Carrie and Susan Hallums, the daughter and ex-wife of American hostage Roy Hallums, will be on CNN's Inside Edition today. Susan asks that we please remember Roy Hallums and the other American hostages in Iraq in your prayers.

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(Gaza City) A French television sound engineer was kidnapped by three gunmen outside his hotel in Gaza City and bundled into a waiting car just hours before Israel commenced its withdrawal of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip. The technician works for French 3 Public Television.

In another report, TurkishWeekly.net:

Palestinian security forces have said they are investigating reports that a member of a French television crew was kidnapped by gunmen outside his Gaza City hotel.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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Good news. A previously unidentified hostage in Iraq has been released. His name is Victor Tawfiq Girgis, and he is a Christian Copt from Egypt. The terrorists behind these acts seem to have found that their audience does not approve of the murder of hostages. Notice in the story, reprinted below, that our allies the Egyptians say he was delivering supplies to the US Army of occupation. Who needs enemies with friends like these? more...

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Mustafa Abdul-Rassul Hussein was kidnapped Friday. Apparently, his kidnappers are after money. This reminded me that several Americans are still being held hostage in Iraq. Keep them in your prayers.

They are:
Roy Hallums Nov 1 2004
Radim Sadiq (aka, Dean Sadik) Nov 2 2004
Jeffrey Ake April 11 2005
Tim Bell April 9 2004 more...

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A communique today released by Abu Musab al Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq has threatened to murder the Egyptian Ambassador to Iraq. The group also posted images of Ihab el-Sherif's identification cards.

According to another statement, Sherif has been sentenced by a Sharia (religious law) court for apostasy because of Egypt's alliance "with Christians and Jews." The statement claimed Sherif had been turned over to al Qaeda fighters "to carry out the punishment of apostasy against him." The punishment for apostasy under Islamic law is death. The group often beheads it's victims after forcing them to confess to various crimes under Islamic law.

Al Qaeda routinely murders Muslims who work with the Iraqi government, which they consider an 'apostate' regime. The group also videotapes the murders and posts them on the internet.

Yesterday, al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for Saturday's kidnapping of Sherif.

Al Qaeda in Iraq also released a new audio tape of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi which reluctantly calls on women to join the jihad because of a lack of enough man-power and announced the formation of a new al Qaeda wing to fight Shia militias in Iraq.

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Evan Kohlmann e-mailed and wants every one to know that al Qaeda in Iraq has claimed the kidnapping of the Egyptian ambassador Ihab Sherif. Evan's post is here. more...

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Here is a list of hostages in Iraq I have compiled from various sources. Dozens of others are also missing, but we have no information as to their names. On this day that we remember our liberty, let us not forget those who's liberty has been taken from them.

USA
Roy Hallums Nov 1 2004
Radim Sadiq (aka, Dean Sadik) Nov 2 2004
Jeffrey Ake April 11 2005
Tim Bell April 9 2004

CANADA
Mohammed Rifat April 8, 2004

BRAZIL
Joao Jose Vasconcelos Jr. Jan 19

EGYPT
Ihab el-Sherif July 2
Sayed Abdel KhalekJan 13
Nabil Tawfiq Sulaiman March 19
Mitwali Mohammed Qassem March 19

TURKEY
Ali Abdullah June 7

LEBANON
Ghazi Abu Hamzeh Nov 13
Mustafa Abdul-Rassul Hussein Aug 8, 2005

JORDAN
Wael Mamduh April 12
Khalifa al-Breizat Sept 14

KUWAIT
Saad Saadoun June 5

SOMALIA
Ali Ahmed Mousa July 29

SUDAN
Noureddin Zakaria Oct 30
Mohammed Haroun Hamad March 9
Maher Ataya March 9

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We cultural conservative types take a lot of heat for being uptight. My buddy Dawn Eden, for example, got smeared (along with religous conservatives in general) by the enlightened progressives at Pandagon as a sex-hater; and this bit of uninformed, deceptive bile from the Nation's Katha Pollitt says we just hate women:

...right-wing Christians increasingly reveal their condescending view of women as moral children who need to be kept in line sexually by fear.

Yes, grown-up people actually believe that stuff.

So we're condescending? The funny thing is how often leftists like Pollitt turn out to be exactly the sort of shrill, uptight moral scolds that they make us out to be. Exhibit A is the recent Larry Summers fiasco at Harvard, where a university president was nearly fired for suggesting a controversial hypothesis about the differences in men and women, and only escaped after a 50 million dollar ransom to the aggrieved constituency. Academic freedom is alive and well there at Cambridge Community College, where academics are free to say exactly what the leftist and feminist pressure groups allow them to say.

Exhibit B just arrives from Australia. Douglas Wood, in a press conference about his ordeal as a captive of Iraqi insurgents until he was freed, referred to his barbaric captors as "assholes". Aussie blogger Tim Blair tells us that didn't sit too well with Andrew Jaspan, editor of a Melbourne paper called the Age, who said:

"I was, I have to say, shocked by Douglas WoodÂ’s use of the a---hole word, if I can put it like that, which I just thought was coarse and very ill-thought through and I think demeans the man and is one of the reasons why people are slightly sceptical of his motives and everything else.

"The issue really is largely, speaking as I understand it, he was treated well there. He says he was fed every day, and as such to turn around and use that kind of language I think is just insensitive."

Insensitive? Insensitive? You mincing, useless Ayyyy-hole! He was fed well! Well, shut your sensitive mouths about Guantanamo Bay by all means, for those poor lost lambs are fed better than our own troops!

Criticize the coarse language of a rock star, a rapper, or a comedian and you're a philistine and a prude. But call those terrorists (who just kidnapped you and held you for months and forced you at gunpoint into making propaganda films for their murderous nihilistic cause) "assholes"* and you're coarse and insensitive.

There is a time and place for foul language. Primetime TV isn't it, and I'm insulted when Janet Jackson thinks she can just flap her Bedazzler'ed mammary at me when I'm trying to watch a football game, or some cosmically insignificant Cristal-addled rock star decides to drop the ol' f-bomb in an awards show. But Mr. Wood, on the other hand, has earned full leave to call those murdering bastards whatever he wants, whenever he wants. (His fellow kidnap victim, a Swede, has gone even further in expressing his displeasure and offered a $50,000 reward for the death of the kidnappers.)

