After 2.5 years as a civilian hostage in Iraq, the friends and family of Jeffrey Ake in LaPorte, Indiana have not forgotten him. Neither have we. Neither should you.

Jeffrey Ake's church has a fund to help his wife Liliana deal with the situation. Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to.

LaPorte Missionary Church

LaPorte Missionary Church
Attn: Carl Galloway
104 E. 18th St., LaPorte, IN 46350

Or use the paypal button below

Posted by: Rusty at 08:41 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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It was one year ago today that Liliana Ake went public with her story on CNN. at that time no one had heard any word from Jeff’s kidnappers in 11 months. Sadly, there is still no word of what happened to him.

We have been following the story from the beginning. I learned many things about him and his family. Jeff owned a company called Equipment Express specialized in bringing safe drinking water to parts of the world where it was needed. His first effort to bring safe bottle water to Iraq in November 2003 was a success. One of his friends has taken Jeff’s methods home to Nigeria.

On Jeff’s second trip to Iraq in April 2005, he was taken hostage. His kidnappers released a couple videos of Jeff. They even called Liliana’s home, but the calls stopped and Jeff’s fate is unknown as of this time.

Being from a small mid-western town, the images of La Porte reminded me so much of my home that I felt a kinship with Mr. Ake and the people of La Porte. It was just like so many of the small friendly towns that dot the mid-west.

We have been hoping that Jeff’s case would turn out similar to Roy Hallums and a reunion would be swift in coming. But the last year has not yielded his release or any new information.

Jeff’s company was liquidated this year and a fund was started to help Liliana and her four children to keep the Ake family’s home. The fund raising so far has been successful despite small number of outlets (about nine) that ran the story. Donations are still being accepted. More information on how and where to make donations can be found below the fold in this post.

We pray for Jeff’s safe and unconditional release As Rusty said in one of his posts, “No political cause can ever justify the taking of civilians hostage. It is a form of barbarity with no excuse.”

Here is a list of hostages still missing and held by terrorists via Vicki at Not Ready for my Burqua. There are many more missing, especially in Iraq, who's storys are unknown.

Eric Damfreville, Salma, and 3 Afghan aid workers
Alan Johnston
Hannelore Marianne Krause and her son Sinan al-Tornachi
8 Ethiopians kidnapped with the Embassy workers
4 South African contractors kidnapped in Baghdad
An American contractor kidnapped in Basra
Jonathan Cote
Paul Reuben
Bert Nussbaumer
John Young
Josh Munns
Dean Sadek
Aban Elias
Jeffrey Ake
Ahmed Qusai al-Taayie --- The missing U.S. soldier in Baghdad
Ron Arad
Gilad Shalit
Ehud Goldwasser
Eldad Regev

Posted by: Howie at 01:01 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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In fact they helped raise money for the American hostage in Iraq's family by spending two nights out in the cold. And it has been quite cold.

Via the Telegram: WORCESTER— It’s been a couple of cold nights in the city. The snow, sleet and rain have fallen and the winds have howled. And no one knows that better than the fraternity brothers of Alpha Chi Rho who spent the last two nights camped out on the quad of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus….

… On Wednesday afternoon, the brothers pitched a tent and began their planned 45-hour mission to raise money to aid in the search for Mr. Ake. It took weeks to plan the campout and gain approval from the college administration, because of safety concerns. Not once did the frat members think the biggest snowstorm and some of the coldest temperatures and fastest winds of the season would hit the area on their first night out.

Each of the 42 members of Alpha Chi Rho signed up for three-hour shifts in groups of 10. Last night, during one of Mr. Tracy’s shifts, a tent pole broke in the high winds, but the brothers stayed out there and continued with their mission.

“He’s been held hostage for over a year,” said Mr. Tracy. “There is no reason we can’t camp out for two nights. We just feel better going out there instead of sitting inside at a table asking for money.”

So far the fraternity has raised more than $200, which will go directly to the family of Mr. Ake. “That’s pretty good for a bunch of poor college students.”

LaPorte Missionary Church

LaPorte Missionary Church
Attn: Carl Galloway
104 E. 18th St., LaPorte, IN 46350

The Jawa Report's Jeffrey Ake Archive.

Update: Great news. I just finished speakng with Mr. Galloway, Mrs. Ake's pastor. He says the response has been good. I cannot give specific amount but it is very significant.

Mr. Galloway says that the goal is to get Mrs. Ake (or Lily as he calls her) through the year. As soon as that goal is met they will ask that people stop sending donations. He also says that she would be upset if anyone hurt themselves trying to help her. If you can send a few bucks please do so, but don't hurt yourself.

He also says the US military has a good idea who took Mr. Ake and is seeking to find them.

We pray that Mr. Ake is found and those who took him face justice.

There has been a bit of confusion in this process. If you specify who your donation is for then the IRS will not allow it to be tax deductible. If your check is written just to the church they can send you a reciept and it will be tax deductible.

