December 13, 2005
Islamic Army in Iraq Link to Peace Activist Hostages Confirmed
The Jawa Report was the first media outlet to report that there was a possible connection between the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, the group responsible for kidnapping four Western peace activists in Iraq, in a November 29th posting. In fact, what is said by the director of the SITE Institute in this Canadian National Post article comes awfully close to plagiarism.
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The kidnappers holding four Christian activists hostage are connected to the Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI), one of the country's leading insurgent groups, a U.S. researcher said yesterday.You'll notice that SITE came across the link a week ago, while The Jawa Report (with thanks to Tribeca and OVO) was reporting on the connection before they even discovered it:Although the previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigades has claimed it kidnapped the two Canadians, one Briton and one American, the SITE Institute said it had found ties to the Islamic Army. At least two of the videotaped statements issued by the hostage-takers were uploaded on to a hidden directory on the IAI Web site prior to broadcast, suggesting a link to the insurgent group, Rita Katz said.
"I would say that there is a strong connection between the hostage-takers and the Islamic Army," said Ms. Katz, director of SITE, a U.S. terrorist research organization that monitors jihadist Internet activities.
If correct, the link is worrisome because the Islamic Army has killed most of the hostages it has taken, including Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni. A statement from the group last week claimed that American consultant Ronald Allen Schulz had been executed....
The SITE Institute came across the IAI link last week, when the kidnappers issued a videotaped statement extending the deadline for meeting its demands until Saturday.
The video showed Canadian hostages James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, as well as U.S. hostage Tom Fox, 54, and Briton Norman Kember, 74. All are members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams.That hidden directory was first discovered by Tribeca, a mutual friend of Infovlad and The Jawa Report. The directory has been since deleted.Ms. Katz said the video was hidden on a part of the Islamic Army Web site that only those in contact with the administrator would have been able to access. The research group later discovered that another video issued by the kidnappers had also been uploaded on to the Islamic Army site. "Apparently the first video that was received was also posted on that same hidden directory," she said.
She did not go public with the information at the time, fearing it could prompt the kidnappers to kill the hostages. Instead, she alerted U.S. investigators in Iraq.I also alerted the Feds on this, and now that this is in the open, that was why I deleted a certain mysterious post.
But she said now that the deadline has passed without word of the fate of the hostages, she felt it was time to make public the link to the major insurgent group, the second- or third-largest in Iraq....Here is how we first reported the connection:The nature of the relationship between the hostage-takers and the Islamic Army remains unclear, but is being investigated by U.S. authorities. One expert speculated the Swords of Righteousness could be nothing more than a front for the Islamic Army, possibly set up to raise money through ransom while distancing itself from the unsavoury act of kidnapping for money.
My sources indicate that "The Swords of Righteousness Brigade" may be an offshoot of The Islamic Army in Iraq. The announcement and video were posted on that group's website earlier today. The Islamic Army in Iraq has murdered foreign hostages in the past, including Italian Red Cross worker Enzo Baldoni, and has worked with Abu Musab al Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq in the past. This is bad news for the hostages if confirmed.We love the SITE Institute and fully support their mission. What bothers me about this is that I sent this to SITE. I also notified the FBI about the connection. Further, I've said the same thing several times in other posts with no one in the MSM taking what I've said seriously. For instance:The original announcement in Arabic can be downloaded here if some one would like to offer a better translation.
The Islamic Army in Iraq has also been implicated in the kidnapping of four Western peace activists. Norman Kember of England, American Thomas Fox, and Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden were taken hostage by an unknown group calling themselves 'The Swords of Righteousness Brigade'. However, that group has released its hostage videos on internet sites affiliated with The Islamic Army in Iraq.Further, an examination of the document announcing that 'The Swords of Righteousness Brigade' would extend the hostage deadline reveals that the same author also prepared the Ronald Schulz announcement (thanks to Jay 87 and OvO). It is nearly certain, then, that some kind of relationship exists between The Islamic Army in Iraq and 'The Swords of Righteousnes Brigade'.
The Islamic Army in Iraq has known ties to al Qaeda and has worked with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda offshoot in the past. The group has murdered dozens of hostages on video in the past, including Italian journallist and Red Cross worker, Enzo Baldoni.
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1
In light of this information, can you explain to me what this means? What prompted this group to kill some hostages, and let others go?
What do you make of their silence?
Thanks,
Jill
What do you make of their silence?
Thanks,
Jill
Posted by: Jill at December 13, 2005 12:01 PM (pbum3)
2
Speculation has been that they are trying to raise money for their terror operations, but that is just speculation. They also never released their last snuff video of the murder of Ronald Schulz. It may be that they are getting more media savvy and realize there is some propaganda value in keeping the peace activists alive.
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at December 13, 2005 12:04 PM (JQjhA)
3
"It may be that they are getting more media savvy and realize there is some propaganda value in keeping the peace activists alive."
Or, more accurately, they realize they've fucked up and kidnapped the wrong people. I mean, not even hardline extremists have their backs on this one. So, what do they do? They can't kill them because they'll drive even more Muslims away from their brand of thinking. But they can't let them go, because then it looks like they've capitulated or have admitted they've fucked up.
Or, more accurately, they realize they've fucked up and kidnapped the wrong people. I mean, not even hardline extremists have their backs on this one. So, what do they do? They can't kill them because they'll drive even more Muslims away from their brand of thinking. But they can't let them go, because then it looks like they've capitulated or have admitted they've fucked up.