There's a great scene in Aliens where the Marines are defending themselves deep inside a base overrun by unseen, creeping, face-sucking beasts, and orders come down from above that due to the risk of accidentally setting off the base's reactor, they can't fire their weapons.

"What are we supposed to use?" one Marine pipes up. "Harsh language?"

If the candyass bluenose sensitivity police like Jaspan have their way, then no. Not even that.

*Counting the number of hyphens--or are those dashes, Jeff?-- in Jaspan's quote, it is possible that Wood actually said "arsehole" instead of the more American "asshole". Both terms refer to the type of posterior orifice in which Mr. Jaspan's head is irretrievably impacted in ostrichlike oblivion.

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No comment. Video can be found here (see June 25th update). Graphic images below.

No, wait, I will comment.

These are the people we are fighting in Iraq. See the face of those the Left calls 'the resistance' or the media call 'insurgents'. When they capture any one, evenn civilians, thought working with the Iraqi government they murder them. If we pull out, they will have won.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW. more...

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1 "If we pull out, they will have won." Indeed. Which is almost certainly why those on the far left continually beat the drum for pulling out, while those on the not-quite-so-far left, being more politically adept than the extreme left, merely demand a timetable for our pullout. In either case, they are militarily naive.

Posted by: Russ at June 25, 2005 07:36 PM (zShs1)

2 after you liberate a country, you have to stick around and help rebuild and bring order back into the civilians daily lives....its like going to a party at youre friends house, you go in and make a huge mess and than cut and run and leave it for youre friends to clean up....not quite the same but you get my drift.....yes, wars make a mess, but after its over, you help rebuild, dont just pull out and leave the citizens to try and get every thing in order...and in Iraq, there are terrorists and quite a few of Saddams buddies still running around who would just take over the goverment after the US and coalition troops are gone and youre right back were you started from....a repressive regime as bad if not worse than when Saddam and his evil sons were in charge....imagine if the Allies had just left Germany after WWII was over...yea, Hitler was dead, but many of his followers were still on the run, they would have probally just put themselves back in power as there wouldnt have been any one there to keep them out...its just plain old common sense

Posted by: THANOS35 at June 25, 2005 07:53 PM (kDAye)

3 "In either case, they are militarily naive." I disagree; they know exactly what the outcome of an early pullout would be, and that's exactly what they want.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 25, 2005 08:35 PM (0yYS2)

4 It will take years for the rest of iraq to overcome the fear of the former rulers. Too pull out now would just leave the country to them. Also it would be the final straw as we have left the Curds and Shia in the south holding the bag before. If we hope to have any credibility in the future we must not falter.

Posted by: Howie at June 25, 2005 08:49 PM (D3+20)

5 There are a few of us left who don't subscribe to either withdrawal or a timetable. We just need a little encouragement from our friends on the right to keep on fighting the good fight.

Posted by: Char at June 25, 2005 09:49 PM (57zn9)

6 This takes me back to the presidential debates last fall. President Bush was talking about the human sacrifice that the Iraqis were making. To me, Kerry dismissed the idea of this sacrifice as insignificant and almost laughed about it. No one in these two families are laughing Mr. Kerry. Here are two more ordinary men whose motivation was probably first and foremost to support their families. No doubt they knew the risk they were taking. I’m sure they were encouraged by the fact that by taking these jobs, they were helping bring Iraq back to a normal state where families would be safe to walk the streets. It’s too bad their killers will be encouraged to continue these senseless murders by favorable comments from movie studios, celebrities, US news media and even members of Congress and the Senate. I think Syria needs to be held responsible for the non-Iraqis who are doing most of this barbaric killing. Next time a car bomb goes off in Iraq, a cruse missile should be launched at a military target in Syria. This line in the sand between Iraq and Syria stinks like the Yalu River and the DMZ. Perhaps the Syrians can be coerced into policing the boarder and not being partners in this crime. Our only options are not limited to leaving in a year or Iraq-ization (made up word). We could try to win this war decisively. I drove past a “Support the troops, Bring them home rally today in Lake Forest Park (just N of Seattle). All peace now type people, one of whom is a member of my Parish. Do they really want us to just hand over these brave people to this gang of thugs? What is wrong with Victory and Freedom and Justice for all?

Posted by: Brad at June 25, 2005 10:40 PM (pO1tP)

7 Brad, "handing them over?" America can't even hand over Haifa Street!

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 25, 2005 11:02 PM (ScqM8)

8 Your solution Downing Street?

Posted by: Brad at June 25, 2005 11:05 PM (pO1tP)

9 For those of you who don't know, Haifa Street is right outside the BUSH ZONE of Central Bagdad. Then there is pleasant "Route Irish", the gentle thoroughfare between the BUSH ZONE and Saddam International Airport. Yeah, secure Route Irish, where Calipari was gunned down dead! If BUSH wanted to sell you the title to NY's Coop City, would you buy it? Silly Rooster, pass the ketchup and cook me more food, you wanker!

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 25, 2005 11:09 PM (ScqM8)

10 Ya, but..Your solution?

Posted by: Brad at June 25, 2005 11:11 PM (pO1tP)

11 Strange Young Man Brad, First, pass the food that Rooster is so greedy and possessive over, then we can discuss the issue..

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 25, 2005 11:17 PM (ScqM8)

12 Just as I thought, bitchin and complaining is a lazy occupation. Get off your ass after mass tomorrow morning and mow the lawn. Your parents found that copy of Jihad Boy under your mattress and they are pissed off.

