted by: Bin Ladan at May 11, 2005 04:20 AM (DSmIQ)

8 Fuck you bin laddin. Why are you hiding. At least Bush doesnt hide. The Samurai never ran away either. You are a peace of shit, and when the US catches you I hope they kill you and your mother. You fucking pussy. I think that towel cut off the circulation to your brain. FUCK YOU BIN LADDIN AND YOUR BITCH SADDAM

Posted by: stars and stripes at May 11, 2005 06:33 AM (gU97i)

9 ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━ ━━━━━(ﾟ∀ﾟ ━━━━━

Posted by: samurai at May 11, 2005 08:26 AM (E42pC)

10 sinunaaaaa--

Posted by: miiii at May 11, 2005 08:49 AM (S/s9I)

11 情報ありません。　心配です。　いやな予感がしますが、生きて帰ってきてほしいです。

Posted by: みーーー at May 11, 2005 08:51 AM (S/s9I)

12 おｋｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗ

Posted by: かつわ at May 11, 2005 09:08 AM (lhikR)

13 生きて帰って来い

Posted by: japanese at May 11, 2005 09:11 AM (R1GgB)

14 どうか　ご無事でありますように

Posted by: japan at May 11, 2005 09:38 AM (OrcHk)

15 Spelling is wrong Not "Akikiko" He is A k i h i k o Don't Kill him Please

Posted by: Japanese at May 11, 2005 10:36 AM (R1GgB)

16 don't know why you guys keeping this Japanese guy. What's the point? Don't involve any inoccent people like this! I fucking hate Iraq and U.S. In you two will fight, fight till all die. I don't fucking care these son of a bitch. The U.S.Armies got money to do their job, they die for their job, and they get money for it. Just finish their job and finish this fucking struggle. It's all about money and oil. Who cares, man?

Posted by: kuso again at May 11, 2005 12:04 PM (P7xWX)

17 yes yes! testing

Posted by: kuso again at May 11, 2005 12:04 PM (P7xWX)

18 As for this case, the situation is special I understand a reason to kill The reason is to protect oneself However, you must not forget "Koda" The armed organization killed "Koda" of a private citizen Do not repeat tragedy It is my wish Stop it and bomb terrorism Please! I understand the reason why you kill a soldier well But I do not understand a reason to kill a citizen

Posted by: Japanese at May 11, 2005 08:22 PM (8Jl8u)

19 >Stop it and bomb terrorism Please! A correction Please stop bomb terrorism It is hard to use Web translation

Posted by: japanese at May 11, 2005 08:27 PM (8Jl8u)

20 Mastermind Ansar al-sunnnah! It is happy to murder peaceful people what. You die without fail. Liberate all people who are securing it as a captive unconditionally and immediately. Peace doesn't come to you if it doesn't open it. Peace to the world!

Posted by: Suck Terrorist at May 11, 2005 09:31 PM (pc2SS)

21 >>Mr. Suck~ Please stop words stimulating

Posted by: Japanese at May 12, 2005 03:40 AM (LWtDV)

22 ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST (this is for you ansar al-sunnah) Count every "F" in the following text: FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI FIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS... (SEE BELOW) HOW MANY ? ..................... 3? WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke. READ IT AGAIN ! Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down. The reasoning behind is further down. The brain cannot process "OF". Incredible or what? Go back and look again!! Anyone who counts all 6 "F's" on the first go is a genius. Three is normal, four is quite rare

Posted by: kill bill at May 12, 2005 07:26 AM (jtsqu)

23 The Japanese that been capture isnt a civilian. He is a Foreign Legion ( a unit of French military consists of foreigner) If u dumb enuf not knowing what it is go to www.wikipedia.com and search about it. There ia a foto on YahooNews today show that Akihiko isnt civilian and he is a soldier. So war kills soldiers. What are u guys whining of then?

Posted by: Koro at May 12, 2005 08:29 PM (GorT0)

24 Love & Peace! 愛こそすべて!

Posted by: neko dai suki♪ at May 14, 2005 09:03 PM (uSJOm)

25 if the iraqis suffered decades of abuse from the former persident and they failed to over throw him what chances have they got against the US and UK the two best, trainned and equiped armys in the WORLD! no chance guys! wake and smell the coffee! insurgents kill people working with the coalition forces, what for they are only trying to earn some money to make a living to re build there own lives! why is this a bad thing and why are they punished for wanting a life? screw the resistance you WILL fail

Posted by: jayce at May 16, 2005 07:01 PM (/Sf1E)

26 Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA! Fuck USA!

Posted by: Dominus Vis at May 20, 2005 10:06 PM (wHusB)

27 i want to see all kills by ansar alsune

Posted by: nwekar at May 21, 2005 02:05 AM (RUoH+)

28 well

Posted by: think and guess at May 22, 2005 09:09 AM (PoHSU)

29 i cant find the site for ansar al sunnah.american thje real enemy of freedom has blocked it. i wonder if bush(or better known monkey bush)knows the meaning of freedom.then he wants to present it.