Posted by: Venom at December 13, 2005 12:48 PM (dbxVM)
4
Also Venom, if they kill them, they risk alienating the rest of the Useful Idiot dhimmis of the CPT, though the chance is small, as no matter what they do, America will take the blame.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 13, 2005 01:17 PM (0yYS2)
5
They killed Margaret Hassan who worked for their shithole of a country for 20 years. These scum will kill anyone...just depends on what side of the bed they wake up on or if their football team loses.
Posted by: Jester at December 13, 2005 02:15 PM (wBDaS)
6
Jester,
But they aren't dumb (presumably), just evil. Is it possible that they realize they miscalculated in the Hassan and Baldoni cases?
But they aren't dumb (presumably), just evil. Is it possible that they realize they miscalculated in the Hassan and Baldoni cases?
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at December 13, 2005 02:50 PM (JQjhA)
7
Hassan and Baldoni only served to exacerbate America's problems though, since the media went into instant spin cycle in order to deflect the blame from the true criminals onto America.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 13, 2005 03:04 PM (0yYS2)
8
Producing a snuff video that al Jazeera refused to play indicates a serious miscalculation. If, as Rusty says, they're not stupid, the CPT hostages may survive.
Btw, linked to this story, but haven't been able to ping your site with a trackback for some time now.
Btw, linked to this story, but haven't been able to ping your site with a trackback for some time now.
Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at December 13, 2005 03:10 PM (RHG+K)
9
Even with the kidnapping of Hassan, you didn't see anywhere near this level of Islamist pleas for her release.
Posted by: Venom at December 13, 2005 03:21 PM (dbxVM)
10
Rusty, you de man, man. Congrats on great coverage of the news in Iraq. The MSM has been scooped again, thanks to the Jawa and others in the blogging community. Pajama's rule!
Posted by: jesusland joe at December 13, 2005 03:22 PM (rUyw4)
11
Terrorists good, America Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad, you're coming through loud and clear Background. Where ever there is to be evil found on earth, scratch the surface and the U.S is behind it.
Get a life hippy.
Get a life hippy.
Posted by: dave at December 13, 2005 03:32 PM (CcXvt)
12
You know I can fix any link that does not suck.
Posted by: Howie at December 13, 2005 03:38 PM (D3+20)
13
Hmm Maryland?
Posted by: Howie at December 13, 2005 04:44 PM (D3+20)
14
rita recieves all of our information but does not necessarily communicate back to us. I read her intel alerts daily and i too have informed her of things and have not heard back from her, but i am confident that she has recieved my messages.
if you recall, she has reported on several occassions that these groups are also becoming more conscious and have been recieving "warnings" from their "friends" to be careful of when and where they send out their "communiques" for fear of being caught
kudos to both you and rita for picking up on that link between the two groups. somehow i am not surprised. there is always something strange with those who hide their faces. it reminds me of the old southern police forces and the KKK.
keep up the excellent work.
if you recall, she has reported on several occassions that these groups are also becoming more conscious and have been recieving "warnings" from their "friends" to be careful of when and where they send out their "communiques" for fear of being caught
kudos to both you and rita for picking up on that link between the two groups. somehow i am not surprised. there is always something strange with those who hide their faces. it reminds me of the old southern police forces and the KKK.
keep up the excellent work.
Posted by: CTT at December 13, 2005 05:06 PM (ZTXJH)
15
Margaret Hassan, God Bless her sole, was killed b/c she helped the vicitms of the oil for food scam and knew something she should not have known.
This did not sit well with Jaques Chiraq and the Batthists.
I do not believe for one second that the Christian Peacemakers who were there for two plus years had no insight into something that did not sit well with someone over there. This is the reason they have been taken and not released.
Their organization is very pro Palestinian and one of the Canadians was very active in the Palestinian cause. They f****ed up indeed, just as they did with Daniel Pearl who had pictures taken with Sheik Yassin and just as Zarqawi did by shooting up a Palestinian wedding party in Jordan. But it is most likely too late.
This did not sit well with Jaques Chiraq and the Batthists.
I do not believe for one second that the Christian Peacemakers who were there for two plus years had no insight into something that did not sit well with someone over there. This is the reason they have been taken and not released.
Their organization is very pro Palestinian and one of the Canadians was very active in the Palestinian cause. They f****ed up indeed, just as they did with Daniel Pearl who had pictures taken with Sheik Yassin and just as Zarqawi did by shooting up a Palestinian wedding party in Jordan. But it is most likely too late.
Posted by: CTT at December 13, 2005 05:11 PM (ZTXJH)
16
"I think their apparent indifference to the worldwide pleas of Muslims from all political persuasions raises an interesting question of whether or not the kidnappers are jihadists as they claim to be."
Background,
and why would jihadists respond to the "worldwide" pleas of muslims? Isn't it your story that these terrorists aren't true muslims?
Talk about a Freudian slip.
Background,
and why would jihadists respond to the "worldwide" pleas of muslims? Isn't it your story that these terrorists aren't true muslims?
Talk about a Freudian slip.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 13, 2005 05:31 PM (8e/V4)
17
That's exactly what they claim, Carlos. I eagerly await a response to your question. Eagerly await, but do not expect one.
Posted by: jesusland joe at December 13, 2005 06:36 PM (rUyw4)
Posted by: Vinnie at December 13, 2005 06:43 PM (Kr6/f)
19
To answer the commentary:
Terrorists bad.... death squads bad.