Posted by: Brad at June 25, 2005 11:32 PM (pO1tP)

13 Bradley Dear, I've lost my appetite with such foulmouthed chicanery from young chickenhawks like you. Rooster can keep his grubby food and feed it to his dog. Respect your elders, dammit! - you wouldn't be saying such garbage if Johnson was in the White House.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 25, 2005 11:49 PM (ScqM8)

14 I have 3 kids to put to bed and have fewer and few elders. I suspect you are not one of them. Say good night to your partner downing street and say a prayer for the troops and people of Iraq. BTW, I saw LBJ at the Boy Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge PA. My Dad was stationed at an Army hospital in Phoenixville Pa. I was too young to be a Boy Scout. I remember going with my dad who was a Major and an ENT surgeon. His team was asked to come and provide medical assistance to the scouts if needed, I donÂ’t remember seeing LBJ, but I do hear my dad tell me I saw him each Christmas when we see our super 8 movies after dinner. BTW: Are my brother and sister and I the only Army brats who are saluting the camera in almost every movie scene? Downing Street, yÂ’all got nothing to add but criticism

Posted by: Brad at June 26, 2005 12:07 AM (pO1tP)

15 Bradley Dearest, You have ok manners and you stay away from the Klanster.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 26, 2005 12:27 AM (ScqM8)

16 Like so many critics, I still don’t know what the opponents want. Spell it out for us. I maintain that victory is possible if we stem the flow of foreign “fighters” or as I would call them “ cold blooded murders”. These men charged with bringing order to this country (Our Soldiers, Marines and Sailors) don’t need to be kicked in he ass while they are doing our bidding. You can’t possible support the Sunni or foreign killers unless you are a cold blooded killing unit like them. Can’t you get behind a plan that will ensure the 2nd democracy in the Middle East? Re the Klansman: He is pulling your tail to get a response. I would feel safer as a black man in his hands than a Jew in the hands of some of the Tin Foil posters on this blog. Not much mention of that, guess the word Klan just rolls off the lips easier.

Posted by: Brad at June 26, 2005 01:02 AM (pO1tP)

17 One plan is to realize there are 25 million people in Iraq. Many of them are very pissed off and they give not a rat's ass who the top dog is, as long as the basics of life are available. That means not getting blown up by car bombs or being shot. Under BUSH's illegal war, all hell has broken loose and shown no sign of letting up. After Fallujah, winning hearts and minds is friggin' gone. Pull American troops out and let them create their own government.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 26, 2005 01:54 AM (ScqM8)

18 Klansman is a psycho who thinks all Islam is coming to get him. His racism is atrocious and his false patriotism is appalling to all who live in America. His dog eats a whole set of 72 crayons and takes a giant technicolor dump on his kitchen floor. His breath stinks worse than fermented pig farmer's sweaty socks after a sewage-grease wrestling match with a rabid 1000-pound sow.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 26, 2005 02:00 AM (ScqM8)

19 The war was not illegal under the terms of the original cease fire agreement of '91. Have you heard of any nation taking this up with the U.N. security coucil? No. Not that the liberal media would tell you about it if anyone tried and failed. Spend some time absorbing alternative sources of info "Downing Street Memo" before making a fool out of yourself.

Posted by: Anthony Jagers at June 26, 2005 03:58 AM (EyLEO)

20 Try me Jagers, How was the war legal under the terms of the 1991 Ceasefire Agreement, smart young man? You must be a legal eagle who says torture is quaint too. I may be an old redneck sick of politicians, but my eyes still work. Show us all the source you claim makes BUSH's invasion legal. Tell it to the 1700 AMERICAN families who lost their child there too.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 26, 2005 04:51 AM (ScqM8)

21 Guys, you're wasting your time arguing with this Downing Street person. He's consumed with bitterness. I guess he thinks if he says the same thing over and over one of us will eventually somnambulate over to the other side, mesmerized by his clever words and superior intelligence. I have to admit I find his William S. Burroughs style vomitings clever, but that's all they are; adjectives he found in his thesuarus used to show his distaste. It eats him up to think that someone else may have come to a different conclusion than he has about the nature of things. You know, like we actually think for ourselves. Boy, we've got nerve, don't we? He sees us as nothing more than recalcitrant children he has been charged with chastising. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

Posted by: Oyster at June 26, 2005 06:38 AM (YudAC)

22 Tuck Bradley and Co No one invited America into Iraq. They never went in there to free any one but to steal rape and control Iraq and their resources. The same lame doc excuses you make now was made about Vietnam and has been recycled over and over again by that bunch of NEOCONS leading America to there downfall. Mark my words "when the time come, America would do what they do best. When the going gets tough, tuck tail and run". Those two men paid the price for treachery as sad as it looks they where nothing but traitors. And while your at it would you call carpet BOMBING AND TOTAL DISTRUCTION OF COMMUNITIES AND IRAQ BY THE AMERICANS A BLESSING? Look Bradley, America chose the route of oppression intimidation and domination, and as long as such mentality persist, there will always be wars and resistance will follow.

Posted by: human at June 26, 2005 07:25 AM (+idcX)

23 I believe that should be lame "duck" and it's their, not there. Use an "s" when you want to denote plurality. Your use of the word "persist" as an intransitive verb must have an "s" on the end. Also, put a period after treachery, followed by one or two spaces, then capitalize the "A" in "an". Oh yeah, use a comma after "looks". You're, not your. Let's just throw in a couple more commas because I like them. This is my point; why should I take the advice of someone who didn't pay enough attention in school to learn how to spell, but thinks s/he knows everything else? The use of caps was especially intimidating. Ow.

Posted by: Oyster at June 26, 2005 10:02 AM (YudAC)

24 Oyster said, "This is my point; why should I take the advice of someone who didn't pay enough attention in school to learn how to spell, but thinks s/he knows everything else?" BUT BUSH HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO BRAINWASH YOU. OR ARE YOU JUST ANOTHER RASIST REDNECK? What have you under YoUr BeD??? WhiTe bEd shEEt and a wooden CroSs ever ReaDy tObE ToucHeD? How many other languages do you speak? It does not occur to you that English may not be my first language. Or do you still think the world begins and ends in the USA???? What ever prejudice and ignorance you embrace, it does not and will not change truth. The USA is on a fast TRACK TO SELF DISTRUCTION. Just Like the USSR WAS IN Afghanistan. Your want to play the colonial game? You should have done it in the early part of the last century. Peace to all mankind oooooops I forgot to do a spellcheck

Posted by: human at June 26, 2005 10:50 AM (+idcX)

