November 29, 2005
The 'Christian Peacemaker Teams' organization has confirmed the identities of four Westerners kidnapped in Iraq after The Jawa Report first revealed their names earlier today. In addition, the group blamed the U.S. and U.K. governments for the terrorist abductions of their team members. Like many Left wing 'peace' activists, the group decided to condemn the unintended consequences of the U.S. invasion while overlooking the very intentional acts of violence against civilians by terrorists.Sources tell The Jawa Report that the "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. The group routinely murders those suspected of being 'collaborators', 'apostates', and 'spies'.
This is bad news for the hostages if confirmed. If the mesage from the Christian Peacemaker Teams is meant to garner sympathy from the Salafist terror organization, then they are barking up the wrong tree. The only hope for the four Westerners is if the U.S., British, or Iraqi armies find them and liberate them--as they did former hostage Roy Hallums. Ironic, since these are the very people who are risking their lives yet who are blamed by the pacifist organization for the plight of their representatives.
Despite the misguided efforts of the pacifist organization, these four activists are victims of Islamist aggression. We condemn the hostage takers and pray for the immediate release. And, unlike the 'Christian Peacemaker Teams', we hope that the terrorists die at the hands of an angry Marine.
"Update on Missing Persons in Iraq"God speed to these and all other hostages still being held and who have been forgotten by the world in Iraq.We were very saddened to see the images of our loved ones on Al Jazeera television recently. We were disturbed by seeing the video and believe that repeated showing of it will endanger the lives of our friends. We are deeply disturbed by their abduction. We pray that those who hold them will be merciful and that they will be released soon. We want so much to see their faces in our home again, and we want them to know how much we love them, how much we miss them, and how anxious and concerned we are by what is happening to them.
We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. government due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has worked for the rights of Iraqi prisoners who have been illegally detained and abused by the U.S. government. We were the first people to publicly denounce the torture of Iraqi people at the hands of U.S. forces, long before the western media admitted what was happening at Abu Ghraib. We are some of the few internationals left in Iraq who are telling the truth about what is happening to the Iraqi people We hope that we can continue to do this work and we pray for the speedy release of our beloved teammates.
We can confirm the identities of those who are being held as follows:
Tom Fox, age 54, is from Clearbrook, Virginia and is a dedicated father of two children. For the past two years, Mr. Fox has worked with CPT in partnership with Iraqi human rights organizations to promote peace. Mr. Fox has been faithful in the observance of Quaker practice for 22 years. While in Iraq, he sought a more complete understanding of Islamic cultural richness. He is committed to telling the truth to U.S. citizens about the horrors of war and its effects on ordinary Iraqi civilians and families as a result of U.S. policies and practices.
Mr. Fox is an accomplished musician. He plays the bass clarinet and the recorder and he loves to cook. He has also worked as a professional grocer. Mr. Fox devotes much of his time to working with children. He has served as an adult leader of youth programs and worked at a Quaker camp for youth. He has facilitated young people's participation in opposing war and violence. Mr. Fox is a quiet and peaceful man, respectful of everyone, who believes that "there is that of God in every person" which is why work for peace is so important to him.
Norman Kember, age 74, is from London, England.He and his wife of 45 years have two married daughters and a 3-year old grandson. He has been a pacifist all his life beginning with his work in a hospital instead of National Service at age 18. Before his retirement he was a professor teaching medical students at St Bartholemew's Hospital in London. He is well-known as a peace activist, and has been involved in several peace groups. For the past 10 years he has volunteered with a local program providing free food to the homeless. He likes walking, birdwatching, and writing humorous songs and sketches. In his younger days he enjoyed mountaineering.
James Loney, 41, is a community worker from Toronto, Canada. He has been a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams since August 2000, and is currently the Program Coordinator for CPT Canada. On previous visits to Iraq, his work focused on taking testimonies from families of detainees for CPT's report on detainee abuse, and making recommendations for securing basic legal rights. James was leading the November 2005 delegation in Iraq when he went missing.James is a peace activist, writer, trained mediator, and works actively with two Toronto community conflict resolution services. He has spent many years working to provide housing and support for homeless people.
In a personal statement from James to CPT, he writes: "I believe that our actions as a people of peace must be an expression of hope for everyone. My hope in practising non-violence is that I can be a conduit for the transformative power of God's love acting upon me as much as I hope it will act upon others around me."
Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 is a Canadian electrical engineer. He is studying for a masters degree in English literature in Auckland University in New Zealand to prepare for a teaching career. He enjoys art, is active in squash and worked part time as a local squash coach. His family describes him as peaceful and fun-loving and he is known to be passionate about the plight of the underprivileged around the globe. He works tirelessly in his spare time to educate and help others.
More on the forgotten plight of hostages in Iraq here.
Update: Ex-wife of former hostage Roy Hallums chimes in:
I was deeply saddened to hear that more hostages were taken. These men were good Christian men trying to help promote peace in Iraq. I will pray for their safe release and for their families. There is such devastation to the families , I know this horror... I pray for them , I wish I could help in some way.-Susan Hallums
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Posted by: Vonski at November 29, 2005 06:13 PM (Srmrz)
Mounting evidence that Liberalism is a mental disorder. It just keeps piling up.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 29, 2005 06:29 PM (8e/V4)
Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at November 29, 2005 06:30 PM (RHG+K)
No, I want that Marine to be calm, cool and collected as he professionally takes control of the situation. If the terrorist doesn't listen and obey the Marine's orders, oh well, one bullet, 72 poor virgins
Posted by: Marvin at November 29, 2005 07:00 PM (UXH11)
"Rusty"-
Suppose (counterfactually) that after the 9/11 attacks, Al Qaeda had announced that its only intention was epic vandalism, not murder; that if possible, it would have destroyed the twin towers without taking a single life; but that, inevitably, the collateral damage would be considerable. Wouldn't you hold Al Qaeda responsible for more than the property damage?
You must understand how facile it is to write the off the deaths of over 28,000 Iraqi civilians and over 2,000 American soldiers as "unintentional." For you know that when you drop bombs in an urban area, you know that innocents will die, whether you mean to kill them or not. Perhaps you are justified in your actions; but you cannot wash your hands of the inevitable, predictable consequences simply because you would have rather avoided them.
Before you say that we can't blame our government for the actions of killers and thugs, take note of Colin Powell's former chief of staff, who "blamed Vice President
Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and like-minded aides. Wilkerson said that Cheney must have sincerely believed that Iraq could be a spawning ground for new terror assaults, because 'otherwise I have to declare him a moron, an idiot or a nefarious bastard.'"
Further, consider that 37% of civilian casualties were caused by US-led forces. http://www.iraqbodycount.org/press/pr12.php
No one is "overlooking" terrorists' acts of violence. But the wrongfulness of the insurgents' actions goes without saying. Moreover, no advocacy group can hope to make much headway against terrorist cells. Better to spend their time protesting wrongful actions by the United States Government, where they have some hope of turning things around.
Let's preemptively attack your recurring dipshit argument that "the left" essentially equates all violence, whether it comes from the terrorists or from our boys. Of course America is more virtuous than al-Qaeda. Of course Gitmo is less barbaric than Saddam's rape rooms. But if you are really so much better than Saddam and co., you will have to recognize that simply doing better than history's worst is not good enough. I and everyone else know that Bush is better than Saddam -- but he is still god-awful.
Rusty, I have spent too much time on your pitiful website, which seems to be nothing more than a haven for fat, acne-ridden and sexually deprived bootlickers. You are a small-minded, cowardly, and pseudonymous bigot, afraid not only to confront your enemies on the battlefield, but even by means of honest argument. You should be ashamed to dig up dirt on these peaceworkers, these brave people of conviction, whose lives now hang in the balance as a consequence of your politics.
Posted by: Kyle at November 29, 2005 07:40 PM (OALXx)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051129/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/wilkerson_interview_10
Au revoir
Posted by: Kyle at November 29, 2005 07:43 PM (OALXx)
Please read the press release which specifically blames the U.S. and U.K. and lays no blame at the feet of terrorists. If the group in question really blames terrorists, then you must be reading something I am not since they do not do so. Unless, of course, you can read their minds and hearts which unfortunately I cannot.
So, I'm not exactly sure what your argument is since it is a straw man.
It is up to you to decide whether or not to lump yourself in with groups who equate all violence, I have not done so.
Further, I am not sure your point about dropping bombs on civilians? We dropped bombs on civilians in France in an effort to liberate them, yet the French still greeted us as liberators. 'Facts' such as civilian casualties are utterly meaningless without context. The French chose to contextualize facts of civilian deaths after the invasion of their country by the U.S. as tragic loss in pursuit of a necessary goal.
The meaning ascribed to civilian deaths, then, is a matter of choice. Who we choose to blame when such events occur says a lot about us.
Last, if you hate my website so much why do you keep returning to it?