It's not a zero sum game.
The "Salvador Option" may have worked against poor peasants in Central American rainforests... but extra judicial assassinations haven't really gotten the Israelis very far now have they?
Painting all Muslims as rabid death cultists is as irresponsible as painting all Americans as Halliburton apologists.
There is no question that Hamas, Hezbollah, and most of the other known terrorist organizations that jumped on the "free the hostage" bandwagon are merely looking for some cheap publicity. But how do you explain the ordinary people demonstrating every day in the West Bank? How do you explain Muslims in Canadian detention?
The fact is the CPT 4 do have credibility amongst Palestinians. That is why they were travelling with Iraqi Palestinians and visiting Sunni clerics. Those are the groups being targeted by Shi'ite death squads.
Folks here claim a) they have evidence of files linking IAI to the kidnappers, b) Rita Katz plagiarized the findings. OK... is there any forensics to back up their assertion?
Rita Katz has noted in at least one interview that groups actually steal each others tapes in an effort to claim credit. How do you know where the tapes came from?
Here's the thing about IAI that raises a question for me... the CPT 4 are well regarded and well known by Palestinians... They are in Iraq investigating death squad activities that target Palestinians.
IAI originally included former militants from the Palestine Liberation Front. That is the group started by Abu Abbas. The PLF are allied with Fatah. Even Fatah's militant wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs, is calling for the release of the hostages....
Terrorists bad.... death squads bad.
It's not a zero sum game.
The "Salvador Option" may have worked against poor peasants in Central American rainforests... but extra judicial assassinations haven't really gotten the Israelis very far now have they?
Painting all Muslims as rabid death cultists is as irresponsible as painting all Americans as Halliburton apologists.
There is no question that Hamas, Hezbollah, and most of the other known terrorist organizations that jumped on the "free the hostage" bandwagon are merely looking for some cheap publicity. But how do you explain the ordinary people demonstrating every day in the West Bank? How do you explain Muslims in Canadian detention?
The fact is the CPT 4 do have credibility amongst Palestinians. That is why they were travelling with Iraqi Palestinians and visiting Sunni clerics. Those are the groups being targeted by Shi'ite death squads.
Folks here claim a) they have evidence of files linking IAI to the kidnappers, b) Rita Katz plagiarized the findings. OK... is there any forensics to back up their assertion?
Rita Katz has noted in at least one interview that groups actually steal each others tapes in an effort to claim credit. How do you know where the tapes came from?
Here's the thing about IAI that raises a question for me... the CPT 4 are well regarded and well known by Palestinians... They are in Iraq investigating death squad activities that target Palestinians.
IAI originally included former militants from the Palestine Liberation Front. That is the group started by Abu Abbas. The PLF are allied with Fatah. Even Fatah's militant wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs, is calling for the release of the hostages....
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 14, 2005 01:35 AM (wsdWU)
20
I'm quite skeptical of the reaction from so many that if terrorist groups are calling for their release then, "by golly" there must be something to it. Let us not forget what prompted the Shias to behave in the manner that they were subjected to for decades. I'm not condoning what they've been caught doing - since we've found at least two instances of them torturing people (real torture) in basements or prisons. So don't get me wrong. But it seems to me that there's something terribly wrong with those who are quick to react to the terrorists being upset or the thinly veiled, underlying hope that they can find Americans involved somehow.
Yet, they continue with the stark silence on the bleak atmosphere found in Fallujah with copious amounts of blood, executed bodies and those fortunate enough to be found chained and tortured, but still alive. Not to mention their lack of concern for all the other hostages brutally murdered who never did a thing to anyone.
The groups screaming bloody murder about mistreatment at the hands of Shias while remaining silent on the daily murders of innocent people in Iraq and everywhere else in the world by Sunnis, Wahabis and Qutbs is what I find disgusting and duplicitous. And they make fun of the US with their slogan "Don't do as I do, do as I say"? Hello?
Background Noise can barely contain his glee at the hope of further discrediting more Americans. No matter how far he has to stretch truth or what weak connections he has to make. If he wants an explanation of those "ordinary people" demonstrating everyday - they're doing that in larger numbers everywhere. They're sick and damn tired of terrorism, expecially now that they realize they're tragets too. They're demonstrating in Jordan, Pakistan India and even here in the US. They're releasing some pretty strong statements denouncing terrorism in all its forms and the press is largely ignoring it or merely mentioning these statements as an aside. But let the terror groups utter a single word an it's splashed across the front page.
As I've said before, the CPTers don't care when people are mistreated unless the mistreatment is a retaliation or defense. They're anti-war and there's no war unless someone fights back. And CPT's goal is to document anything wrong, no matter how minute, committed by those who fight back - completely ignoring who started it and what atrocities they may have committed.
I find it all deplorable and Background Noise and others play willingly into their propaganda scheme.
Yet, they continue with the stark silence on the bleak atmosphere found in Fallujah with copious amounts of blood, executed bodies and those fortunate enough to be found chained and tortured, but still alive. Not to mention their lack of concern for all the other hostages brutally murdered who never did a thing to anyone.
The groups screaming bloody murder about mistreatment at the hands of Shias while remaining silent on the daily murders of innocent people in Iraq and everywhere else in the world by Sunnis, Wahabis and Qutbs is what I find disgusting and duplicitous. And they make fun of the US with their slogan "Don't do as I do, do as I say"? Hello?