Mr. Galloway is contacting donors to see if the tax deduction is of concern. If so he will return those donation and you can resend them just in the Churche's name. Mr. Galloway is concerned that some may have been uspet by this.

My apologies, I was unaware of that. So you can blame Howie. I wanted to be sure the Church knew who the donations were for. So if you are expecting to deduct your donations please just send then to the church. The church has been helping her out from their general fund, so to specify her in the donation is not required.

They are getting very close to having enough but are not quite there yet. He says the first week there were a lot of donations but they have slacked off a little. They did recieve one yesterday and I recieved a couple more too.

Together we are making a difference, that is what makes blogging worthwhile. Myself, I'm feeling pretty giddy at the moment.

If you need to contact Mr. Galloway, the church has a website here.

Posted by: Howie at 10:38 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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Lilana Ake’s church has started a fund to try and help her avoid having to sell their home. Via John Byrne at the Post Tribune:

Carl Galloway, pastor of LaPorte Missionary Church, said the congregation decided to ramp up its fund-raising efforts after learning Ake had put her home on the market.

Ake's husband, Jeffrey, has been missing in Iraq since April 2005, when he was abducted by gunmen near Baghdad.

"We have been supporting Lilly since Jeff was kidnapped," Galloway said. "It's a strange situation, because Lilly can't draw any of Jeff's benefits since nobody knows what has happened to him."

Ake, the mother of four young children, recently started bankruptcy proceedings for Equipment Express, the Rolling Prairie water bottling company Jeffrey Ake founded and ran until he was kidnapped.

She also put her LaPorte home on the market, saying she could not afford to stay there.

Ake recently earned her Realtor's license and got a job, Galloway said.

"The objective isn't to get her rich," Galloway said. "The goal is to get Lilly through the next few months, get her on her feet, until some money starts coming in."

Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to.

LaPorte Missionary Church :Jeffrey Ake Fund

LaPorte Missionary Church
Attn: Carl Galloway
104 E. 18th St., LaPorte, IN 46350

Our Jeffrey Ake Archive here.

Update: Bumped, originally posted 01/13/07. Just to remind myself to send my paltry sum this week. Have you send your paltry sum yet? My paltry sum added to your paltry sum an make a differnce. I was able to get the word to three churches too, hopefully that will help. Keep your findgers crossed. more...

Posted by: Howie at 11:20 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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If any one knows Liliana Ake, the wife of hostage Jeffrey Ake, we know more than a few people who would be willing to help her out. With her husband being held hostage in Iraq, the family business is failing. Liliana has been forced to declare bankruptcy, unable to pay the mortgage let alone the $1 million dollar ransom demanded by the pieces of filth in Iraq.

Again, if you know Liliana or know of a fund already set up on her behalf, please let us know.

Post Tribune:

Facing mounting debt and with no news of her husband, Liliana Ake has started bankruptcy proceedings for Equipment Express, the Rolling Prairie water bottling company Jeffrey Ake founded and ran until he was abducted in Iraq in April 2005.

With no new information about her husband's whereabouts, Liliana Ake also has again put the lakeside home she shares with the couple's four children on the market.

"I can't afford (the house)," Ake said, crossing her arms and walking down the steep driveway with Pine Lake at her back. "I have young children and a sick mother to take care of. I have some tough decisions to make."

Ake's children careened across the front lawn, riding bikes and wagons as she insisted she remains optimistic they will be reunited with her husband, who she last saw flanked by gunmen on a video image broadcast around the world.

Posted by: Rusty at 10:06 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Liliana is featured in an article today today’s Washington Post. The small town of La Porte Indiana waits for word on his fate. Jeff has been missing longer than any hostage ever to return alive. Still her hope and prayers for Jeff’s safe return is touching. The town, his wife and children await some word, any word, of his fate while praying for his safe return. Being from a small town myself, trust me the whole town is his family.

Washington Post :Jeffrey J. Ake is 48 now, if he is alive. He is also a husband and son and the father of four children who miss him terribly. He is a storyteller, a Rotarian and a small-business owner who thrived in distant capitals.

He traveled to Iraq, tools in hand, on a private contract to repair machines at a water-bottling plant. Early one morning in April 2005, the telephone rang at a lakeside rambler in La Porte, 80 miles east of Chicago. An Iraqi man, talking fast in poor English, told Liliana Ake, "We have your husband."

Fourteen months later, nothing is known about his whereabouts, while his family waits and neighbors wonder what to expect after so much silence. No American has been held captive longer in Iraq and come out alive….

…"Nothing at all. For over a year, we haven't heard anything," Liliana Ake explained in her first newspaper interview since her husband's abduction. "We pray every night. My little boy says, 'Bad people in Iraq have my dad. It's not fair.' "

She believes he is alive, perhaps because she must. At the same time, she is bothered by the sense in LaPorte, where people have been supporting her and rooting for her husband, that Jeff is becoming mostly a memory. Signs like the one at the KarMel are fewer. It is as though Jeff Ake is slipping away….

…"Unfortunately, there are not many more cards coming," she said. "Time goes by."