Posted by: think and guess at May 22, 2005 09:12 AM (PoHSU)

30 W bush is saying the world is safer...hahahahaha thats wrong...just like 1 st may "ACCOMPLISHED MISSION" . bush wil go in 3 yrs but the iraqis people will hate american peopel for more than 100 yrs because for he mess they are doing to their country..when an amrican will be harmed in iraq just because he is american then he will remeber this unjust war and how many innocents befor him was harmed for what?? for nothing

Posted by: ghost at May 23, 2005 08:40 AM (A0uYs)

31 No aprendemos de los errores. Nazis, SS,KKK,Moros, cristianos...todos son la misma mierda

Posted by: spanish at May 28, 2005 03:49 AM (ALYUG)

32 not show that http://www.infovlad.net/?p=124. display that Service Temporarily Unavailable The server is temporarily unable to service your request due to maintenance downtime or capacity problems. Please try again later. as usual.

Posted by: 4655 at May 28, 2005 04:22 AM (tThzn)

33 Video and pictures have been released by Army of Ansur al-Sunnah of what they claim is Akihiko Saito. I have them over at Diggers Realm

Posted by: Digger at May 28, 2005 04:23 AM (c2i02)

34 fucking pigs!! DEAD TO ISLAM!! long leave the CID! kill all the MOROS!!!

Posted by: asdsa at May 28, 2005 06:08 AM (CL6/Q)

35 ご冥福をお祈りいたします。

Posted by: にほんこく at May 28, 2005 07:28 AM (it85/)

36 I guess if you strenghten the civilian institutions, boost local security forces, address the unemployment, and shoot suspected terrorists on sight you can get somewhere. But it will of course take time. There are enough fundamentalists in the region to support a very long low-intensive civil war. Maybe in a couple of decades you can get to the point where the fundamentalists are playing a very small role in society, like ETA in Spain. Or it could go worse, like Chechnya.

Posted by: Me at May 28, 2005 08:07 AM (Lsn9L)

37 戦争の犬が死んだ。 それがなにか問題なのか。 それが悲しいなんてあり得ない。

Posted by: 理路整然 at May 28, 2005 10:57 AM (h8cXo)

38 I SAY FUCK THE BULL SHYT AND BLAST ALL THEM MOTHERFUCKERS TO HELL SHOOT EM UP.THEY KILIN US BUT WHAT THE FUCK WE DOIN. SHIT, I SAY SPRAY THEM HO'S AND BOMB ON THEM MOTHERFUCKERS.TO SHOW THEY CANT FUCK WIT US. SHOW EM WE AINT NO PUSSIES AND JUST BLAST THEM BITCHES.

Posted by: JR at May 28, 2005 03:15 PM (Kn1uw)

39 well if half of you pussies would go and fight a war instead of bitching about "freedom" and mr monkey bush maybe you would understand the depth of the conflict instead of just bling about it,you have an issue with the republican policy stop whining and bitch at your congressman you have an issue with the iraq war stop being a baby next time they bomb your house and kill your loved ones all that said sgt a.screll 1st Battalion, 75 th Ranger Regiment

Posted by: adrian at May 28, 2005 04:30 PM (nUMI2)

40 à”ñ°ÇÃǻǢéÄÇ…å‰ñªïüÇ?ÅB

Posted by: å>=óbï? at May 28, 2005 06:16 PM (4CgFr)

41 USA is TRASH USA is TRASH USA is TRASH

Posted by: viewer at May 30, 2005 02:10 AM (WVDzq)

42 i think the US is the real terrorist, and no matter what they do, this fight will never end, they are in for a more deadly and bloody Vietnam. The so called terrorrist or insurgents are for me freedom fighters trying to free their land of occupying forces and they are doing well. for this to end the US must pull out of iraq because their main reason for going there is the oil and not WMD as claimed by bush. Shame to them!

Posted by: nickky at May 30, 2005 04:30 AM (0ekdE)

43 it is a right moment.we r all muslims with u . we pray for ur long lives .God bless u .amin

Posted by: hayatullah at June 09, 2005 01:23 PM (xS23m)

44 ALL I CAN SAY IS FUCK USA, FUCK BUSH< FUCK EVERYRY SINGLE AMERICAN THAT SUPPORTS WAR< AND HOPE BINLADEN SOON ATTACKS USA< BUT THIS TIME MAKE HARDER JUST BLOW THE MOTHER FUCKERS BRAINS OUT LIKE LITTLE TINY PIECES OF SHIT LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL FUCK USA PEACEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Posted by: FUCK USA at June 14, 2005 03:50 PM (fgfbW)

45 iraqi resistance has the right to defend thier land, what we see now is just the begining of long term fight..

Posted by: Hans at July 02, 2005 12:29 PM (ZkOcs)

46 PEACE

Posted by: R.G. at July 10, 2005 01:07 PM (Rz0j6)

47 And as look at these comments i think to myself, why are you all sinking down to the level of grouping the United States with the poor decisions of one man. Not all of the US supports the war and i certainly do not. I only fight for the country being as i am in the army and i dont support it. I WORK FOR THE GUY. I think all of you need to reflect what you are say and stop judging. Not all US citizens or military are bad and want to kill everyone. Some of us want it all to end so dont judge. Its not healthy.