Background Noise can barely contain his glee at the hope of further discrediting more Americans. No matter how far he has to stretch truth or what weak connections he has to make. If he wants an explanation of those "ordinary people" demonstrating everyday - they're doing that in larger numbers everywhere. They're sick and damn tired of terrorism, expecially now that they realize they're tragets too. They're demonstrating in Jordan, Pakistan India and even here in the US. They're releasing some pretty strong statements denouncing terrorism in all its forms and the press is largely ignoring it or merely mentioning these statements as an aside. But let the terror groups utter a single word an it's splashed across the front page.
As I've said before, the CPTers don't care when people are mistreated unless the mistreatment is a retaliation or defense. They're anti-war and there's no war unless someone fights back. And CPT's goal is to document anything wrong, no matter how minute, committed by those who fight back - completely ignoring who started it and what atrocities they may have committed.
I find it all deplorable and Background Noise and others play willingly into their propaganda scheme.
Posted by: Oyster at December 14, 2005 06:22 AM (YudAC)
21
I have four comments in response to the follow ups on my original post.
First, the issue of the IAI raises questions for me. They were founded in part by former PLF members. Given the fact the CPT 4 are well known and generally adored by Palestinians, it seems odd that a group containing PLF fighters would do anything to harm them. Especially when the most radical elements of Fatah (e.g. Al Aqsa Martyrs) are calling for their release.
Second, for those who think I am painting this as "terrorist good ....America bad".... let be very clear about my motivations here. There are two. First is doing whatever can be done to increase the survivability of the hostages.
Since this hostage ordeal began, most efforts on behalf of the hostages were aimed at publicizing Muslim appeals for their release because everyone assumed jihadists were holding them. These do not seem to be having any impact. If the kidnappers are related to death squads, let us hope the people who have control over them realize that if these hostages are killed, even US major media will have to cover the story in some detail. The reason they went to Iraq will inevitably become a topic of discussion. That would naturally focus worldwide attention on the "special police and military units" they were investigating in the first place.
Third has to do with our obligation to support our troops. I know people who have been deployed. I know people who ARE deployed. I know people who have lost children. The people serving are not an abstraction to me.
The vast majority of Americans serving in Iraq are decent men and women trying as hard as they can to do the right thing even though they are working under terrible conditions. Someone talked about the soldier administering morphine to a dying child. Who can forget the soldiers who defended the Bagdhad orphanage during the early looting period? Not everything is so dramatic. The kid who was killed... he was building roads. He was making things better. I have a whole new appreciation for highways now. We take highways for granted.
Although this site doesn't accept BBC links, the fact is the gruesome report of tortured prisoners found in the basement of the Interior Ministry reported it was American troops who found them. The death squads and the "Salvador Option" are an insult to the men and women who are decent. They sully our reputation and mock the values people are dying to defend. I feel obliged to honor their sacrifice and defend our values by having the courage to ask direct questions, expect honest answers, and demand accountability from policymakers.
Finally, I am not looking for some cheap way to use this situation to voice my opposition to invading Iraq before we finished in Afghanistan. There are plenty of other things I can point to that more directly support that argument. I am not interested in arguing that here. All I will say is that before we went in a woman who grew up in a military family, and married into a military family said it best in her letter to the editor:
"I am not haunted by the fear that my brother will be sent to war. I believe there are beliefs and causes worth taking risks for, worth fighting and dying for. Rather, I am haunted by the fear that he will be sent to war thoughtlessly, carelessly."
-- Cara Cannon Byington (Jan. 15, 2003)
First, the issue of the IAI raises questions for me. They were founded in part by former PLF members. Given the fact the CPT 4 are well known and generally adored by Palestinians, it seems odd that a group containing PLF fighters would do anything to harm them. Especially when the most radical elements of Fatah (e.g. Al Aqsa Martyrs) are calling for their release.
Second, for those who think I am painting this as "terrorist good ....America bad".... let be very clear about my motivations here. There are two. First is doing whatever can be done to increase the survivability of the hostages.
Since this hostage ordeal began, most efforts on behalf of the hostages were aimed at publicizing Muslim appeals for their release because everyone assumed jihadists were holding them. These do not seem to be having any impact. If the kidnappers are related to death squads, let us hope the people who have control over them realize that if these hostages are killed, even US major media will have to cover the story in some detail. The reason they went to Iraq will inevitably become a topic of discussion. That would naturally focus worldwide attention on the "special police and military units" they were investigating in the first place.
Third has to do with our obligation to support our troops. I know people who have been deployed. I know people who ARE deployed. I know people who have lost children. The people serving are not an abstraction to me.
The vast majority of Americans serving in Iraq are decent men and women trying as hard as they can to do the right thing even though they are working under terrible conditions. Someone talked about the soldier administering morphine to a dying child. Who can forget the soldiers who defended the Bagdhad orphanage during the early looting period? Not everything is so dramatic. The kid who was killed... he was building roads. He was making things better. I have a whole new appreciation for highways now. We take highways for granted.
Although this site doesn't accept BBC links, the fact is the gruesome report of tortured prisoners found in the basement of the Interior Ministry reported it was American troops who found them. The death squads and the "Salvador Option" are an insult to the men and women who are decent. They sully our reputation and mock the values people are dying to defend. I feel obliged to honor their sacrifice and defend our values by having the courage to ask direct questions, expect honest answers, and demand accountability from policymakers.