Jeffrey Ake Archive.

Jawa Report Hostage Archive.

Howie's other Related Post. more...

Posted by: Howie at 08:22 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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The wife of American hostage Jeffrey Ake has spoken out for the first time since her husband was taken hostage in Iraq a year ago today. Jeffrey Ake is one of two Americans still being held hostage in Iraq. Dean Sadek, also held hostage, was kidnapped in November 2004.

We applaud Liliana Ake for breaking her silence. It is difficult to go against the advice of the U.S. State Department and private 'experts' working for insurance companies who have little knowledge about how the hostage situation in Iraq is different than in other areas of the world.

Many of Jeffrey Ake's friends and family have dropped comments or e-mails to me thanking The Jawa Report for keeping Jeffrey's memory alive. Now that Liliana has given us the green light, let us never let a day pass without mentioning Jeffrey Ake publicly.

As former hostage Terry Anderson once said, "The tragic thing is that the torment is as much from the outside by countries and people indifferent to their fate as on the inside by their captors."

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jeffrey Ake and Dean Sadek. No politcal cause can ever justify the taking of civilians hostage. It is a form of barbarity with no excuse.

We can only hope that the media, Muslims, and Leftist organizations will begin to pay attention to the plight of hostages who may not be one of their political allies.

For more, visit the Jeffrey Ake hostage archive here. Visit our extensive hostage archives here. And please, keep Jeff and his family in your prayers.

CNN which also features video: more...

Posted by: Rusty at 08:03 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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American Jeffrey Ake was taken hostage eight months ago. He was in Iraq to help with water purification. You mean you haven't heard of Jeffrey Ake? Apparantly, hostages who are not Leftists merit little media attention, no mass protests, and not a single bit of 'concern' from Muslim clerics. Where is the outrage?

South Bend Tribune (hat tip: George):

With Christmas drawing near, Jeff Ake and his family remain in the thoughts and prayers of many in his hometown LaPorte.

Eight months ago, the 47-year-old Ake, the owner of Equipment Express in Rolling Prairie, was taken hostage in Iraq while working at a water treatment plant near Baghdad....

Still fresh in the minds of many is the image of Ake flanked by gunmen on television screens across the globe.

Gradually, the vast media spotlight cast upon the city has dimmed along with the seemingly never-ending chitchat in the barber shops, taverns and other gathering places.

"After about two months you stopped hearing about it," said Julie Meyers, a hair stylist at Carter's Barber Shop at 711 Jefferson Ave.

Nevertheless, Ake hasn't been forgotten, judging by signs posted around the city offering prayer and encouragement for Ake and his wife, Lilliana, and their four children.

And in his bid to keep public awareness alive, Mayor Leigh Morris continues to call for God's blessing on Ake and his entire family at the start of each city council meeting.

Posted by: Rusty at 02:13 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Jeffrey Ake was in Iraq to help the people of that country secure a safe water supply when, on April 11th of this year, he was taken hostage. Days later a video emerged of Ake. Jeffrey Ake has not been heard from since.

Former hostage Terry Anderson later recounted that realizing that the world was indifferent to the fate of Western hostages was nearly as bad as the torment administered on them daily.

We will not forget the fate of the hostages still held in Iraq. We urge you to keep them in your prayers.

Here is a little about Jeffrey Ake from the Indy Star:

The lack of attention on Jeffrey Ake baffles people here.

On April 11, when Ake was seized by gunmen outside Baghdad, the well-known and longtime LaPorte resident was national news. He was in Iraq doing business as the country rebuilds, helping to build a water bottling plant...

The townsfolk sprang to action the way people do in such a crisis: They tied ribbons around trees in their yards, they spelled out "Pray for Jeff Ake" on the signs at their businesses, they expressed fear and hope to the media that swarmed them, and they organized a candlelight vigil.
And then, suddenly, Ake was not news. The candlelight vigil was canceled. Ake's neighbors suddenly went silent.

Today, with the six-month anniversary of his disappearance coming Tuesday, Ake's whereabouts remain unknown. The equally nagging question beyond what happened to him is why folks in LaPorte are mum about it.
As it turns out, they're just trying to help.

"His wife asked us to have no comment, so that's what we're doing," said Mel Turner, who lives next door to the Ake family.

Liliana Ake asked everyone to keep quiet because the FBI, the agency investigating Ake's disappearance, recommended it.

Ake's only hope is that Coalition forces are tipped to his whereabouts and is freed, as Roy Hallums recently was. After six-months it should be clear that silence is not a winning strategy. Keeping Jeffrey Ake's name in the forefront of the news so that forces on the ground will keep an eye out for him, and so that local Iraqis know who they are looking for.

In the meantime, we pray for his speedy release.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:16 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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The Jawa Report is suddenty getting a number of hits for people looking for news about American hostage in Iraq, Jeffrey Ake. Our earlier reports about Jeffrey Ake are here (news of the abduction along with silence from the State Department) and here (video released). As with the other hostages being held in Iraq, such as Roy Hallums, we pray that Mr. Ake is alright and that his captors meet a swift and gruesome end at the hands of a very pissed off Marine.