Posted by: Rusty at November 29, 2005 07:59 PM (JQjhA)
Posted by: Jester at November 29, 2005 08:13 PM (BypR5)
Holy crap, did I just die and wake up in heaven? This Leftard just said America is more virtuous than Al Qaida. Is this some kind of a sick joke?
>>>Of course Gitmo is less barbaric than Saddam's rape rooms."
Ok, now I know you're pulling my leg. We all know Bush is the REAL terrorist. But if Saddam's rape dungeons were so bad, how come those moonbats were doing everything in their power to maintain them? Yes, maintain them. They supported his regime through their actions. They supported those rape dungeons. That's why those people revolt me.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 29, 2005 08:32 PM (8e/V4)
You wouldn't have the guts to call me a fat, acne-ridden, sexually deprived bootlicker to my face. I don't lick anybody's boots, bud, I have never had acne, and I have three children, so your theory doesn't seem to pan out.
And if you don't like Rusty's website, buzz off, shithead, as there are plenty of sites that post the type of lefty propaganda you seem comfortable with.
Posted by: jesusland joe at November 29, 2005 08:33 PM (rUyw4)
Kyle is nothing more than a Lefty troll. He will bug off after leaving his droppings, and will not have the guts to participate in honest debate, even though he lyingly says he does. What a hypocrit he is!
Posted by: jesusland joe at November 29, 2005 08:37 PM (rUyw4)
I'm glad to hear that you didn't accuse "the left" of "equating" the U.S. and Saddam in your letter to dailykos about white phosphorous. You used the word "equivocate," which means to avoid addressing an issue clearly. Here's the excerpt:
"Equivocating between the U.S. military and the Saddam Hussein regime is exactly what our terrorist enemies do in their propoganda. You say:
'Saddam tortured, we torture. Saddam used WP chemical weapons against insurgents and civilians, we use WP chemical weapons against insurgents and civilians.'
...
The reason [insurgents] fight us in Iraq is that they believe, like you do, that the U.S. is the moral equivalent of Saddam Hussein."
Civilian casualties, you say, are "meaningless" without context. Dying civilians disagree. Nonetheless, you are correct that context matters. You can take responsibility for your actions, acknowledge that you have done horrifying things, but justify your actions by referencing the context. Waving civilian deaths off as "unintentional" is a way of evading all responsibility. You're not taking the Iraqi dead seriously.
I realize that the press does not take the time to condemn terrorism. You missed my point. You like WWII analogies, so this may help: It's the middle of the 1940's. There are internment camps for Japanese-American residents and citizens. I condemn the camps in a press release without condemning the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Is this wrong? (I'm not assuming you would find the internment camps problematic.)
"Who we choose to blame when such events occur says a lot about us." You're right. I imagine that personally, you are utterly incapable of introspection, self-correction and growth.
Posted by: Kyle at November 29, 2005 08:53 PM (OALXx)
Was it from the large numbers of Irish-Americans living there?
Posted by: Vinnie at November 29, 2005 09:07 PM (Kr6/f)
Posted by: jesusland joe at November 29, 2005 09:08 PM (rUyw4)
Its easy to point the finger and throw mud at America, and that's what he's doing.
There are millions and millions around the world who are happy to point at America and criticise their efforts at liberating Iraq.
Well i'm still waiting for Kyle and his left wing America-hating allies around the world (and according to them, there are millions, whole countries infact), to go and fix the injustices in the Sudan, Burma, North Korea, China, Somalia, to name a few.
Many are critical of how America and her allies are doing things in Iraq, well why don't you get off your backsides and show us how it should be done. Just remember Kyle, better-than-history is not good enough old boy, you must be perfect, we are waiting, but not with baited breath.
And what's up with this Insurgent fellow, Control+c and Control+v has been around for a while. We all know about it.
Posted by: MathewK at November 29, 2005 09:10 PM (pVHqF)
"Rusty" has a point; why am I hanging around here?
Posted by: Kyle at November 29, 2005 09:10 PM (OALXx)
The President and the Congress make these decisions. Unfortunately, my left wing America-hating allies keep losing elections.
Posted by: Kyle at November 29, 2005 09:17 PM (OALXx)
The Left sees nothing wrong with the murder of millions of people throughout the world as long as they have stability. They will negociate with tyrants(see the recent talks with Iran) ad infinium while the citizens of these totalitarian states are murdered, gassed, raped, maimed, starved and mutilated.