Finally, I am not looking for some cheap way to use this situation to voice my opposition to invading Iraq before we finished in Afghanistan. There are plenty of other things I can point to that more directly support that argument. I am not interested in arguing that here. All I will say is that before we went in a woman who grew up in a military family, and married into a military family said it best in her letter to the editor:
"I am not haunted by the fear that my brother will be sent to war. I believe there are beliefs and causes worth taking risks for, worth fighting and dying for. Rather, I am haunted by the fear that he will be sent to war thoughtlessly, carelessly."
-- Cara Cannon Byington (Jan. 15, 2003)
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 14, 2005 08:30 AM (wsdWU)
22
Oyster: Although my prior response addressed criticims and attributions you and others have raised, I wanted to directly address your mistaken attribution about the Christian Peacemaker Teams in general and Tom Fox in particular.
They are not turning a blind eye to one side's atrocities. They reject ALL violence. Tom Fox left a blog http://waitinginthelight.blogspot.com where he discusses these matters in detail. His first entry makes it clear that he is motivated in part by the quote from Jesus found in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas: "Don't lie and don't do what you hate because all things are revealed under heaven."
He specifically talks about how confronting soldiers and kidnappers will require him to move beyond anger and fear. That is very hard to do. But it is noble. It is honest. It is important. It is the way out of this mess. Fox and Kember are not kids. They are seasoned men who have struggled against violence for decades. They do that out of a compassionate expression of their faith. It may be hard for you to believe they love their fellow country men as much as the people they seek to help. You have to accept that on faith.
I agree with you that ordinary people around the world are speaking out against terrorism because they simply want to live their lives. I also agree with you that media coverage of the spectacular has routinely crowded out the voices of reason. It enrages me that zealots on all sides routinely betray the aspirations of the people they claim to defend. I carry no brief for terrorists. I don't believe Hamas, Hezbollah, or Islamic Jihad love Palestinians any more than Saddam Hussein did. Anyone who uses children as cannon fodder is wicked. There is no other way to view that.
What sets men like Fox, Loney, Sooden, and Kember apart from most people is they hold the captives and captors in their prayers. They struggle to find that place beyond anger and fear. When I think of King Hussein's eulogy for Yitzhak Rabin, I think that is what he was talking about when he spoke of "the camp of peace" when he addressed his comments to "those who live in darkness who are the enemies of life" and said "this is where we stand. This is our camp. May God bless you with the realization that you must join it and we pray that He will, but otherwise we are not ashamed, nor are we afraid, nor are we anything but determined to fulfill the legacy for which my friend fell."
I remember when he gave that eulogy how the words tumbled out of him with a force I could only describe as a wind that came through time. It wasn't until later that I learned he was a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhhamed.
Before the war Mike Kelly called the people opposing it "Liars, Frauds, and Hypocrites". He mellowed a bit when it was pointed out that he was maligning many honest people of faith. He declared they were "useful idiots" dancing to the Worker's World Party's A.N.S.W.E.R. When it was pointed out that many of the mothers marching on the Mall were motivated more by Mark and Luke than Marx and Lenin, he modified his tone. He spoke about the horrors he witnessed with his own eyes in Kuwait and the need to confront evil.
When the war came, he didn't sit behind a desk in Boston and write testosterone-laden cant. He went to Iraq. He didn't go because he wanted a thrill ride as an "embedded journalist" doing victory laps like Ollie North. He went because he felt it was important to witness and report honestly on the war he truly believed needed to be fought.
He died too young and we are the poorer for it. But he left us a gift. The final question in the final paragraph of the final column for the "Atlantic," published after his death, said it all. It is a question worth pondering. It is a question that will haunt the men who took us to war from now until the end of history.
"The question is whether the employment of this unfathomable power will be largely for good, leading to the liberation of a tyrannized people and the spread of freedom, or largely for bad, leading to imperialism and colonialism,with a consequent corruption of America's own values and freedoms."
- Mike Kelly , "What Now?", The Atlantic Monthly , May 2003
With that gift comes an obligation to write that future history mindful of the legacy we were given so we may leave a legacy worthy of those who will follow.
They are not turning a blind eye to one side's atrocities. They reject ALL violence. Tom Fox left a blog http://waitinginthelight.blogspot.com where he discusses these matters in detail. His first entry makes it clear that he is motivated in part by the quote from Jesus found in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas: "Don't lie and don't do what you hate because all things are revealed under heaven."
He specifically talks about how confronting soldiers and kidnappers will require him to move beyond anger and fear. That is very hard to do. But it is noble. It is honest. It is important. It is the way out of this mess. Fox and Kember are not kids. They are seasoned men who have struggled against violence for decades. They do that out of a compassionate expression of their faith. It may be hard for you to believe they love their fellow country men as much as the people they seek to help. You have to accept that on faith.
I agree with you that ordinary people around the world are speaking out against terrorism because they simply want to live their lives. I also agree with you that media coverage of the spectacular has routinely crowded out the voices of reason. It enrages me that zealots on all sides routinely betray the aspirations of the people they claim to defend. I carry no brief for terrorists. I don't believe Hamas, Hezbollah, or Islamic Jihad love Palestinians any more than Saddam Hussein did. Anyone who uses children as cannon fodder is wicked. There is no other way to view that.