Posted by: ArmyofOne at July 13, 2005 01:39 PM (jCQ+I)

48 La aq msabi!!!!

Posted by: Anna at July 19, 2005 11:12 PM (Xo52o)

49 I say cut the Shia's & Kurds loose...let them wipe out the Sunni Shits...They are the ones bombing people for Saddam and Bin Laden... You Sunni Jerks don't know what your in for...!! -Jimbo

Posted by: Jimbo at July 20, 2005 10:11 AM (0ViRJ)

50 You people dont understand shit. Bush is not the greatest president and I did not vote for him. That doesnt say kill the americans for the one person that is behind it all. This is a fucking joke, if they didnt want us in there country they should of had brains enough to run it. They didnt so we went in. Was it a smart move, no the smart move would of been to make them glow green at night. Is that a nice thing to say but neither is 1900 dead americans who are fulfilling there duty. You want us out then grow some brains instead of making bombs. Act like fucking human beings. You people are the dumb son of bitches that are instigating this shit.

Posted by: Real American at August 03, 2005 12:18 PM (tuSoy)

51 Wow, about 90% of these posts are pure dribble that appear to be written by people with an IQ of 80 or less. It's little wonder why that part of the world is so fucked up. Just for the record, the American people give more to the world in aid than all other countries combined. We cherish freedom. That means that while we may disagree with your dribble, we AGREE that you have a right to your own opinion. We also believe that you have the right to CHOOSE how to worship, or even to CHOOSE not to worship. The reason you will lose in the long run is because you don't have nearly the willpower that truly fee people posess. Once true freedom is experienced, you will never accept anything less. If you have the ability to actually think and reason, I would suggest you read a copy of "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankel. You will truly come to understand that you can never win this struggle.

Posted by: Vectorprime at August 03, 2005 04:07 PM (axqbP)

52 bin laden is a good guy american and british foreign policy is to blame on all suffering of the people in this world from palestine to africa if your goverment changes the way they conduct their foreign policy there will be peace in this world otherwise your will carry on suffering the way we suffer dont forget iraq is going to be another vietnam long live mujahaeeden and all marty of islam

Posted by: michael jackson at August 05, 2005 02:24 AM (tQ//i)

53 fuck islam and all the dirty weak gutted CUNTS that preach it! Fuck the extreemists and their piss ant courage.Fuck everyone of you bitch assed muslim CUNTS,your coward acts and your dirty whore mothers!!!

Posted by: foxhound at August 09, 2005 02:18 AM (r285Q)

54 All you stupid americans just all shut up!!! you dont know any thing about this howle war! the only thing you beleve is the sensort media made by those zionist jew's! The truth is that america whants oil and that the jews what to oppress all muslims! beside jew's what more and more might in our world it was a better way if al jews where killed in the 2nd world war! but still the zionists whants muight and power and they what to dominate our world oppress every one how tells his comment and that is wat its all about! dont know if you know but almost everyone execpt rumsfeld is an zionist in your goverment! so dont lissen to there lies! Allah Akbar

Posted by: Al-Qudar at August 30, 2005 07:12 PM (0+RcQ)

55 May Allah's curse be upon all the apostates of God. Peace for Prophet Muhammed and all Praise is for Allah swt. Allahu Akbar

Posted by: Ansar at September 26, 2005 08:44 PM (4/YXH)

56 It is sad to read so much hatred in just one site alone. I agree that Iraq should take care of its own people. Yet what they are doing is killing their own people! USA is not to blame for all of the wars in the Middle East. You all have always been in conflict - Just read any historical bible- regardless of religous backround! Hate is not the solution. Isalm doesn't promote hate- why then do you have a heavy heart full of hate?

Posted by: Against Hate at September 30, 2005 06:43 AM (aKSwY)

57 Guess what. Allah sucks my cock right now.. and he's pretty good at it. I bet he exercised at Osamas lil wiener.

Posted by: Hatred at October 07, 2005 06:05 AM (61nnb)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

The deadline set by the terrorist bastards for Australia to pull out of Iraq has expired. Thankfully, the Aussies will not negotiate with terrorists. Let's hope it is not too late for Douglas Wood........

Posted by: Rusty at 08:29 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 46 words, total size 1 kb.

Douglas Woods is to be murdered unless Australia removes all troops from Iraq in the next 72 hours. If you believe in some sort of higher power, please include Douglas Woods in your prayers. I'd start by praying that Mr. Wood's captors meet the justice they deserve at the end of an Australian soldier's bayonet....

CBC News

Iraqi militants holding an Australian hostage have given his government 72 hours to start pulling its troops out of Iraq, the Arab satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera reported Friday.

The network did not say what the militants were threatening to do to Douglas Wood if their demands were not met.

Many hostages have been killed by militants after their governments refused to withdraw from Iraq, however.

Al-Jazeera also aired new footage of Wood, 63, showing rifles pointed at his shaved head.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:44 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 174 words, total size 2 kb.