I'm sick of these people, and while they fiddle, the whole of the West is kindling(see France). These people are now the worst enemy of civilization, even worse than the Islamists because they are a potential fifth column, and in fact are right now as we speak advancing the cause of the Islamists right here in the US. Go to any moonbat convergence in San Francisco or New York and you will see what I mean, or go to Zombie's website and see them in action.
Posted by: jesusland joe at November 29, 2005 09:22 PM (rUyw4)
from your lips to God's ears.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 29, 2005 09:25 PM (8e/V4)
"Unfortunately, my left wing America-hating allies keep losing elections."
Can't disagree with that.
I was hoping that the opponents of America, eg fwance, canada, russia, spain, new zealand, germany, all the others could show us how it should be done.
And i'm not being sarcastic or anything, i'd only be too happy if the opponents of Iraqi Liberation could do better as they so obviously want of uncle sam.
Posted by: MathewK at November 29, 2005 09:57 PM (pVHqF)
Posted by: Kyle at November 29, 2005 10:34 PM (OALXx)
Posted by: Wine-aholic at November 29, 2005 11:07 PM (sH4J5)
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 29, 2005 11:17 PM (0yYS2)
I thought that was pretty harsh.
Now I don't.
SOTG
Posted by: SonOfTheGodfather at November 30, 2005 03:33 AM (maXzk)
Posted by: Agent Smith at November 30, 2005 06:06 AM (N6ptp)
Joe, you hit the nail on the head. Much of the left, Kyle included, seem to subscribe to the same philosophy. Toss them a few bags of rice and some penicillin and let the status quo continue. They'll be heathier and better able to survive when they're dismembered and can better withstand their 'shock treatments' without their heart stopping. Like IM said a few days back (I'll paraphrase): Sure they're being maimed, raped, starved, tortured and murdered, but they enjoy a high rate of literacy!
I wonder if Kyle is angry that during the Revolutionary War innocent people died which brought him a level of freedom never known in any country in the history of the world. Rather than feel anger, yes I feel it's sad that it comes to that, but I am more grateful than anything for those sacrifices.
Those that live mourn the dead, but dying for the cause of freedom for our children and those we love? There's no cause more noble or worthy.
Kyle wants us to understand that the evils of Saddam's regime and others in the world "goes without saying", however! each and every unintentional death must be hashed over, condemned and the perpetrators must be loathed and despised. Which is worse? To do nothing about the wholesale slaughter committed by dictators or to try and stop them while doing your best to protect the innocent?
If such evil is being committed by someone, should we do something about it even knowing some may get hurt? Or leave things be, knowing it will never stop without intervention?
Kyle doesn't see much difference between knowing there will be those who die innocently for a greater good and going after them intentionally. As if it would have been better to line up a few thousand Iraqis, shoot them in the head and leave. Because that's what he acts like we've done. We could have saved a lot of ammunition and the lives of many of our own. But then we'd be just like Saddam, huh? No, instead we're only 'better'. Not the 'best' nor even 'far greater' - just 'better'.
I despise Kyle and those like him, for they do not see the forest for the trees and the lot of so many in the world would never improve.
Posted by: Oyster at November 30, 2005 07:10 AM (YudAC)
If you all truly believe that, then realize that the hostages in Iraq were fighting and will to die for not only their children, but for the world's children. They chose to fight this battle with the pen instead of the sword. And in my eyes that makes extremely courageous and noble. I don't think we should be disrespecting them by calling them 'idiots'. This has nothing to do with them 'siding' with terrorists. They don't. Violence begets violence. When does it stop?
From various postings that I've read on this site, it sounds like there are quite a few Christians here. If that's the case, how does "I hope the blade is dull" reflect Christ's message of "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemy".
Before you reach for your keyboard and automatically call me an idiot or a chicken or willing to let people be raped, look at history. Mass revolution through non-violence is possible. Ghandi brought down an Empire by use of non-violent means.
Maybe as Americans we could try putting some of our billion dollar military funding towards non-violent resistance.
Paul
Posted by: Paul at November 30, 2005 12:30 PM (+Emb2)
IM of the "dull knife" comments is not a christian but an atheist. Though I sympathize with the feelings behind his statement, I don't agree with its content. That being said, I'm not losing sleep at night because of those poor fools.
Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 30, 2005 12:54 PM (6ffkR)
"Violence begets violence. When does it stop?"
When all the murderous psychopaths have been killed. Duh...
"From various postings that I've read on this site, it sounds like there are quite a few Christians here. If that's the case, how does "I hope the blade is dull" reflect Christ's message of "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemy"."