What sets men like Fox, Loney, Sooden, and Kember apart from most people is they hold the captives and captors in their prayers. They struggle to find that place beyond anger and fear. When I think of King Hussein's eulogy for Yitzhak Rabin, I think that is what he was talking about when he spoke of "the camp of peace" when he addressed his comments to "those who live in darkness who are the enemies of life" and said "this is where we stand. This is our camp. May God bless you with the realization that you must join it and we pray that He will, but otherwise we are not ashamed, nor are we afraid, nor are we anything but determined to fulfill the legacy for which my friend fell."
I remember when he gave that eulogy how the words tumbled out of him with a force I could only describe as a wind that came through time. It wasn't until later that I learned he was a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhhamed.
Before the war Mike Kelly called the people opposing it "Liars, Frauds, and Hypocrites". He mellowed a bit when it was pointed out that he was maligning many honest people of faith. He declared they were "useful idiots" dancing to the Worker's World Party's A.N.S.W.E.R. When it was pointed out that many of the mothers marching on the Mall were motivated more by Mark and Luke than Marx and Lenin, he modified his tone. He spoke about the horrors he witnessed with his own eyes in Kuwait and the need to confront evil.
When the war came, he didn't sit behind a desk in Boston and write testosterone-laden cant. He went to Iraq. He didn't go because he wanted a thrill ride as an "embedded journalist" doing victory laps like Ollie North. He went because he felt it was important to witness and report honestly on the war he truly believed needed to be fought.
He died too young and we are the poorer for it. But he left us a gift. The final question in the final paragraph of the final column for the "Atlantic," published after his death, said it all. It is a question worth pondering. It is a question that will haunt the men who took us to war from now until the end of history.
"The question is whether the employment of this unfathomable power will be largely for good, leading to the liberation of a tyrannized people and the spread of freedom, or largely for bad, leading to imperialism and colonialism,with a consequent corruption of America's own values and freedoms."
- Mike Kelly , "What Now?", The Atlantic Monthly , May 2003
With that gift comes an obligation to write that future history mindful of the legacy we were given so we may leave a legacy worthy of those who will follow.
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 14, 2005 09:05 AM (wsdWU)
23
They are getting smarter about what they post and where. They have been caught too many times. I'm having jihad troll withdrawls. That has got to be teh funnest part of Jawa. They come and post and we put em up on the front page or take em down. Finally they realize posting here is not so bright. Darn. But really the commentators and writers here deserve a big old pat on the back. We have trolled many into giving themselves away. I've not posted on that for a bit becuase ti's just not there. As soon as I see one thought boom we'll let him have it. Filthy had one last week go over there and check it out.
Posted by: Howie at December 14, 2005 10:13 AM (D3+20)
24
According to Background noise, King Hussein is a direct descendant of Mohammed. WHAT? Somebody give me some proof of this. Please!
Posted by: jesusland joe at December 14, 2005 10:34 AM (rUyw4)
25
Through his great-grandfather, the prophet Mohammad was himself a Hashemite, a subdivision of the Quraysh tribe of what is now Saudi Arabia.
The most revered Hashemite line then passed through Hassan, son of the Prophet’s daughter Fatima and her husband Ali, the fourth caliph. Hassan was the last of this line to hold the disputed claim to the caliphate, but his progeny eventually established themselves as hereditary emirs of Mecca, the role continuing under Ottoman rule.
The last of the line to rule as emir of Mecca and King of Hijaz along the Red Sea was Hussain bin Ali. Ibn Saudi, the founder of Saudi Arabia, conquered the Hijaz in 1924 and deposed Hussein, thus ending Hashemite rule of the region and the holy places of Islam.
The new Saudi dynasty, supported by the Wahhabi Muslim sect, proclaimed itself Guardians of the Shrines of Islam
Hussein’s dispossessed sons, Abdullah and Faisal, were later placed on the newly-created thrones of Amman and Baghdad, respectively. The Hashemite line survived in Jordan but not in Baghdad. Faisal was assassinated on July 14, 1958 in a military coup that soon led to the rise of Saddam Hussein at the head of the Baath regime.
In 1951, Abdullah was murdered by a Muslim zealot at the door of al Aqsa mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Two years later, his grandson Hussein succeeded to the Jordanian throne as a boy king. He reigned until his death in 1999, when he was succeeded by his eldest son Abdullah II.
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=921
At the time of his passing on February 7, 1999, His Majesty was the longest serving executive head of state in the world. Of great significance to Muslims throughout the world, the late King Hussein was also the forty-second generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/biography.html
His Majesty King Abdullah II is the 43rd generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/king_abdullah2.html
The most revered Hashemite line then passed through Hassan, son of the Prophet’s daughter Fatima and her husband Ali, the fourth caliph. Hassan was the last of this line to hold the disputed claim to the caliphate, but his progeny eventually established themselves as hereditary emirs of Mecca, the role continuing under Ottoman rule.
The last of the line to rule as emir of Mecca and King of Hijaz along the Red Sea was Hussain bin Ali. Ibn Saudi, the founder of Saudi Arabia, conquered the Hijaz in 1924 and deposed Hussein, thus ending Hashemite rule of the region and the holy places of Islam.
The new Saudi dynasty, supported by the Wahhabi Muslim sect, proclaimed itself Guardians of the Shrines of Islam
Hussein’s dispossessed sons, Abdullah and Faisal, were later placed on the newly-created thrones of Amman and Baghdad, respectively. The Hashemite line survived in Jordan but not in Baghdad. Faisal was assassinated on July 14, 1958 in a military coup that soon led to the rise of Saddam Hussein at the head of the Baath regime.