25 Hilarious! Downing Street Memo single handedly pins down an entire neocon squadron with suppressive fire.

Posted by: greg at June 26, 2005 10:51 AM (/+dAV)

26 Downing Street, you talk like this is 2 years ago. Were not discussing whether to go into Iraq or not. Mindlessly repeating “Bush Lied soldiers died” is not an answer to today’s situation in Iraq. You want to pull our troops out and just leave the Iraqis to themselves? Your short post about removing the troops NOW seems to indicate there would be almost no human consequences. Yours is the strategy for the next Pol Pot. Shit Greg, this guy has nothing to offer but pulling out and allowing what he feels is a mistake in policy to lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands or millions. Sometimes it takes sacrifice and courage to be a real humanitarian

Posted by: Brad at June 26, 2005 11:19 AM (pO1tP)

27 "Peace to all mankind" Nice thought, but what is the plan for attaining this goal? Is it to leave oppression and tyranny in place and just smile that we have freedom? We did that, and the madness in the countries of those that are 'peacefully oppressed' came to visit. Did you forget?

Posted by: Defense Guy at June 26, 2005 11:53 AM (lVjfM)

28 You know what really cracks me up...we are all arguing about something which most of us have not seen. We are basing our facts upon what other people report or write. So since you'll never find unbiased broadcasting or newspapers/magazines, our "reality" about our leaders and the war are fundamentally skewed or flawed. How many of us know Bush? How many of us have been over there fighting in this war to see what's really going down? I guess there are some numbers which are hard to disprove, like the dead soldier count and dead Iraqi civilian count, which pretty much sinks the whole "liberation" claim. I just find it interesting that we went to war because...9/11: Osama is still not caught. Osama fucking hated Saddam, but now there are all sorts of claims that they were in cahoots together, despite the hijackers being almost all Saudis, no Iraqis. I guess our oil reserve wasn't large enough to attack Saudi Arabia? Maybe if our economy wasn't in a debt bubble we could take a swipe from our credit cards and direct it to where the attackers are from? Then there's the whole WMD...sorry guys, but they didn't find squat and there are plenty military reports to back that up. The only weapons found were the ones WE sold Saddam so he could butt-fuck Iran. No nukes, no "mushroom clouds"...so now that Bush has failed to find WMD, it's all about "liberating" Iraq and wholesome democracy (anarchy) being spread. What a fucking crock of shit. Yeah, we can't pull out of there. If we did it would be insane...there are no easy solutions to this mess. I will say this though: our current administration is a bunch of self-serving, dishonest, moralistic hypocrites who deserve prison time for what they have done and how they have lied to us all. The polls are showing that Americans are catching on and can't be duped for 8 years. I read everyone's posts in here and I know you are good, honest, well intentioned people, and I agree with most of you about most things, except Bush. It will be a sad day when those of you who believe in him realize how you've been betrayed from the start.

Posted by: osamabinchimpin' at June 26, 2005 12:27 PM (CYGDF)

29 >>>"Michael Moore's Minutemen Murder Civilians in Iraq" Michael Moore was loving it when the insurgents were killing GIs, calling them "minutemen" and "the Revolution". But he's been strangely silent about these freedom fighters since they turned their sights on fellow Iraqis. Leftists are so fucking stupid.

Posted by: Carlos at June 26, 2005 01:28 PM (8e/V4)

30 I'm amazed at the all consuming hatred some have for Bush.As a Canadian I think the man is principled and focused - more so than the previous two presidents. What I find strange in the anti war argument is the absense of chronology about when Islamic terrorism began and the lack of recognition for needed foreign policy change arising from the collapse of Communism, and hence the ability to abandon real politik diplomacy. Now policy can pursue freedom and democracy for the first time in a century or more because the US is the only superpower. But this window may extend only another 5 -10 years until Chindia assumes much greater power. 9 -11 was transforming and prompted the preemptive/preventive response that bothers many. To expect support from other countries which didn't experience a 9- 11 is delusionary especially given the weak economic and moral state of Europe along with its anti- Americanism. Not to mention the UN where anti- democratic members outnumber democracies. I'll ask the Bush haters for their solution to the terrorism problem - but don't argue that its the fault of the West. Note that most major countries - ex the US- were invaded at some point but the emerged as sovereign nations many with a civil society. The Palestinians are a counterpoint: they have received enough aid to create a prosperous state in my opinion but instead they chose victimhood and corruption - so blame the West? Finally will the Bush haters elect to await the next terror attack or do they have a plan for protection ?

Posted by: doggerel at June 26, 2005 01:31 PM (LZ+JT)

31 Re owning Street Memo You ain't no old redneck! You're just trying to benefit from our popularity by claiming to be one. Your young protege Greg is sucking up to you by giving you some unmerited credit. Because Greg thinks you make sense is a sure indicator that you are barking at the mooooonnnn! HaHa! But anyway, back to the original claim. You are an imposter of a redneck, or Greg would hate you. You need to read what Greg said about us rednecks in some previous posts. Well, I guess I might have convinced Greg to love us rednecks, but I doubt it. Most likely he sees you for what you really are.

Posted by: jesusland joe at June 26, 2005 02:47 PM (DDXXI)

32 I see Brad is years ahead of Downing street memo. I have a feeling who and what downing street is. He wouldn't be worth a shit in a game of chance where realistic thinking rules the table. Probably not worth a shit at anything else either. Just remember crybaby downing street memo. If I say anything not factural. Let us know. I know the truth hurts but recognition of it is the starting point of accepting realilty. Something you have failed to do. Who is robbing who. Who are the muggers? Who are the crack dealers? Who are the murderers on Americas streets? What race represents 95% of the murderers and rapists in Angola prison? Who is bombing innocent civilians in Iraq? I'll tell you who it isnt. Not the nazis, not the KKK, not the average white man. The constant stupidity of pointing to them at every opportunity is nothing but stupidity. Read the papers. Listen to the news. Study the figures. Quit being an asshole and wake up. Face the truth. There is a 1000 more whites attacked, raped, robbed, murdered by blacks than blacks by the KKK. Stupid bunch of liberal idiots. Address the real problems in our society. If you don't believe the Muslims wish to take over our civilization in the name of their religion you are a fool.