Well, as Carlos pointed out, it doesn't. One of the reasons I left Christianity is because it is unrealistic in many aspects. Strike me upon the cheek, and I'll kill you and everyone you've ever met, but leave me in peace, and I'll leave you in peace. My path tends to discourage violent bahavior better than the Christian one, but hey, to each his own. As far as loving enemies, that's much easier done once they're dead.
"Ghandi brought down an Empire by use of non-violent means."
Not really. The empire had lost the will to continue, and allowed him to go about causing his trouble. Under the British, India was peaceful and prosperous, but since independence, it has been in a constant state of war with Pakistan, and is one of the world's poorest, most corrupt countries. Ghandi screwed the people of India.
"Maybe as Americans we could try putting some of our billion dollar military funding towards non-violent resistance."
How much does it cost to surrender to one's enemies? or maybe you mean we should just pay the Danegeld? Of course, either route is acceptable to cowards, but not men. Look, why don't you go down to the local mosque, tell them you want to convert to islam, marry a nice mulsim man and be his little dhimmi bitch? You might as well, because you're useless to us.
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 30, 2005 01:55 PM (0yYS2)
Posted by: A reasonable human being at November 30, 2005 02:09 PM (z2MBG)
Posted by: Jester at November 30, 2005 03:31 PM (BypR5)
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 30, 2005 08:09 PM (0yYS2)
Posted by: A reasonable human being at November 30, 2005 08:39 PM (z2MBG)
Posted by: Lifeboat76 at December 01, 2005 04:33 AM (/UPx0)
WHOOP! WHOOP! MOONBAT ALERT!!! WHOOP! WHOOP! I take it this reasoned analysis is based on your decades of study of military science?
"This is not, as some have suggested, due to people who oppose it getting kidknapped, but because any war fought on the basis of providing an Iraq for Iraqis that is more like America."
And what's wrong with that? Don't you think they'd be happier with a democratically elected government, functioning schools and other services, and not having to live in fear of a knock at the door? Wait, I don't know what's wrong with me, of course you don't, because you probably think Saddam was a great guy who was just misunderstood, like Stalin, his idol.
"Of course Iraq needed to lose Saddam, and because of his capture, the war has not been the total failure that the Afghanistan war was, where they never captured Bin Laden."
So by having two successful elections each so far, and reviving their respective economies, and getting kids back in school, etc., that's what you mean by failure? Jesus you liberals are a thickheaded bunch of idiots.
"The sooner George Bush, likeminded Americans, and to a lesser extent British people realise that the rest of the world doesn't like them, and doesn't want their capitalist ideals forced upon them, the sooner they will learn to truly help the rest of the world, and not destabilise it in an effort to gain some oil so we can pollute the planet for a few more years."
Hey Komrade, can't you hear that? It's irrelevancy calling for you. Your moronic Marxist ideals are for suckers, and my guess is that you're either too young, too stupid, or both, to realize that the Soviet Union collapsed, and China and Vietnam have abandoned the communist economic model. Capitalism works dumbass. I had you spotted for an idiot socialist at the very first, and I was right.
"I think it's important for Iraqis that whether they support the occupation of not, they can recieve help, aid, and voice their concerns to non-military workers out there, and it's important that these workers should operate without being captured and killed."
You might want to tell that to the terrorists.
"Unfortunately, their safety cannot be guaranteed, because our governments have suceeded in breeding a distrust in all Westerners amongst Iraqis, however much they have their own interests at heart."
Yeah it's our fault that islam breeds headchopping savages, and they were all so peaceful before 1776. You goddamn idiot liberals are too stupid to be allowed to live.
"Sometimes you need to bomb the hell out of something, sometimes you need to be more sensitive to people's needs, rights and wishes."
So you're up for bombing who, exactly? America maybe? And I'm sure you're very sensitive to the needs of your muslim boyfriend, as he's so oppressed by the eeeeevil infidels and all.
"Surely Jester, if you believe all Muslims are vermin, do you not think that we're provoking attacks by extremists by occupying their country?"
Blah blah blah, snivel snivel whine. It's always the liberals who are willing to blame the victims, and excuse any act of aggression, as long as it's Jews and Christians getting killed, right? Piece of shit.
"Are you saying we should eliminate all Muslim Iraqis?"
How about just the ones who cut people's heads off and murder children with car bombs? No? Maybe we should just try to understand them, ya think?
"Are you even making a point, or just being hateful for the sake of it?"
Are you making a point, or just being a liberal, socialist, terrorist apologist douchebag?
Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 01, 2005 05:14 PM (0yYS2)
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