I had never heard of Abn Elias until today and I pride The Jawa Report as a place where no American hostage will be forgotten. I feel a deep sense of shame for overlooking this man. CNN International:

A year has passed since Aban Elias, an American engineer working in Iraq, appeared in a video on Arab television, blindfolded and pleading for his life.

There has been no sign of the married father of three since then, and his kidnapping is believed to be the longest of a U.S. civilian since the Iraq war began.

Elias, who is of Iraqi descent, is among at least five Americans the State Department knows is missing in Iraq. The group that claimed responsibility for his abduction, the Islamic Rage Brigade, has made no public demands for his release.

Susan is the ex-wife of American hostage Roy Hallums. You can see The Jawa Report's interview with her here [part 1] and here [part 2]. Our interview with Carrie Hallums Cooper, the daughter of Roy Hallums, is here [part 1] and here [part 2].

Posted by: Rusty at 09:44 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 208 words, total size 2 kb.

This Australian article is sad, sad, sad. Do not read it if you have loved ones in Iraq who are being held hostage. It attempts to piece together what life is like for Australian hostage Douglas Wood based on what freed hostages have said of their experiences.

Needless to say, this excludes Giuliana Sgrena who's only complaint was that her captors served Sanka.

more...

Posted by: Rusty at 04:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The time has come for the U.S. government to step up to the plate and start treating civillian hostages held in a war-zone as something that matters.

Carpe Bonum makes a series of proposals on how the U.S. government ought to respond to the hostage crisis in Iraq. While I'm not sure if he's 100% right on the specifics, I agree wholeheartedly that something has to be done differently. This post is a great start in getting a dialogue started about what should be done.

What are your thoughts? What could the U.S. government be doing differently in trying to rescue the forgotten hostages in Ira?

Posted by: Rusty at 09:18 AM | Comments (62) | Add Comment
Post contains 118 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Issue GPS tracking devices to civilians in danger of being kidnapped. Maybe a decoy with an implanted GPS will be successful to track those bastards down.

Posted by: Werner at May 03, 2005 09:42 AM (VaX3M)

2 Excellnet post. I would say the firts thing that the US could do is strat treating Iraki POW's with a bit better respeck that way when there own get captured they can be sure that US POWs will be treated with respeck too. Wasn't that what geneva convetion meant all to be bout?

Posted by: republican at May 03, 2005 09:51 AM (Bpvcg)

3 repulikan, wtf? I was actually writing a response when I realized I'd need a coloring book to my points understandable to you. Rusty, the State Department should continue in it's policy of not negotiating with terrorists. However, it strikes me as very wrong just to leave it at that. I like the GPS idea. For crying out loud, my mother-in-law's Camry tells here where on my street my house is. I also like the idea of ruthless manhunts of any insurgents performing abudctions.

Posted by: Gordon at May 03, 2005 10:04 AM (SN0Ew)

4 Given the behavior of the enemy and their cowardly use of non-combatants, I think it's questionable policy to allow noncoms into the country at all until the problem of terrorism in Iraq is resolved. While I appreciate the administration's committment to compassion and evenhandedness in Iraq policy, it's cost many lives and hindered the military's effectiveness. My proposal? Get the non-coms out, issue curfews and travel restrictions while conducting searches and securing the borders, use FDR's works programs to mobilize Iraqis to accomplish these things, and stop pretending like this is WWII Germany.

Posted by: tee bee at May 03, 2005 10:08 AM (q1JHF)

5 How about this: Dodge citizens listen up! ____________________ WANTED DEAD OR LIVE HOSTAGE TAKERS $$$HUGE REWARD$$$$ ____________________ Any tips to the whereabouts of terrorist kidnappers will be greatly rewarded worked with Udai and Qusai..

Posted by: IM at May 03, 2005 10:35 AM (a9tRx)

6 Tracking devices are a great idea pity our goverments didnt think of this. Makes you wonder how clever some of the people running our countries really are! Seems to me that when it comes to Soldiers fighting for their country they can never seem to find the cash to keep them safe yet when they are promoting themselves or having meetings there seems to be and endless flow of cash. Just an observation. Republican Geneva Convention, it can only work when both parties agree to have "war by Rules" and the terrorists only go by their own rules so the Geneva Convention doesnt seem to apply to them!

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 10:56 AM (F1nba)

7 The sad thing is that history shows us that the only way to respond is through direct action. There is a lot going on in the background that only a few know about. It is all an intel operation. We have to rely on a lucky break or damn good ground work to find this stuff. Remember, people are kidnapped in the US and the FBI can never find them. The last thing we should do is to show any weakness or any willingness to buy/negotiate with the kidnappers. That just increases the value of every head out there. Simple economics. South American is a nighmare WRT kidnapping because the habit there is to pay them off. The only way to deal with kidnappers is to find them and kill them-the more public the better. In Phibians world we would then wrap their bodies in pig skin and bury them with a dog....but that is just me.