A few days ago a rumor began to circulate that Jeffrey Ake had been released and was in Iraq. Perhaps similar rumors are circulating today? Let's hope this time the rumor turns out to be true. Any one with news about the status of Jeffrey Ake is urged to e-mail me.

Here is a story that ran a few days ago about Jeffrey Ake from the La Porte County Herald Argus: more...

Posted by: Rusty at 02:21 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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A video of an American civilian contractor taken hostage in Baghdad on April 10th has been aired by Al Jazeera television. The victim's name is Jeffrey Ake.

Our earlier report on Jeffrey Ake is here. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad now confirms Mr. Ake's identity. As with Roy Hallums, the State Department did not confirm his identity until after a video tape was released.

Links to video will be posted here as soon as they are available.....

Al Jazeera reports:

The tape on Wednesday showed a man sitting behind a wooden desk as three men pointed their guns towards him.

He was holding what looked like a passport and a photo identification.

SMH reports:

The hostage, who was shown surrounded by gunmen, called on the US administration to "open a dialogue with the Iraqi resistance" and strive to save his life, Al-Jazeera said.

He also urged US forces to promptly pull out of Iraq.

Could this be a further sign of the weakening of the insurgency?

Since there was no money demand mentioned, it also is very unlikely that those responsible for this kidnapping are financial opportunists. However, part of the deleted audio may have made a ransom demand.

Further, this is not the M.O. of the usual terrorist suspects. While I cannot say for certain, the video does not appear to show the banners of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq, The Army of Ansar al-Sunna, or The Islamic Army of Iraq.

Hat tip to James Joyner who e-mailed me about this while I was in class. He's also all over this one.

UPDATE 12:09: More information on Jeffrey Ake. According to WISHTV, Ake is from Northern Indiana. He is the President of a Rolling Prairie, IN, based water company, Equipment Express.

According to a local news article dated November 19, 2003, and reprinted at Equipment Express' website:

Equipment Express is again helping with the rebuilding effort in Iraq.

A Western European country that company president Jeff Ake couldn't identify because of contractual reasons hired the Rolling Prairie company to construct an integrated system that will provide water bottles to be sold in Baghdad.

A second system for Iraq will be built in January.
Equipment Express began construction on the system Nov. 3, completed the work Tuesday and will ship it out today. It should arrive in Baghdad around Christmas.

"We're called Equipment Express because we are fast. It's exciting to be part of the rebuilding effort," Ake said.

Equipment Express constructed "An integrated system that provided water bottles to be sold in Baghdad ... they have also constructed a machine that fills edible oil into containers to be used by Iraqi residents," according to information on the company Web site.

A fast growing Rolling Prairie company will be helping the humanitarian effort in Iraq.

A manufacturer Friday asked Equipment Express, 4744 E. Oak Knoll Rd., if it could construct as quickly as possible a machine that will fill edible oil into containers to be used for the millions of recently liberated Iraqi people....

Not everyone will drop what they're doing to manufacture the machine, but "there's a fair amount of effort being put into it. There will be some overtime."

Much of the Middle East needs the edible oil because it's used in so much of the people's cooking.

"It's extremely important to that culture, to cook almost anything. If they have grain, clean water and oil, they are able to feed themselves."

This isn't the first time Equipment Express handiwork has benefited the Middle East. Water treatment systems that include bottling, rinsing, filling and labeling capacities were built here and are being used in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

UPDATE 12:45: It appears that Jeffrey Ake was also a nationally recognized export specialist. His name appears frequently as a convention speaker on the subject.

UPDATE 12:50: White House chimes in....KHNL

White House press secretary Scott McClellan describes the situation as very "sensitive," adding that the administration is in touch with the family of the missing contract worker.

But he says U-S policy calls for no negotiations with kidnappers.

Another American was just kidnapped in Iraq. His name is Mohammed Monaf. No video, no coverage. It's sad.

Or what about the other American hostages being held? Roy Hallums, Dean Sadek, Tim Bell, and Bill Bradley? Or of the missing Army Spc. Keith Maupin?

Developing........

Others: Mike King, Chad Evans, Secure Liberty, Rooftop Report

Posted by: Rusty at 11:31 AM | Comments (45) | Add Comment
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1 The best thing his family could have hoped for at this stage was for the kidnappers to NOT be Zarqawi's mob; so I guess this video is kind of good news.

I don't buy the negotiating plea though - as far as I'm concerned these types of people only ever want one of two things: money or blood.

Posted by: Martin at April 13, 2005 11:46 AM (oe5ye)

2 "Could this be a further sign of the weakening of the insurgency?"
Rusty, We are slowly winning agaisnt them, but still they are strong enough that US and Iraq'i forces have not one the first front and made them fall back to the second front: operating out of small villages.