Posted by: greyrooster at June 26, 2005 04:32 PM (CBNGy)

33 IT never ceases to amaze that people still talk about punishing the Saudi's, these are probably the same pussies that waste a gallon of gas driving to Starbucks in their SUV every morning and cry when they see gas has gone up four cents. Don't mistake your roll: You're a Saudi lapdog, they'll move the gas prices up, and you'll keep pumping. Just keep driving your gas-guzzling SUV and keep preaching to us about your hardline against the Saudi's!

Posted by: dave at June 26, 2005 06:04 PM (fsJ2z)

34 Arrrooooosta Racis' ol chap 'ol buddy of none you are scroungy enoug to marrry Downing Hag and you fight with every breath

Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 26, 2005 06:25 PM (FV4oJ)

35 rOOSTETR IS BBABLER=

Posted by: BUSH LIES - SOLDIERS DIE at June 26, 2005 08:20 PM (FV4oJ)

36 Screw you little punk BUSH LIES, Klanman Rooster is so grubby he gave his dog the mange.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at June 27, 2005 06:08 AM (ScqM8)

37 dave The US imports around 70% of it's oil from Canada. The problem with SA has more to do with our trading partners than with us.

Posted by: Defense Guy at June 27, 2005 09:14 AM (jPCiN)

38 Guys, listen to me, these idiots keep posting here for the sole purpose of disruption. They are trolls, and must be ignored, because they have nothing substantive to add to the discussion. Every time we reply to their idiocy, they have succeeded in the mission, so the best thing to do is let them die of neglect. I will no long reply in any manner to anything they post, nor will I even read it. If we let them continue, they will kill this blog because people will start leaving, and they will move on to the next blog. They are a plague of locusts, and they feed on attention. Let them starve.

Posted by: Imrpobulus Maximus at June 27, 2005 11:18 AM (0yYS2)

39 DG, According to the American Petroleum Institute, the U.S imports 15% of it's oil imports from Canada, and 14% from Saudi -- which makes Saudi still play a huge role. http://api-ec.api.org/filelibrary/Imports305.pdf

Posted by: dave at June 27, 2005 12:32 PM (fsJ2z)

40 Dave, I'd sooner punish our corporations (the ones that don't have the USA's best interests) than the Saudis. You know damn well we could have cars and trucks on alternative fuels by now if it wasn't for the oil industry's firm grip on our economy's nut-sack. I also don't have a SUV or truck, so don't peg me on that...though I do agree that if people bitch about high prices maybe they shouldn't be taking the hummer around the block to buy BLSD's "McChimpy Bin Hamburglers". Gayrooster: your racism always amazes me. How about this...if your dumb ass forefathers were so lazy that they couldn't do their own work and had to import slaves, it's lovely karma that you have to deal with the aftereffects. I hope you wrong the right brother and get your ass kicked.

Posted by: osamabinchimpin' at June 27, 2005 03:09 PM (CYGDF)

41 Our fathers, who art in Arabia, hallowed be thy Oil. Thy shiekdom come, thy oil rigs be one, in Iraq as it is in Syria. Give us this day our daily gas, and forgive us our poor MPG's, as we forgive those whose MPG's are worse. And lead us not into hydrogen fuel cells, but deliver us from Anwar drilling. For thine is the shiekdom, the horsepower, and the smog, Forever and ever... Amen.

Posted by: greg at June 27, 2005 04:07 PM (/+dAV)

42 Osamabinchimpin: Your cowardly ways will not stop the truth. If you feel you must kiss your (BROTHERS) ass same as you kiss the muslims ass for security. Go ahead. They will bomb you, rob you, murder you whether you continue to suck up to them or not. Kissing asses will not protect your car during the next riot. They will burn yours along with the rest. Some of us are not afraid of getting our asses kicked for telling the truth. I never owned any slaves. Nor would I. Just keep reminding me of how terrible a person I am because my great, great, great, great grandfather may or may not have owned some. If he did I know who he bought them from and you can bet they weren't white. Slaves were caught and captured by other blacks and by your muslim friends. Once again, a liberal attempt to circumnavigate the truth and blame the white man. Bullshit! pure Bullshit! It is not so much that I hate anyone. It's that I am sick and tired for being blamed for the problems of other races who are jealous of mine. I'm proud of being a white American. We have done more for the world than the rest combined. But the chicken hearted would rather hide in the in the corner and kiss ass than tell it like it is. Not my way, not my nature. You do the suck ass for protection thing for me. Please note you and other ass kissers haven't one time been able to refuted to statement I have made. If you're not proud of who you are then you are nothing.

Posted by: greyrooster at June 27, 2005 06:35 PM (CBNGy)