In 1951, Abdullah was murdered by a Muslim zealot at the door of al Aqsa mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. Two years later, his grandson Hussein succeeded to the Jordanian throne as a boy king. He reigned until his death in 1999, when he was succeeded by his eldest son Abdullah II.
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=921
At the time of his passing on February 7, 1999, His Majesty was the longest serving executive head of state in the world. Of great significance to Muslims throughout the world, the late King Hussein was also the forty-second generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/biography.html
His Majesty King Abdullah II is the 43rd generation direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/king_abdullah2.html
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 14, 2005 10:57 AM (wsdWU)
26
By there very words and deeds, the CPTers have taken a side in this. To say they deplore the acts of terrorism, yet, carefully document every misstep of those who seek to liberate the oppressed and focus on what they believe to be the motives of the liberators, portraying them as wrong-doers at every opportunity, is disingenuous at best and criminal at worst.
I stand by my assessment. Their actions belie what they say. I find them to be misled souls. I don't believe they're evil. I believe they truly think that what they do is just and correct. I think they're wrong. That's all.
I stand by my assessment. Their actions belie what they say. I find them to be misled souls. I don't believe they're evil. I believe they truly think that what they do is just and correct. I think they're wrong. That's all.
Posted by: Oyster at December 14, 2005 03:22 PM (YudAC)
27
I'm not surprised they're all related with the amount of inbreeding in the muslim world.
Posted by: Jester at December 14, 2005 04:35 PM (wBDaS)
28
Ah the CPTs! Hmmmmm ...
If they're killed how would this play out to a western audience?
Why do people insist on believing that the jidhadists are concerned with western audiences for anything except shock and fear factor?
How would this play out to an arab/islamist street audience - and the jidhadists themselves? That's the real question.
If they're killed how would this play out to a western audience?
Why do people insist on believing that the jidhadists are concerned with western audiences for anything except shock and fear factor?
How would this play out to an arab/islamist street audience - and the jidhadists themselves? That's the real question.
Posted by: hondo at December 14, 2005 05:03 PM (3aakz)
29
8ackground: How long have you been out of the Iraqi asylum?
Posted by: greyrooster at December 14, 2005 09:35 PM (b335s)
30
Oyster, with all due respect for your opinion, and no small respect at that, I must say this: "Misled souls" my ass. They are flaming liberals who hate America and would aid terrorists against us in any way, because according to them, we're the only evil in the world. You're just too nice a person to believe the awful truth, and bless you for it, but I think you've given them too much credit. People who are so mentally defective should not be allowed to walk free, much less be given any legitimacy.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 14, 2005 11:51 PM (0yYS2)
31
IM, at first I thought you were going to correct me on using "there" instead of "their" in my first sentence ;-) (I hate it when I screw up like that)
But ... point taken, sir.
But ... point taken, sir.
Posted by: Oyster at December 15, 2005 06:05 AM (YudAC)
32
Howie wrote:
They are getting smarter about what they post and where. They have been caught too many times. I'm having jihad troll withdrawls. That has got to be teh funnest part of Jawa. They come and post and we put em up on the front page or take em down. Finally they realize posting here is not so bright. Darn. But really the commentators and writers here deserve a big old pat on the back. We have trolled many into giving themselves away.
First off, it's a little on the juvenile side to deride someone as a troll when you can't address any of the comments in a substantive way. That's just lazy.
Second, I realize this is your private little playground and First Amendment issues don't apply. That's why I make my points respectfully and without invective.
Third, and this is the most important for you in particular. The reason I stumbled across this corner of the net was you were claiming to have confirmation about the likely identity of the kidnappers. Instead, you have taken the intellectually untenable position of saying:
a) Rita Katz plagiarized your work
and
b) Rita Katz confirms your finding
Plagiarism and confirmation are not synonyms.
They are getting smarter about what they post and where. They have been caught too many times. I'm having jihad troll withdrawls. That has got to be teh funnest part of Jawa. They come and post and we put em up on the front page or take em down. Finally they realize posting here is not so bright. Darn. But really the commentators and writers here deserve a big old pat on the back. We have trolled many into giving themselves away.
First off, it's a little on the juvenile side to deride someone as a troll when you can't address any of the comments in a substantive way. That's just lazy.
Second, I realize this is your private little playground and First Amendment issues don't apply. That's why I make my points respectfully and without invective.
Third, and this is the most important for you in particular. The reason I stumbled across this corner of the net was you were claiming to have confirmation about the likely identity of the kidnappers. Instead, you have taken the intellectually untenable position of saying:
a) Rita Katz plagiarized your work
and
b) Rita Katz confirms your finding
Plagiarism and confirmation are not synonyms.
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 15, 2005 08:24 AM (wsdWU)
33
Ackground has realized I enjoy games!!!!! And if I label a troll a troll it's just that.
Personally when some jihadist moron posts stuff like.
"Bush must die", "F*uck all Christians", F*uck the Virgin Mary" Death to this that and the other I'll call em a jihadist troll all I want.
Hey you guys it's a news flash. Howie is a bit juvenile and enjoys blog games with Jihadist trolls and loves to watch and catch the little bastards. It's just like fishin don't tell me you don't like fishin.
Personally when some jihadist moron posts stuff like.