Posted by: CDR Salamander at May 03, 2005 11:07 AM (PJ4Iq)

8 HUH? What makes the author, or anyone else think even for one moment it can be controlled. The army can't even control one 6 mile stretch of road from Baghdad to its airport. No one can say when or where a person will be kidnapped, so what good is planting a gps locator on them. Maybe we should make small ones and stick them up peoples buttholes. Besides, our troops aren't adequately protected to make such an endevour, not to mention the fact it will take a draft to completely erradicate these kidnappers. HELLO?! As a side bar, here's a link to a site called Operation Truth. Last Thursday, the senate voted on releasing emergency funding ($213 million) for up-armouring Humvees, as well as other items. There were 39 Nays. Of the 39, 38 were Republicans including Frist, Dole, Hatch. If this is what these jerks call supporting the troops, I would rather see them get sent to Iraq and made to stand guard duty on airport road in Baghdad. Maybe the insurgents will get rid of them for us.

Posted by: David Eccles at May 03, 2005 11:19 AM (UCtX/)

9 Link - http://www.optruth.org/main.cfm?actionId=blogShowExcerpts&blogId=14&entryID=498

Posted by: David Eccles at May 03, 2005 11:20 AM (UCtX/)

10 send in the 101'st keyboard brigade?

Posted by: actus at May 03, 2005 11:46 AM (CqheE)

11 David, your post demonstrates what I said - I don't see this as a matter addressed simply by throwing money or troops at it. Which isn't the same as saying, "Run away!" Salamander's point that there is covert effort is valid, but it will have limited impact if we don't reduce the number of targets - noncoms and high-profile civilians - and put serious manpower into stopping terrorist planning and preparation. IM brings up the success of rewards, but that can't be replicated very well without falling into the trap Gordon notes of it becoming an unseemly business venture rather than an aspect of law enforcement. Concerted and visible manpower exerting control over the population will make an impact and help isolate terrorists so they can be impeded and caught. And it will put the Iraqis in charge of change in Iraq.

Posted by: tee bee at May 03, 2005 12:12 PM (q1JHF)

12

I like the GPS idea. For crying out loud, my mother-in-law's Camry tells here where on my street my house is.

I keep seeing these ideas for tracking devices. Tracking devices on sex offenders. Tracking devices on potential hostages. It makes me wonder what people think a GPS device does.

People are talking about tracking devices as if your mother-in law's Camry would tell you where she is. It doesn't. A GPS device issued to a sex offender or a potential hostage might tell the sex offender or the hostage where they are, but it doesn't help law enforcement find them.

Posted by: Anachronda at May 03, 2005 12:35 PM (qmJpf)

13

One more thing. If Martha Stewart leaves her home, the ankle bracelet doesn't help the cops find her. What happens is that if the ankle bracelet gets too far from a device attached to her phone, the phone dials the cops to let her know she's out of range. But it doesn't let them track her. It just lets them know she's violated the terms of her confinement.

Posted by: Anachronda at May 03, 2005 12:39 PM (IrbU4)

14

My understanding of how ankle bracelets work is apparently obsolete. Sorry to waste everyone's time.

Posted by: Anachronda at May 03, 2005 12:44 PM (NmR1a)

15 The only thing these beasts understand is Blood. Find their relatives in their home countries. Kidnap them. Saw their heads off on Video. Display them in public. Russians did that with much success in Chechnya. The beasts do not abide by any convention so it does not matter much how you treat your POWS because they will still saw your head off. TO recap- Track down the terrorists family in their home countries(not so hard). Kill them. Kids, mothers, fathers, uncles, grandmothers, fav. uncles..the whole f-ing lot of them. You are not going to beat them by giving them steak and hot showers.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 12:50 PM (yBHNA)

16 Actus: That was freaking hillarious.

Posted by: Howie at May 03, 2005 12:56 PM (D3+20)

17 I agree Filthy. There ain't no way that the Beastie is gunna fight all proper and shit. We's gotsta git down wit da boogie man and scrap like we just one generation outta da trees and shit.

Posted by: Harold T. Fancypants at May 03, 2005 01:44 PM (yBHNA)

18 "Track down the terrorists family in their home countries(not so hard). Kill them. Kids, mothers, fathers, uncles, grandmothers, fav. uncles..the whole f-ing lot of them. "-Filthy That's right you Nazi pigs, show your true colors. No more of this "compassionate fascism", let's out Hitler, Hitler./sarcasm

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 01:46 PM (/+dAV)

19 It is what they will do to you and your family Mr. Hitler

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 01:49 PM (yBHNA)

20 Greg is a pussy. And Hitler.

Posted by: Earl Dittman at May 03, 2005 01:50 PM (yBHNA)

21 Sheeet. Seem like Greg wantsta Huuug da brown man and understand his pain. Fuck dat shit. YOu don't say Puhlease in da Hood Booooy! You smack that shit upside der head right in his hizzzaaaaay. Go after da fambly man! That will fuck there shit up!

Posted by: Harold T. Fancypants at May 03, 2005 01:53 PM (yBHNA)

22 While Greg is busy knitting quilts and baking crispy treats for the the terrorists, Harold T. Fancypants is advocating putting the smack down on these beasts.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 01:55 PM (yBHNA)

23 Earl claims his bung hole is a pussy and Filthy believes him. And the rest of you are a bunch of NAZIs!

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:01 PM (/+dAV)

24 Sounds funny coming from you Mr. Hitler.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 02:04 PM (yBHNA)

25 What you Nazi Hitler worshippers need is an automated annihilation device. Maybe you can dust off some of Hitler's old notebooks and build some gas chambers. Filthy Nazis!