43 GayprideweekendRooster: "Your cowardly ways will not stop the truth." Say what? You're the fucking coward, old man...racism like yours is a lame attempt to be a real man with principals and good values. "If you feel you must kiss your (BROTHERS) ass same as you kiss the muslims ass for security. Go ahead." Oh yeah, hoping your racist ass gets kicked by a brother is kissing ass. Hahaha... Oh yeah, and was any of my post about Muslims? Noooooo... Do I kiss anyone's ass? Nooooo... Do I like terrorists? Noooooo... Nothing like a little distraction when you feel threatened, huh? I doesn't work. You're still a fucking racist pig. "They will bomb you, rob you, murder you whether you continue to suck up to them or not. Kissing asses will not protect your car during the next riot. They will burn yours along with the rest." Oh yeah, the bombs are going off now. The streets are in mayhem! Save me! Oh I wish I had been a KKK hick or a neo-nazi punk! They were right! Boohoo! Oh, and all kidding aside, the only person who ever tried to rob me was a white guy, and I broke his fucking nose. "Some of us are not afraid of getting our asses kicked for telling the truth." Sounds to me like you're going to get your ass kicked for telling lies. "I never owned any slaves. Nor would I. Just keep reminding me of how terrible a person I am because my great, great, great, great grandfather may or may not have owned some." Well, my great grandparents had slaves on a plantation in Virginia and I don't think I'm a terrible person just because I'm related to someone I never met. But if your KKK ass is going to bitch about black people it's like walking out into the street without looking, getting hit by a car and blaming the driver. I suppose your sink has lots of unwashed dishes in it, no? "If he did I know who he bought them from and you can bet they weren't white." Oh yeah, I forgot the blacks were very successful business men selling themselves back then. Hahaha...you are so full of it. "Slaves were caught and captured by other blacks and by your muslim friends. Once again, a liberal attempt to circumnavigate the truth and blame the white man. Bullshit! pure Bullshit!" Are you accusing me of something I never said? I think so. I'm also not a liberal, you cunt. I know what you just said already and never said the contrary. Almost no race is not guilty of enslaving themselves or other races. "It is not so much that I hate anyone. It's that I am sick and tired for being blamed for the problems of other races who are jealous of mine." You shouldn't be blamed unless you are personally responsible for oppression or promoting oppression. You're pretty dumb to think they are all jealous of your white ass and red neck. I suppose you're also dumb enough to think terrorist's only reason for hating us is because they are jealous of "our freedoms". What a crock of shit. "I'm proud of being a white American. We have done more for the world than the rest combined." Feeling ethnocentric today, are we? "But the chicken hearted would rather hide in the in the corner and kiss ass than tell it like it is." Or the ignorant and racist cowards would like to play tough and use fear and lies to keep the thruth from being known. When you have so many lies, "it's hard work"! "Not my way, not my nature. You do the suck ass for protection thing for me. Please note you and other ass kissers haven't one time been able to refuted to statement I have made." What the hell are you talking about? I respond to all of your shrunken testicle statements. You make no sense old man...take your meds. "If you're not proud of who you are then you are nothing." You're worse than nothing if you're proud of the KKK.

Posted by: osamabeenvotin' at June 28, 2005 11:54 AM (huFN9)

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KG from California Mafia attended a vigil held in honor of American hostage in Iraq Roy Hallums. If you missed the last post then you'll be happy to know that new evidence suggests that Roy Hallums is still alive in Iraq.

You can see more images from the vigil here.

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Yesterday was American hostage Roy Hallums' 57th birthday. A candlelight vigil was held in his honor in Huntington Beach, CA yesterday. Today, we learn that he is definitely still alive.

Do not give up hope. Remember, some of the hostages in Lebanon were held for years. The Hallums' familye-mailed me expressing their thanks to our Jawa Report readers for all your support. Keep the prayers and good vibes flowing people! Xinhua:

An American, who has been kidnapped with a Filipino overseas work in Iraq, is still alive, a Philippine foreign affairs official said Friday.

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This is VERY good news. Not only for the family of Robert Tarangoy, but because Tarangoy was taken hostage along with Roy Hallums. As you know, I've developed something of a relationship with the Hallums family. Keep Roy in your prayers, there is still hope. FYI--if you are in the Southern California area, there will be a candlelight vigil for Roy tomorrow in Huntington Beach. Details here. CNN:

Robert Tarongoy, a Filipino citizen taken hostage in Iraq almost eight months ago, has been freed, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said Wednesday.

In a phone interview with Philippines' GMA television station, an emotional Tarongoy thanked Arroyo, The Associated Press reported. "She did not neglect me," he said, also thanking diplomats who helped win his freedom.

Asked how he was treated by his captors, Tarongoy said, his voice cracking: "You know how long I was kept there. It was difficult," AP reported.

In a written statement announcing his release, Arroyo said: "Robert is now safe in the hands of the Iraq hostage crisis team led by [Foreign] Undersecretary Rafael Seguis who is making the necessary arrangements to bring him back to the Philippines."....

The AP also reported that Seguis told GMA that no ransom was paid and several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan -- along with Muslim clerics -- helped secure Tarongoy's release.

Seguis said Tarongoy could be home as early as Thursday, according to the AP.

Tarongoy's wife -- in the Filipino city of Davao -- told AP her husband's release coincided with their third wedding anniversary.

"It's a very wonderful gift for both of us," she said. "I'm very happy."

The government of the Philippines secured the release of one of its nationals held hostage in Iraq after agreeing to set demands, the previously unknown armed group which claimed to have held him said, as reported b, Al-Jazeera television reported.

The Doha-based channel broadcast a videotape showing the hostage held by two armed men, reading what they claimed to be a statement by the Philippine foreign ministry, saying it has banned its nationals from travelling to Iraq and adopted a new law to punish those who disobeyed the order.

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UPDATE 6/21/05Yesterday we reported that Bilprasad "Binkumar" Gurung was Japanese. The name did not sound Japanese, but all media reports were that the victim was from Japan. Today, thanks to Chad Evenas for e-mailing me the story, we learn that Bilprasad "Binkumar" Gurung was probably from Nepal.

The Army of Ansar al-Sunna murdered 12 Nepalese civilians in August of last year. If you can stomach scrolling passed the images from the snuff-murder video made by the jihadis, take a minute to check out all the comments from Nepalese readers. The Nepalese may be Buddhist, but they certainly are not pacifists.

Khaleej Times:

Japan said Tuesday that a man Islamic extremists in Iraq said they had killed in an ambush on a convoy serving US-led forces was not Japanese, as stated by the militants.

“The name of the individual is clearly not Japanese. We believe the person was from another country,” said an official with the foreign ministry’s terrorism prevention division....

Gurung is a common name in Nepal.

The only group of terrorists worse than Abu Musab al Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq are The Army of Ansar al Sunnah. These are some evil sadistic dudes. While they don't get as much press as Zarqawi's group (and they actually are loosely linked with Zarqawi) they do just as much damage and specialize in murdering Kurds and Turkish civilians. They announced today that they murdered a Japanese man Bilprasad "Binkumar" Gurung.

This is the same group that murdered Japanese hostage Akihiko Saito. It was Zarqawi who personally beheaded Japanese hostage Shosei Koda.

Developing.....

SITE:

Ansar al-Sunnah claims responsibility for the murder of Bilprasad (alias Binkumar) Gurung, a Japanese contractor for the America-Iraqi Solutions Group, and six of his guards who worked for the same corporation. The ambush of this convoy was executed yesterday, as the group was coming out of al-Walid Base near Ramadi, west of Baghdad.