"Bush must die", "F*uck all Christians", F*uck the Virgin Mary" Death to this that and the other I'll call em a jihadist troll all I want.
Hey you guys it's a news flash. Howie is a bit juvenile and enjoys blog games with Jihadist trolls and loves to watch and catch the little bastards. It's just like fishin don't tell me you don't like fishin.
Posted by: Howie at December 15, 2005 08:36 AM (D3+20)
34
Howie:
NEWSFLASH: There's a reason they call it fishing instead of catching.
Speaking of clarification.... care to distinquish your claim of confirmation from plaigerism, or did you get caught with your pants down?
NEWSFLASH: There's a reason they call it fishing instead of catching.
Speaking of clarification.... care to distinquish your claim of confirmation from plaigerism, or did you get caught with your pants down?
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 15, 2005 08:47 AM (wsdWU)
35
Uh would you care to read the authors name Mr. is probably greg.
Posted by: Howie at December 15, 2005 09:00 AM (D3+20)
36
Shackleford posted it. CTT said he has also sent SITE the info. You have said
You know I can fix any link that does not suck.
I went back to review it and apparently the whole diatribe about the plagiarism has been snipped from this thread.
So correct me if I'm wrong: You in charge of this site or not? You exercise editorial discretion or not?
Regardless of who answers it, the question is still out there based on material originally provided by this thread: Did SITE "confirm" or "plagiarize" the evidence cited? Pick one. It can't be both.
You know I can fix any link that does not suck.
I went back to review it and apparently the whole diatribe about the plagiarism has been snipped from this thread.
So correct me if I'm wrong: You in charge of this site or not? You exercise editorial discretion or not?
Regardless of who answers it, the question is still out there based on material originally provided by this thread: Did SITE "confirm" or "plagiarize" the evidence cited? Pick one. It can't be both.
Posted by: 8ackground N015e at December 15, 2005 09:19 AM (wsdWU)
37
Rusty can speak for himself he's a big boy.
Posted by: Howie at December 15, 2005 09:29 AM (D3+20)
38
Oh yeah. Links eh. I don't get the hostility. I tried your CNN link and sure enough it was rejected. I will fix links for you but they would be subject to my own judgement of rather the link was worth the trouble or not. I'd do this for just about any one for just about any link. But that was just a heads up that just because you submit one does not mean I will post it but I may post it.
Posted by: Howie at December 15, 2005 10:22 AM (D3+20)
39
Yeah not cathing any becaue the deep freeze is full maybe.
Posted by: Howie at December 15, 2005 02:12 PM (D3+20)
40
never in a million years would i say rita katz plagerized or snipped anything from me. i merely said i have reported things to her and not heard back from her. sorry but this is a "we" thing and as far as i am concerned, i do not need the credit. she and i are definately "fighting" (and neither of us want to be by the way) on the same side, i can assure you of that. but thank your for your concern mr. noise
Posted by: CTT at December 15, 2005 06:54 PM (ZTXJH)
41
howie/rusty
did you hear the latest "chatter" about the peaceworkers and what they are saying "to do" with them?
i won't post it here as i do not want to violate any rules or cause any trouble, but i may post it at mine later on, waiting for some confirmations.
did you hear the latest "chatter" about the peaceworkers and what they are saying "to do" with them?
i won't post it here as i do not want to violate any rules or cause any trouble, but i may post it at mine later on, waiting for some confirmations.
Posted by: CTT at December 15, 2005 07:01 PM (ZTXJH)
42
CTT .... maybe you missed the opening lines of the post that started this thread:
Islamic Army in Iraq Link to Peace Activist Hostages Confirmed
The Jawa Report was the first media outlet to report that there was a possible connection between the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, the group responsible for kidnapping four Western peace activists in Iraq, in a November 29th posting. In fact, what is said by the director of the SITE Institute in this Canadian National Post article comes awfully close to plagiarism. [emphasis added]
Hence my question: Did SITE confirm the finding independently or did they parrot it?
You can appreciate how those are qualitatively different. One increases credibility and the other makes you look like an echo chamber.
Islamic Army in Iraq Link to Peace Activist Hostages Confirmed
The Jawa Report was the first media outlet to report that there was a possible connection between the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, the group responsible for kidnapping four Western peace activists in Iraq, in a November 29th posting. In fact, what is said by the director of the SITE Institute in this Canadian National Post article comes awfully close to plagiarism. [emphasis added]
Hence my question: Did SITE confirm the finding independently or did they parrot it?
You can appreciate how those are qualitatively different. One increases credibility and the other makes you look like an echo chamber.
Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 15, 2005 07:43 PM (wsdWU)
43
Strange that you mention the word plagiarism.
Posted by: greyrooster at December 16, 2005 05:30 AM (kkjRj)
44
I didn't say she 'plagiarized' it, I said it 'comes awfully close to plagiarism'. That means what she is saying is strikingly similar to what I have been saying. Hence, the qualified statement.
But, thanks for playing.
But, thanks for playing.
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at December 16, 2005 05:02 PM (JQjhA)
45
Oh...well that comes awfully close to answering it...
You are awfully close to being an echo chamber.... or you are awfully close to being full of crap.... or awfully close to both.
Thanks for clearing that up.
You are awfully close to being an echo chamber.... or you are awfully close to being full of crap.... or awfully close to both.
Thanks for clearing that up.
Posted by: 8ackgr0und N015e at December 17, 2005 10:18 AM (wsdWU)
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