Most of your insurgancy fights can be drawn on three fronts:
1. Cities
2. Villages
3. Wilderness
Each of these can be broken down into three sub areas of guerilla/insurgancy activity:
1. Open activity - kidnappings, assasinations, extortion, and meetings held without security forces being a deterrance.
2. Closed Activity - Day or night Activity with very carefully planned day operations. Security forces can match or better the insurgents.
3. Minimal activity - Primarily night and covert activity with strong security forces capabilities limiting insurgent activity.

We have just knocked them offbalance in the cities and need to follow through in every area. I wouldnt even be planning the champaigne delivery yet but its a good sign that their activities are being severly limited.

Posted by: Salamander at April 13, 2005 11:54 AM (F26eZ)

3 Yeah, but as Collin would say, what did he do to provoke this rage.

Posted by: Carlos at April 13, 2005 11:57 AM (8e/V4)

4 Looks like some scumbag Iraqi employee has fingered him to a criminal kidnap gang with him being CEO and everything.
My thoughts are with him.

Posted by: frank at April 13, 2005 01:52 PM (n2sxj)

5 Carlos: No, it's going to be Programmed Message #2--"The kidnappers must be brought to trial." (As opposed to Programmed Message #3, which demands some URL from Greyrooster.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 13, 2005 02:29 PM (QV5+c)

6 Ey Bourbon what URL is he talking about?

Posted by: Anwar at April 13, 2005 05:42 PM (lxByx)

7 Anwar

it was something Greyrooster claimed about Falluja i think but it was a while ago and colin keeps asking about it

Posted by: sparky at April 13, 2005 05:47 PM (F1nba)

8 Hi Anwar,

It was a quote that Greyrooster claims I made.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 13, 2005 06:20 PM (FV4oJ)

9 As Scott McClellan alluded, the situation in Iraq is sensitive. U.S. helicopters and heavy artillery bombarded houses in al-Rummana village Seven children, six women and three old men were among the dead.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 13, 2005 06:52 PM (FV4oJ)

10 I hope Sam acts honorably and negotiates in good faith for his release.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 13, 2005 07:29 PM (FV4oJ)

11 It refers to a post that I made. The post was this.
Quote posted by Collin Baber on another blog. I then entered Collin Baber's post and the date of its/his/hers/traitors post.
In follow up I hinted that if one wished to find about the traitor Collin Baber, One could go to Dogpile.com and enter Collin Baber. This I wish to happen to open the eyes of many. Giving URL address would deny people the opportunity to find more info on this commie dog. I also hinted at Posse Incitatus as a good start. The shit sprewed by this lower than life scum should be seen and investigated by all. So investigate by yourselves. You will come up with much more than I can enter.

Ever heard the saying get them enough rope?

Here is another post by Collin Babler, March 5, 2005 12:12 AM
on another blog.

"Al-Qaeda, as portrayed, is a figment of the imagination. America needed to create a coherent organization to prosecute Mr. Bin laden under U.S. law. Hence, Al-Qaeda was born in a courtroom. Bin Laden learned that Americans were calling his group of followers "Al-Qaeda" and then accepted the name as an honor.

A tip of the iceberg.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 13, 2005 08:32 PM (CBNGy)

12 Dear Greyrooster,

Your investigative journalism is deeply appreciated. Now, to the quote in question.. http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/073712.php April 1, 2005 at 8:54 AM, Mr. Greyrooster alleges that a certain person said something about Falluja. All that is being asked is that the URL of that alleged quote be posted for our sake.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 13, 2005 08:46 PM (FV4oJ)

13 I dont know who to believe here:/.

Posted by: Anwar at April 13, 2005 08:48 PM (lxByx)

14 I observe that the leader of the forces of evil (Colon Babler) has recruited a dog to lick at his heels. What's the name of those little shits from the desert? You know the ones dressed in a Beka. Oh yea. Jawas. At last, we have our own real live Jawa. "AKA Anwar the syrian". Sounds sinister.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 13, 2005 08:49 PM (CBNGy)

15 Dear Anwar,

Spider 41

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 13, 2005 09:12 PM (FV4oJ)

16 Dear Greyrooster,

Despite numerous attempts to find the mystery URL, this person simply cannot find that Falluja quote allegedly made on November 5, 2004. Perhaps it's another "16 words"?

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 13, 2005 11:46 PM (FV4oJ)

17 I think there are just some things we will never know.


Cindy

Posted by: firstbrokenangel at April 13, 2005 11:55 PM (PEKrh)

18 Cindy: We will know. You should no me by now. Just keep giving a little more rope.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 14, 2005 12:16 AM (CBNGy)

19 Cindy: Excuse spelling. I'm in the middle of getting shit faced. Haven't slept in two days and must force myself to go to bed now. Have to get up at five to go catch some tuna. Bye

Posted by: greyrooster at April 14, 2005 12:18 AM (CBNGy)

20 First: Wierdest.Comments.Ever.

Second I tend to believe that this isn't the 'behead-a-hostage' wing of insurgents yet, and I'd be willing to bet that these jokers are looking for cash. That said, there does seem to be some evidence that hostages can get shuffled between groups after capture, and can eventually be traded up to Zarqawi.