According to the message, Gurung and his bodyguards were ambushed and the ensuing battle “killed them all, and also this dirty Westerner.” Two of the guards were indicated to have been captured and an “investigation” divulged that Gurung and the guards were on a “mission to distribute the non-believers’ guards (National Guards) salaries.” [SITE has more for subscribers]

American-Iraqi Solutions Group (AISG) is a specific grouping of international firms within Iraq and consists of a core American-Iraqi team all under Iraqi and American ownership. AISG is an assembly Iraqi and international firms that have come together to jointly work towards the reconstruction of Iraq.....

Due to security issues that currently exist in Iraq we are obligated to protect the safety and well being of our Iraqi staff, teams, and personnel. So as you read and learn more about AISG, please remember that some facts, names, pictures and specifics have been intentionally left out to protect our Iraqi staff who place their lives on the line to be partners in the reconstruction of their nation. We work hard towards the day when the security Iraq is stabilized and this concern will no longer be an issue.

AISS built an organization of professionals with cross cultural diversity who have years of experience in multiple levels of security development. AISS employs over 250 foreign professional security operators and managers. They coordinate missions with over 2000 personally trained Iraqi security forces making AISS the most unique security provider in Iraq. AISS tactfully designed a "Low Profile" mission attitude, there achieved goal allows them to move in and about Iraq with the least amount of attention with the greatest success. They designed 200 "Low Profile" vehicles for a varying number of missions each day.

Chijan said the badly decomposed bodies of another seven men, including one Iraqi and six believed to be "Asians," were brought to the hospital after being killed in a convoy ambush several days ago. Most had been shot in the face.

The slain Iraqi was identified as Ahmed Adnan, said his cousin, Hussein Ali.

Ali told the AP his cousin worked for the U.S.-owned American-Iraqi Solutions Group, a large company dealing in Iraqi reconstruction projects, with its headquarters in Carson City, Nev.

The company later sent the AP a statement saying 11 of its employees were killed Sunday when one of its five-vehicle supply convoys was ambushed east of Ramadi, 110 kilometres west of Baghdad, by up to 20 heavily armed bandits firing from an overpass.

In the Internet claim, the militant group Ansar al-Sunnah Army said its fighters attacked a convoy leaving a base near the town of Ramadi, killing the seven men and capturing two other Iraqi guards. The statement did not say when the attack took place.

The claim could not be confirmed. The statement, posted on a web forum often used by Ansar al-Sunnah and other militant groups, included pictures of the contractor's identification cards.

The cards identified him as Binkumar Gurung, working for the American-Iraq Solution Group, contracted by the Pentagon. The cards included a licence to carry weapons.

The statement said the contractor was Japanese, but no passport was included and his picture and name appeared to be South Asian. One of the cards also gave his name as "Gurung Bilprasad, alias Binkumar."

UPDATE: Apparently, Ansar al-Sunna is using an e-mail list these days. Vlad has a copy of the original posting here if you speak Arabic. Below are images posted along with the communique. Besides Bilprasad "Binkumar" Gurung, the following men were also murdered by Ansar al-Sunnah and photos of their identification badges posted by the terrorists:
Mahmoud Yasin Mahdi
Omar Khaery Haren
Farook Jamal Helal
Ahmed Adnan
Mohaned Khddayer Abbas more...

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Two important updates to our Iraq hostage watch. First, several people made me aware some time ago that hostage William Bradley's body was discovered earlier in the year. Boston.com:

The body of a civilian truck driver missing since April in Iraq has been found near the place where his convoy was ambushed nine months ago.

William Bradley, 50, lived in Chesterfield before going to Iraq nearly a year ago to drive trucks for Texas-based Halliburton Co., which on Thursday announced the discovery of his remains.

The former Marine was in a fuel truck convoy that was ambushed near Baghdad on April 9.

Second, a little noticed blurb from Douglas Wood. It seems that Mr. Wood barely escaped death but that two other hostages being held in the same room were not so lucky. The Sunday Mail:

DOUGLAS Wood has revealed he feared he was next to die after two fellow hostages were executed by his kidnappers in Iraq.

From what I have been able to deduce from published reports, the two hostages would have been murdered sometime between May 6th and May 9th. Yet no hostage murder videos or statements appeared during this time frame.

If any one has information on who the two victims were, please e-mail me.

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Call former hostage Douglas Wood the 'anti-Sgrena'. Unlike that Communist serial liar and terror supporter who decided on her own it would be a good idea to shoot a video and beg the Italian people to pressure the Berlusconi government to withdraw troops from Iraq, Douglas Wood only made similar pleas because an AK-47 was pointed at his head.

Yesterday, in a brief interview with the press, Wood apologized to President Bush, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Prime Minister Howard. He also reiterated his support for the no negotiations with terrorists policy of the Allied governments. Melbourne Herald Sun:

"Frankly I'd like to apologize to both President (George W.) Bush and Prime Minister (John) Howard for the things I said under duress," said Mr Wood "I actually believe that I am proof positive that the current policy of training the Iraqi army ... works because it was Iraqis that got me out," he added.

In the original hostage video, which I transcribed here, Wood can be heard saying:

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 didn't know whether it was al-Qaida or who it was," he said. "My head is intact, so it wasn't al-Qaida."

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We've been saying all along that the Grand Mufti of Australia is more than a little full of shit. Over and over we were promised by him that Douglas Wood's release was imminent and that it was all his doing. So when he comes out and claims it was he that got Douglas Wood released, excuse us for being a little skeptical. Mad Dog Vinnie notes about Taj Aldin Alhilali:

It's starting to seem as thought the mufti has been studying at the University of Al Sharpton, with a major in Jesse Jackson Publicity Stuntism. All in the name of making the Religion of Peace seem, well, peaceful, I bet.

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Douglas Wood, an Alamo, California, resident with Australian citizenship, has been rescued by Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops from his terrorist captors.

Developing. Check back later for updates.......

News.com Australia:

AUSTRALIAN hostage Douglas Wood is well and undergoing medical checks following his rescue more than six weeks after being kidnapped in Iraq.