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:10 PM (/+dAV)

26 The only time we should go after the family is when we “suspect “ that terrorism is a family business with them. Otherwise we are no better than the freaking terrorist we hate. Now what we could do is for all the P.O.W.s in prison over there, we can find 5 or 6 that we are 90% sure they are guilty as sin, drug their ass, surgically plant a GPS on them and set them free. When they go running to terrorist buddies, have a missile with the that frequency tuned in let loose and clean up the mess afterwards.

Posted by: Butch at May 03, 2005 02:10 PM (Gqhi9)

27 I think Dittman and Fancypants need to hook up.

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:12 PM (/+dAV)

28 Is pretty funny hearing greg call everyone Nazis since, he is Hitler.

Posted by: Ob Snooks at May 03, 2005 02:12 PM (yBHNA)

29 They need to hook up and beat your Hitler ass.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 02:13 PM (yBHNA)

30 Yall aint gunna beats em if yall aint gunna git dirtaaaay. Greg, yous a simple little man aint you.

Posted by: Harold T. Fancypants at May 03, 2005 02:15 PM (yBHNA)

31 The day a Texan can't whoop up on 2 Yankee fags and a Yankee goat herder is the day I hang it up.

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:17 PM (/+dAV)

32 Greg, you aint nuthin but a bitch. You ain't beatin nuthin but your kids.

Posted by: Harold T. Fancypants at May 03, 2005 02:22 PM (yBHNA)

33 Greg... sorry, I mean Hitler... I thought you were a doctor in California

Posted by: Ob Snooks at May 03, 2005 02:23 PM (yBHNA)

34 Filty: You're right The only thing these beasts understand is Blood. So killing of their relatives would accomplish absolutely nothing except give you the satisfaction of revenge and create more outrage and lust for revange among their own, that's exactly what they want.. Tee bee: Good point the Iraqis need to take matters into their own hands, otherwise they forget about any kind of progress. Maybe Bounthunters aren't such a great idea, but paying of Iraqis for genuine tips I think could work. Impose Curfew? Huge country with 25 million people in it, it wouldn't be easy.

Posted by: IM at May 03, 2005 02:25 PM (a9tRx)

35 The GPS idea would work. A fellow demonstrated, to my team, how his cell phone could be used to locate within 50 feet where he was located. You can create a 'fence' that outlines a virtual barrier that, when crossed, sends an alert to someone. like, could create a fence around your usual routes to the office and back, and shopping. we were thinking of using it to track Alzheimer's patients, but there is no reason not to use it for people at risk of hostage taking in Iraq or anywhere. I am in fact puzzled that this is not done

Posted by: netsailer at May 03, 2005 02:32 PM (jRGqK)

36 No, that is not what they want. They are counting on our troops not fighting dirty. THey have no problems killing civis. Kidnap their familys and say, "hey there mr. terrorist Give up and you can have your kid in one piece" Odds are, the bugger will think twice. greg can bleat like the ruptured commie goat that he is.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 02:33 PM (yBHNA)

37 I thought you were a doctor in California TEXAS Ph.D., Molecular Biology/Neuroscience

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:34 PM (/+dAV)

38 Greg does that mean your brainy

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 02:43 PM (F1nba)

39 I thought Hitler's name was William J.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 02:46 PM (yBHNA)

40 No. I just busted my ass for 7 years. If you're looking for brainy I recommend Filthy Allah. He's got to be a genius, I can't understand a thing he says.

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 02:46 PM (/+dAV)

41 lol

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 02:50 PM (F1nba)

42 All those years of school and never one class in critical thinking or logic. I don't believe it.

Posted by: Defense Guy at May 03, 2005 03:11 PM (jPCiN)

43 I guess bigots come in all sizes, forms and brains!

Posted by: IM at May 03, 2005 03:23 PM (a9tRx)

44 "All those years of school and never one class in critical thinking or logic."-DG My dissertation was published in "The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Fewer than 1% of American Ph.D.s can make that claim. Those of us who can have learned to think outside "the box".

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 03:26 PM (/+dAV)

45 Greg, I mean Hitler... Don't make it too easy for the Nazis to find you.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 03:28 PM (yBHNA)

46 Outside the box and right over the edge of the cliff, if the sources you post here are any indication.

Posted by: Defense Guy at May 03, 2005 03:28 PM (jPCiN)

47 Greg has a big head.

Posted by: Ob snooks at May 03, 2005 03:29 PM (yBHNA)

48 And a bigger shaft

Posted by: greg at May 03, 2005 03:31 PM (/+dAV)

49 Greg, how stupid can you be. You don't give out info like that. Do you realize that you are dealing with the likes of Filthy, FancyPants, Snooks & Dittman? Odds are you will start receiving amputee porn at work soon.