Posted by: goldfalcon at April 14, 2005 01:38 AM (LCCTJ)

21 Those Zarqawi followers must stand trial and be punished for their heinous crimes.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 14, 2005 06:11 AM (fufbw)

22 "Another American was just kidnapped in Iraq. His name is Mohammed Monaf. No video, no coverage. It's sad."

That's wrong. He was abducted with the 3 Romanian journalists. He appears in the footage from Al Jazeera. He is the in the right side of the image.

According to Romanian newspapers he is an irqian-romanian and american at the same time. He is living in Romania and apparently he is accused of big economical frauds.

Posted by: Alex at April 14, 2005 06:25 AM (DPcX4)

23 "Those Zarqawi followers must stand trial and be punished for their heinous crimes."

I knew it was coming!

Anwar--Sorry I didn't get back to you in time, but I think Sparky answered the question.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 14, 2005 08:29 AM (x+5JB)

24 Collin,

just curious. What's up with the pre-programmed responses. What's the point.

Posted by: Carlos at April 14, 2005 12:57 PM (8e/V4)

25 I don't get it...this guy provided clean water for Iraq through his company! WTF do they intend to accomplish by kidnapping someone for the good of their country? I can see if they got an American soldier, but not innocent civilians.

Posted by: Laura at April 14, 2005 01:38 PM (L3PPO)

26 They are all mad these insurgents, and their stupid religion too. They're all pretty sure they will go to hell, so they are practicing it here on earth!

Posted by: Kithuku at April 14, 2005 02:02 PM (0QyPJ)

27 Kithuku: Don't beat around the bush. How do you really feel?

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at April 14, 2005 02:04 PM (x+5JB)

28 Rooster I just want u to know that from now on anytime ur shit comes up in any of the articles and I hear u talking shit about me imma just do the exact same thing as Collin. Im going to ask for that Falluja URL .

Posted by: Anwar at April 14, 2005 03:38 PM (7r1IC)

29 Zarqawi is beyond amnesty.

Posted by: Collin Baber at April 14, 2005 07:06 PM (FV4oJ)

30 Anwar: I just want you to know that you stink like all jawas.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 15, 2005 06:06 AM (7480p)

31 Greyrooster,

Collin and I are still waiting for that Falluja URL..

Posted by: Anwar at April 15, 2005 02:21 PM (UlGF3)

32 Greyrooster no longer speaks to filthy muslims.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 16, 2005 08:34 AM (sB5vg)

33 Until we flattened their country Iraqis had plenty of clean water. I was there just befor the first time we bombed Iraq in 1989 and the country was booming. The Israelis tricked us into flattening pretty well the whole place, killing about 105,000 civillians as well as 236,000 military as well. No wonder they are a little pissed at us and will continue to fight for their freedom.

Posted by: James at April 17, 2005 12:25 AM (cYLri)

34 James: It is not gay pride week. Back in the closet.

Posted by: greyrooster at April 17, 2005 09:55 PM (sqa1t)

35 kidnappings?well for god sake why do you americans insist on going to a dangerous place to earn decent money?you know the risks involved so dont go.dont forget you started this war and your occupying thier country.how would you like that?you go to iraq then you run the risk of being exacuted.about time you wake up.another thing,if you think the terrorists are losing there grip your sadly mistaken.it just means there tactics will get even more horendous

Posted by: bloodhound at April 19, 2005 08:06 PM (/RFGK)

36 I am from the area of Jeff Ake. His family has been told not to speak with the media. Same with his company. The prayer service that was scheduled to be held for him was abruptly cancelled with no reason given. Now his house is up for sale and his family was seen moving out with a police escort. What are people supposed to think? We have heard nothing more about him or his situation from the government. Did they just let him get killed and expect we would all forget?

Posted by: IndianaGirl at April 28, 2005 12:50 PM (g1fjT)

37 My heart goes out to Jeff and his family. I knew Jeff from school and I can't imagine what he and his family is going thru. No one should have to go thru this! I am keeping them all in my prayers.

Posted by: Debbie at April 29, 2005 10:36 PM (fhO0w)

38 i can answer that now.he went to iraq because he was greedy.plain and simple.sorry i certainly wont be holding a vigile for him or any other person who wants to make a fast buck.whats the point of earning all this money only not to be able to spend it because you have been tortured and beheaded????????????????

Posted by: bloodhound at May 02, 2005 12:46 AM (qO92Z)

39 Today is the 5th May and I cant find any news about Jeffrey Ake which leads me to believe that he has either been topped or Bush and Co.e making a deal. I hope he lives.
One question. How come his captors are armed with US military rifles, one of them a sniper rifle???
I still am of the opinion that one has to be realy crazy to go to Iraq if one is American, British or Australian. Those govts. seem to put little value on their citizens and unlike the Turks, Russians, French, Italians and Chinese, who seem to manage to get their citizens out alive, aparently simple let them die some horrible death and use that for propagander purposes!!! Not good.
It would also be a good idea to find better quality US troops rather than use bombers and helicopter gunships. They are still killing mostly women and children which is not going to win the hearts and minds. What a mess the pentagon is making.