The 63-year-old engineer, with numerous health problems, was in good health in Baghdad tonight, and he was under the protection of an Australian taskforce sent to Iraq to negotiate his release, Prime Minister John Howard told Parliament.
Mr Wood was freed this afternoon by Iraqi and US troops in Baghdad, Mr Howard said.

"I am delighted to inform the house that the Australian hostage in Iraq Mr Douglas Wood is safe from his captors," he said to cheers in Parliament.

"Mr Wood was recovered a short while ago in Baghdad in a military operation that I'm told was conducted by Iraqi forces."

Mr Wood was well and was undergoing medical checks while in the care of the Australian emergency response team, Mr Howard said.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer meanwhile said Mr Wood was in good shape, if mentally exhausted.

He said he had called the Wood family with the good news at 6pm.

A family spokesman said: "They are elated.

"They haven't spoken to him yet but I understand that all of the family know in all parts of the world."

Mr Wood, a US-based Australian with an American wife, Yvonne, and a daughter, Christina, has brothers living in Australia

Seventeen days later Iraq security forces stumbled by chance on the house where he was being held during an early-morning search in a northern suburb of Baghdad.

In an operation codenamed Lightning and supported by US advisers, the Iraqis were conducting "snap, cordon and search" raids from house to house.

"They just happened to get lucky," a coalition defence source in Iraq said last night. Australian commanders, who had no advance knowledge of the operation, were caught by surprise.

UPDATE II: KrilliX adds, "Con un’operazione militare. Senza pagare riscatti e finanziare i terroristi. Evidentemente si può fare anche così." Indeed.

Related posts from The Jawa Report:
Family of Australian Hostage Starts a Blog
Time Running Out for Duglas Wood
Terrorists Issue 72 Hour Ultimatum to Aussies
The Life of a Hostage in Iraq
Australian Douglas Wood in Hostage Video, Appeals to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bush, Howard

Resources:
The Wood family blog--blog started by Douglas Wood's family in an effort to convince the terrorists to let him go.

Others: John Little at Blogs of War, Tim Blair blogging from Australia, Captain Ed, Red at Scared Monkeys, see fatwas issued below for others....

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1 Yee-haw! Hope they shot the freedom fighters responsible for this. Too many prisoners already.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 15, 2005 08:56 AM (x+5JB)

2 "...was conducted by Iraqi forces." Not bad, Iraqis. Not bad.

Posted by: Editor at June 15, 2005 09:57 AM (adpJH)

3 Awesome..

Posted by: Howie at June 15, 2005 09:58 AM (D3+20)

4 Huzzah boys!

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at June 15, 2005 10:48 AM (0yYS2)

5 Yay. And the terrorists involved were "detained". People are getting tired of the crap there. Information on terrorist's operations, locations of weapons and all sorts of information is coming forth now.

Posted by: Oyster at June 15, 2005 11:34 AM (fl6E1)

6 Very nice.

Posted by: Defense Guy at June 15, 2005 02:04 PM (jPCiN)

7 I hope the people who gave the tip got a nice reward ($$$), and that this will inspire more cooperation between the Iraqis and their government.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 15, 2005 02:08 PM (x+5JB)

8 Glad you agree!

Posted by: KrilliX at June 15, 2005 07:25 PM (/7AIJ)

9 UPDATE II: KrilliX adds, "Con un’operazione militare. Senza pagare riscatti e finanziare i terroristi. Evidentemente si può fare anche così." Indeed. I think I can translate, even with my limited Italian. KrilllX says, 'With a military operation. Without paying a ransom and financing the terrorists. Evidently, it can be done this way as well." KrilllX, Hope I didn't put words in your mouth. I'm trying to bone up on my crappy Italian. In 2 weeks I'll be traveling there.

Posted by: greg at June 16, 2005 04:01 PM (/+dAV)

10 greg! it was simply perfect! mail me if you'r coming back to rome in italy

Posted by: KrilliX at June 16, 2005 07:18 PM (/7AIJ)

11 Now now, Gregg. Must I be forced to chaperone this rendezvous?

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at June 17, 2005 08:13 AM (x+5JB)

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Were the hostages captives of a criminal gang or terrorists? What was Didier Julia's role? Was a ransom paid? The Bad Hair Blog has the details.

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I just got an e-mail from a friend if Roy's, Butch Conner, letting me know that a candlelight vigil will be held for American hostage in Iraq, Roy Hallums. Roy's daughter Carrie says, "It will probably be held in the Huntington Beach area. Please join us on this evening so we can show our support for my Dad and to let him know that we care! June 23rd is my Dad's Birthday, which is why we chose that day. He will be 57 years old."

We'll announce further details later or check Carrie's website here. If you're in the Orange County, CA, area it would be nice if you could show your support.

UPDATE: From Roy's daughter Carrie:

Hi Rusty,
We are going to have it next to the Huntington Beach Pier (off of Main
Street) at 6:45 on Thursday June 23rd. Thank you so much for your help! I
hope you are doing well!!
Take care,
Carrie

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Very good news to hear the left-wing French journalist Florence Aubenas has been set free from her hostage ordeal. France, for what it's worth, denies paying a ransom for the journalist.

Why is it that the terrorists continually target left-wing journalists? Is it a) because the vast majority of journalists are leftists and therefore chances are if you take a journalist hostage he'll more than likely be a left-winger? Or is it b) because left-wing journalists are stupid enough to believe their own propaganda about the so-called 'insurgency', thinking that the 'freedom fighters' are really no threat until one day they find themselves hostage?

I'm leaning towards b myself, but there is a good arguement to be made for a.

Our man on the streets in Romania, Adi, points out one of the most fascinating aspects of Florence Aubenas release is that she was held captive for almost two months with three Romanian journalists who were also being held hostage. As you may recall, an American citizen has been formally accused by the Romanian government of setting up the kidnapping of the three Romanians. If the four were held together by the same group of terrorists, why was the French hostage not released until now?

Notice from the article below that the left-leaning French Liberation, for whom Aubenas worked, can't find anything bad to say about the men who held their employee hostage for close to half a year. I can understand how a hostage might develop Stockholm syndrome, but not the employer of a hostage. It never ceases to amaze how far the left-leaning press will go to apologize for the attrocities committed by their terrorist allies. more...

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