Posted by: Earl Dittman at May 03, 2005 03:36 PM (yBHNA)

50 pnas@nas.edu has all that smart boy stuff. Will e-mail them to see if Hitler has submitted anything. Shouldn't be too many Hitlers in the book.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 03, 2005 03:40 PM (yBHNA)

51 Werner, you stole my idea!

Posted by: Oyster at May 03, 2005 03:42 PM (fl6E1)

52 You won't find any Hitler there, look for a Dr Mengele.

Posted by: IM at May 03, 2005 03:50 PM (a9tRx)

53 I didn't know there was a box. Did I miss another meeting?

Posted by: Mitch at May 03, 2005 11:28 PM (7cBvb)

54 "repulikan, wtf? I was actually writing a response when I realized I'd need a coloring book to my points understandable to you. -- Gordon" What made you hold back Gord? Sure is khaki round here, but of colouring in might be just what this page needs (specially since Rusty's thoughts turned all black 'n white). As said previous, fair POW treatment = fair POW treatment. And it's way cheaper then GPS.

Posted by: republican at May 04, 2005 04:59 AM (OpqZX)

55 You are smoking crack. Any Pow taken by the enemy is as good as dead. Just how stupid are you? Any soldiers taken on the field of battle who are in uniform are treated well. 3 hots and a cot. So some bubbas got jiggy with some prisoners, none of which were regular Iraqi army by the way. Those bubbas are all off to Jail. Terrorists taken are not entitled any fair treatment.

Posted by: Filthy allah at May 04, 2005 07:55 AM (yBHNA)

56 "Terrorists taken are not entitled any fair treatment." Just humane treatment.

Posted by: actus at May 04, 2005 08:20 AM (0HUw1)

57 Bullshit. They should get regular beatings and their lives should be made miserable. They are nothing. They are filth. They are not human. You can go hug one Actus and see what you get for your troubles.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 04, 2005 08:36 AM (yBHNA)

58 "They are not human."-Filthy You offend God. These are his children and he loves them well.

Posted by: greg at May 04, 2005 08:41 AM (/+dAV)

59 What makes if funny is greg talking about God as if he is a believer. Greg, you are Hitler. Take your Crazy act to Moveon.org.

Posted by: Filthy Allah at May 04, 2005 08:59 AM (yBHNA)

60 I do believe and I hope you find the Spirit soon. You need it bad man.

Posted by: greg at May 04, 2005 09:06 AM (/+dAV)

61 Yeah, right Hitler.

Posted by: Ob snooks at May 04, 2005 09:21 AM (yBHNA)

62 "You can go hug one Actus and see what you get for your troubles." But that would require me leaving my keyboard!

Posted by: actus at May 04, 2005 12:04 PM (CqheE)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Another day another hostage taking. This one is an Australian man named Douglas Wood who has recently made his home in Danville, CA. A group calling itself 'The Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq' claimed the abduction. You may download the video here, via Vlad.

Here is the transcript I made of the video. It appears that there is a longer version of it which I have not obtained yet.

President Bush, Prime Minister Howard, Governor Schwarzenegger, family, friends, please help take the American troops, the Australian troops, the British troops out of here and let Iraq look out for itself.

I have (or am) strong [garbled....mumbling of another voice, possibly telling him what to say.... but press reports claim Wood says "My captors are fiercely patriotic. They believe in a strong, united Iraq looking after its own destiny"]

...look out for themselves and (garbled) their neighbors.

But please help, I don't want to die.

Australia formed a team of diplomats, defence staff and police on Monday who will attempt to free an engineer seized by Iraqi insurgents, but the government had a blunt message for the kidnappers: Australia will not remove its troops from Iraq or pay any ransom.

In a tape obtained Sunday by Associated Press Television News, a man identified himself as Douglas Wood, 63, an Australian working in Iraq, and appealed for the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops. Two people wearing masks pointed automatic weapons at him.

"Please help me. I don't want to die," Wood said, his voice cracking with emotion in the video, aired repeatedly Monday on Australian television.

On the tape, the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Wood's wife, Pearl, told AP that the man on the tape was definitely her husband. She said he had worked in Iraq as an engineer for about a year and a half.

In the tape, Wood appealed to U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Australian Prime Minister John Howard to pull their soldiers out of Iraq and leave the country to Iraqis to look after themselves.

That's not going to happen, Howard said.

"Everybody knows the position of the Australian government in relation to hostage demands," Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. "We can't have the foreign policy of this country dictated by terrorists."

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer underscored the point.

"Let me make it quite clear, we will not be changing any polices and we will not be paying any ransom," he said.

On the other hand, the fact that the group used 'Shura Council' in their name might mean that Mr. Wood was charged with a Sharia crime. This is the tactic used by groups such as Ansar al-Sunnah, al Qaeda, and The Islamic Army in Iraq. Before victims are murdered they are accused of crimes under Islamic law that are punishable by death.

In any event, we pray for the release of Douglas Wood and call upon followers of the Religion of Peace to roundly condemn this and all other hostage taking without equivocation.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:27 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 Good to see some tough talking. This Prime Minister does not mince his words does he!