Posted by: James at May 04, 2005 11:00 PM (hrhSl)

40 james do you honestly think the american government will strike a deal with them?.how do you think the other hostages familys would feel about that?it would be cruel and a bloody insult.wake up man.you cant start a dialogue with these people now.its gone way past that stage.i know its not confirmed but you can pretty sure he wont come out of captivity alive.no way these people would risk there lives in capturing the so called infedel only to release them again.

Posted by: bloodhound at May 05, 2005 11:06 PM (PXfdN)

41 Hello everyone. I am from Southwest Michigan, near the border of Indiana where the American Hostage, Jeffrey Ake, called home. I too was wondering what news existed of his capture, or release. After reading some posts here, I thought I might address some of the other comments.

As to American involvment in Iraq, there are those who would disagree with this policy, but I am in support of modern-day offensive which targets international criminals (aka terrorists) and holds those governments who harbor them accountable. These extreme fanaticals have no regard for the human rights of others who do not subscribe to the same religious faith and lifestyle as their own. They have made it known that they will indiscriminately kill the "infidels."

As to those brave individuals, from any country, who enter a war-torn nation to help rebuild, I say thank you. I do not care if money is an issue for them. It is an issue for most people, and some would commit illegal acts to obtain it. Yes, it is a risk to go there for profit, but it is also a necessary task, and not many would go for free.

If we do not enter these oppressed nations and root out the evil that holds the innocent hostages, raping the women, and murdering the men and children, then the problem will eventually come to us. Their fate will become our fate

To "bloodhound," it is clear that you are sadly misguided and naive. The Americans did not actually start this war. Saddam did when he invaded Kuwait, and the coalition of nations drove him out in the first Gulf War. He was given restrictions by the Untited Nations, and conditions to obey, with which he did not fully cooperate.

Lacking the complete, open disclosure, and unfettered inspections, it became the decision of our government (with other allied countries) that it was better to bring Saddam to task and ensure he was not in violation of pursuing nuclear weapons then to wait and find out after it was too late. Faulty intelligence reports matters not when it comes down to the fact that Saddam simply would not comply fully with inspections.

This might not be a popular course of action, but it is a legitimate one, and one that I support. If a convicted criminal presents a "potential" threat to me, and my family - - If they point at me and say I will kill you the frist chance I get, I will take them down and find out later if they actually had a gun on them or not. If not, then they were the fool (and the criminal) for making a threat and disobeying the law. Saddam violated international law and refused to obey the sanctions. I find no fault in calling his bluff, even if it was only a bluff. No Weapons of Mass Distruction?? - - doesn't matter after the fact. He made the mistake.

Furthermore, Bloodhound, we are not "occupying" their country. The country belongs to the Iraqi citizens. The U.S. led coalition which toppled Saddam's regime released the country back to the people. Saddam was the occupier - - the dictator. There are those followers of Saddam, and others who do not want to see the country freed, but that is their choice to oppose liberty.

Why do foriegn civilian contractors keep going to Iraq, Afghanistan, and other such countries? We are not there for the terrorists, so we do not care if they like us or not. We are there to help the "people" reclaim, and rebuild their country so that it will become a stable government who can control their own criminal element, and not remain a distant base from which international criminals can train and operate.

Bloodhound, you say that the Americans occupy their country, and ask "how would you like that?" Consider the entire question. If Hitler's German Army, or Japan had succeded in World War II, there might have been a dictator controlling American soil. If that were the case, then I would have prayed that a stronger nation invaded to remove them from power. Your question asssumes that we would not want someone to come in and take over our chosen government. That is a rediculous analogy.

Only an oppressed nation of people truly need, and deserve their freedom to be paid for by blood. The American colonists fought against this kind of oppression in 1776, and many armies from many nations tried to take this land for their own. The winners were those who gained the freedom to govern themselves. The heros were those who paid for this with their lives. We continue to hold to those truths and ideals today, even in in the stead of the weak and oppressed people of other nations.

This is my perspective.
Sincerely,
Michigan Man

Posted by: Michigan_Man at May 31, 2005 12:18 PM (n8NuY)

42 You mention Hitler's Germany.Listen my friend,the allies one the war full stop.No if or butts so stop trying to make assumptions my friend.The British people were dead against the Iraq war.Did you see our election results?Blair is a very unpopular leader.If there was half a decent leader for the opposition party he wouldn't of been re-elected.I can assure you that.You mention the offensive.terrorists,human rights etc?Then why don't your government sort out Mugabe or the problems in Sudan or Congo?Why your government doesn't?Simple,they will not benfit from it like Iraq(oil)Your country has nothing to gain from it.Yet the atrocities
over there are just as bad as what Saddam did.The trouble with your country is it want to dominate the world.Every country has its day in being the global power.China are next.Look at history ie Romans,the British empire etc.No one stays up at the top forever.Trust me.Am i anti American?no

Posted by: bloodhound at June 06, 2005 12:11 PM (kIvTZ)

43 To bloodhound
Not anti America, just realistic

Posted by: peace at June 14, 2005 09:34 AM (xt1Ip)

44 I have a few questions first

Has anyone heard anything about Jeff Ake?