Posted by: sparky at May 02, 2005 01:56 PM (F1nba)

2 Tough talk won't help the hostage. They need to buy time, this was not a good move.

Posted by: IM at May 02, 2005 04:59 PM (a9tRx)

3 Neither is paying for hostages I feel sorry for this man just as much as i did all the others and will pray for him but its about time everyone stood united and made their position clear. It is wrong for some countries to give into the terrorists but not others, at least Austrailia are making there positon clear to the terrorists and to anyone taking the risk of going over there to work. If these people are going to kill this man they will do it anyway just look at Margaret Hussan!

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 09:02 AM (F1nba)

4 Feeling sorry is not going to help anybody and you should be praying for his safe release. I never said they should give in or pay ransom. It was unwise to reveal their real intentions, it's not a good way to start negotiations. Besides something else might occur that could save the hostage, you never know...

Posted by: IM at May 03, 2005 11:23 AM (a9tRx)

5 IM I didnt say you did. I was just making an observation. The Austrialian gov. did the same as the USA and the UK when they were in the same situation they refused to negotiate with the terrorists. I think thats what Tony Blair told us when Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan were taken hostage and stuck to his guns . Whereas more recently we have seen Italians pay ransons for hostages and a few other countries have also done so. I think i remember the Chinese also refusing to pay ransoms or negotiate either. As for praying for his safe return i thought i was, maybe i wasnt making myself clear and although feeling sorry for this man does not help i still do feel sorry for him. I was not having a personal dig at you. I just dont think paying ransoms helps it sends the wrong message to the terrorists.

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 01:28 PM (F1nba)

6 Sparky I didnt say you did. I was just making an observation. I was not having a personal dig at you. I just dont think paying ransoms helps it sends the wrong message to the terrorists. Neither did/do I, so I guess we're pretty much in agreement there. No pun taken & none intended.

Posted by: IM at May 03, 2005 03:33 PM (a9tRx)

7 Good i meant no offense

Posted by: sparky at May 03, 2005 04:11 PM (F1nba)

8 u weird weird people what does this do.....

Posted by: bob at May 10, 2005 02:53 AM (o3o4b)

9 I dont know why that country is still around.. remove all troops and gas the f*kers, i spose it will only cause more trouble but ay its not gonna get much better anyway

Posted by: ATU at May 12, 2005 12:21 AM (yz2c1)

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Four men have been detained in the Margaret Hassan murder. The 'articles' apparently includes some sort of personal identification that belonged to Margaret Hassan, such as a passport or other photo id.

Margaret Hassan was murdered on video by terrorists in Iraq who demanded the release of all female prisoners in Iraq. At the time, no women were in U.S. custody but propaganda outlets such as Giuliana Sgrena's Il Manifesto and al Jazeera routinely made that accusation. Ms. Hassan was first put in an orange jumpsuit before her murder, an allusion to Abu Ghraib.

The video of her murder has never really surfaced, unlike most such snuff films, but al Jazeera did describe the video, although not the mode of death. Further, the terrorists who had taken Hassan hostage had threatened to turn her over to Abu Musab al Zarqawi for beheading.

We see in her death the effects of enemy propaganda and why such propaganda ought to be shut down. Such propganda incites to murder.

Ireland online:

American and Iraqi forces have arrested four people in connection with the murder of Irish-born aid worker Margaret Hassan, officials said today.

The body of the 59-year-old CARE international worker has not been recovered since she was abducted last October and later killed.

But “articles” found during a dawn raid on Sunday on an insurgent stronghold south of Baghdad linked those arrested to the murder.

“The raid was part of a sweep by US and Iraqi forces on an area of insurgent and criminal activity,” said a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

“US forces alerted UK authorities when articles were found relating to the Margaret Hassan case.

ITB also commenting.

Posted by: Rusty at 11:27 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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I'm following the story, but it's the last week of classes so very little time to write. Here are some resources if you're interested.

Michelle Malkin seems to be following the story closely, as is Dan Riehl, and Blogs of War.

TRADERROB has also taken some time to respond to my earlier skepticism of the satellite imagery. I'm still not convinced, but he does mention that perhaps it was an unmanned drone that took the photos and not a satellite which seems much more plausible.

I'll try to update this post later.

UPDATE: On the satellite question.

Here's something important, I think. I recieved an e-mail from USAF Intelligence Officer who has been on the job for 19 years, so I take it he knows what he's talking about. I'll leave his name out of the post since the e-mail he sent is from a .mil address and says 'Classified' in the signature. [Update: just to make it clear, this info is not 'classified', his signature just includes a 'classified' e-mail address....but, you know, it just sounds cooler that way.....]The crux of it is that I am right to be skeptical about the satellite claim, however, it may be that CBS simply inferred that the images were from a satellite and misreported that info.

He says, "The most obvious source of data on how fast a vehicle was moving would be a JSTARS using their Moving Target Indicator (MTI) radar. I don't know for a fact if they're still in the area but they were at the start of the war and I'd be willing to bet that they're still there. Piece of cake for them to record an entire mission and later analyze this type of thing."

He also sends a link to a site which explains how JSTARS and Global Hawk actually do give real time data. Pretty cool stuff. So, maybe we do have the goods on Sgrena and the data is their to prove it.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:12 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
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