I read a news paper today that was a month old and read an article about him, and i am originally from the area.

In a sense i wish our government would negotiate with these people that kidnap and kill innocent people, but i guess its for our better interest that they didnt. After all, if they did how many U.S. citizens would be abducted, knowing that our country would cave in every time.
I imagine i would think differently if one of my family or friends was abducted. But we do need to remember to keep them in our prayers.

another question is "wasnt the U.S.people against getting involved in World War II, because it was not our war? and if they were, didnt they regret it after Pearl Harbor?

and a comment to that is I remember reading about a son-in-law to Sadaam Hussein came to America and told authorities that Sadaam had actually had plans to take over all the Middle East if the U.S. hadnt stopped him after trying to occupy Kuwait, but the son-in-law ended up going back to Iraq and was killed with in a few weeks of arriving

also according to that report that resulted in not finding any biological weapons, the report concluded that according to Sadaam Hussein "any country should be able to produce biological weapons if they have the technology." He also stated that he was going to produce the stuff once the U.N. restrictions were over

now i believe that if we had left Sadaam alone he would have produced chemical agents based on the fact that he admitted he would once the restrictions were over and i do believe he is crazy enough to use them. So we couldnt just leave him alone.

Sadaam was a thorn in the side of the U.S. and he was going to continue to be a thorn in the side of the U.S.

It is possible that President George W. Bush had a personal vendetta against Saddam Hussein because of a assassination attempt against George Bush. Shoot, if someone tried to go after my dad and I could do something about it I would to. I dont believe its all about oil, i dont remember Vietnam having much oil, or South Korea. What about the tsunami aid, i dont recall them having an over abundance of oil either. Cuba found a bunch of oil off their coast, to my knowledge we havent exactly been buddy buddy to them

what about all that oil in Alaska? I have an idea why dont we send a bunch of people to die in Iraq so we can have their oil, instead of just drilling oil in Alaska were there is an obscene amount that isnt touched because its in federal parks. To me being in Iraq based on oil just doesnt add up)Plus the money we have spent on the war, how many bilions is it.)How much oil would we have to buy at a cheaper price to break even. Assuming we could get it at a cheaper price.

Our country since the turn of the last century has helped other countries in time of need. When others are starving our country feeds them. When people have no homes our country shelters them. When people are being killed because of tyrants our country fights for them (anyone remember Slobodan Milosevic.) When other countries asks for money our country provides it to them. Yet it seems that while while one country has its hand out asking for help, their other hand is a fist behind their back ready to slug us.

To me the only ones that should be arguing whether our troops should be in Iraq are those that are in Iraq, which would be our troops and the Iraqi citizens.

I wish our troops could go home but in my opinion they cant. Half the battle was won. the old government was overthrown, and the new government is forming. But the problem now is the group of people that used to have power dont want to give it up. As i learned in my government class, power, just like energy cant be created or destroyed it can only be transfered. The problem is for some reason Sadaams fallowers dont want to give up that power?

With everything that has happened in Iraq and Afghanistan, i need to remind myself not to let hate build up because of the senseless acts of a few. Why should I hate all Muslims when it is a small faction of people who are doing the killing. To me it isnt any different than hating any race because of the negative acts of a few people in it. Every race has people that causes problems, and every nation has done things its not proud of.

Maybe in a hundred years this war may be one of the best things this country has ever done or maybe it may turn out to be another Vietnam but the only thing that can determine it is the history it will leave behind.

Posted by: Dupe at July 16, 2005 02:10 PM (3265J)

45 on a lighter note the chick on the top left is hot

Posted by: Dupe at July 16, 2005 02:12 PM (3265J)

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An another American has been kidnapped in Iraq. Developing....

UPDATE 4/13: The name of the man is Jeffrey Ake. A video has been aired by al Jazeera. More information about the video here.

The State Department has an official policy of not releasing the names of civilians captured in Iraq. As was the case of Roy Hallums and Mohammed Monaf, we will publish the name of this victim as soon as that information is available.

We pray for the safe return of all the hostages still held in Iraq.

Reuters:

An American contractor has been kidnapped near Baghdad, a U.S. embassyspokesman says, the latest foreigner abducted in the lawless Iraqi capital.

The contractor, who was working on a reconstruction project, was kidnapped in the greater Baghdad area,embassy spokesman Bob Callaghan said on Monday.

"No group has claimed responsibility. We have contacted the Iraqi authorities to try and find him," he said.

Others: In the Bullpen, Jeff Quinton, Robert Spencer, ....

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