The family of an American hostage now believes that the video released by The Islamic Army in Iraq showing the murder of a hostage was Ronald Schulz. The family has scheduled a memorial service for Ronald Schulz. Mr. Schulz was in Iraq as a private civilian contractor helping rebuild the war torn country when he was abducted by the murderous al Qaeda linked terror organization. For more background, visit The Jawa Report's Ronald Schulz archive.

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'. As first revealed at The Jawa Report, 'The Swords of Righteousness Brigade' has been linked to the Islamic Army in Iraq. The Islamic Army in Iraq is an al Qaeda linked Salaafist jihadi group that has murdered foreign hostages in the past.

A French hostage, Bernard Planche, was released over the weekend, and we now know he was freed only after a joint U.S.-Iraqi security sweep caused his captors to flee. The best hope for the peace activists is that Coalition troops rescue them, despite the objections of the Christian Peacemakers Team's moral equivications.

We pray that the family of Ronald Schulz will find comfort and for the safe return of all hostages currently in Iraq. more...

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Reports are trickling in that a hostage negotiator who had made contact with the 'Swords of Righteousness Brigade' in an effort to free four Western peace activists has himself been taken hostage. The hostage negotiator is a local Iraqi who has previous experience in high-profile abductions. The man is said to have been missing since December 8th.

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'. 'As first revealed at The Jawa Report, The Swords of Righteousness Brigade' has been linked to the Islamic Army in Iraq. The Islamic Army in Iraq is an al Qaeda linked Salaafist jihadi group that has murdered foreign hostages in the past.

Curiously, the Islamic Army in Iraq website has been silent on the fate of the four hostages. Even more curious is the fact that although the group claimed responsibility for the murder of American hostage Ronald Schulz at an online forum frequented by jihadis, the Islamic Army in Iraq website has made no mention of it nor have they released the usual hostage snuff video.

The fact that the negotiator sent in to obtain the release of the four hostages may have been taken hostage himself is a bad sign. Hope for the best, pray for a miracle, but be prepared for the worst.

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Last day in class today. Finals start next week. No time to read other blogs or much news today. If you want me to link one of your posts, please e-mail me and I'll add it to this one. Also, if you hear any words on hostages please e-mail me by clicking on contact link above.

The Washington Post says the U.S. military is probing a video that surfaced on the internet and purports to show indiscriminate weapons fire by private contractors directed at Iraqi civilians. MORE HERE. Of course, the context the MSM doesn't report on is that these vehicles have enormous signs on them warning other vehicles to stay back or they will be fired on. Still, the video does not look good and I applaud the military for looking into the matter.

Thank a soldier week starts on Dec. 19th. Get busy by going here and supporting our troops.

12 Days of Christmas presented by Cranky Neocon. Send this to your liberal buddies. Tons of great gift ideas for them.

UPDATE I: We've posted on this before, but it sooo cool. A guy, a blog, and his quest for a personal Navy. It's also a good cause. Phin has more here as does Confederate Yankee.

UPDATE II: Cop gets caught stealing evidence. Evidence just happens to be the victim's skull. Hilarity ensues.

UPDATE III: Pat Oliphant, asshat.

UPDATE IV: Krauthammer and Astute Blogger--both brilliant.

Posted by: Rusty at 08:52 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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Scroll down for updates.

Reports have begun circulating that Ronald Schulz has been murdered. The website used by The Islamic Army in Iraq, though, has not carried this message. Instead, it was posted at an Islamic bulletin board. It sometimes takes a few hours for these messages to become 'official'. We had earlier reported that the deadline had passed without word from the group.

The bloody, filthy, bastard vermin who did this should be hunted down and killed!

We will post the translated message, video, and images from it as soon as they are available.

MSNBC:

The Islamic Army in Iraq insurgent group said on Thursday it had killed a U.S. security consultant, according to an Internet statement.

The group said the man was killed because the U.S. government did not fulfil its demands, which included the payment of compensation to Iraqis affected by U.S. attacks.

Developing....

Yahoo has a translation of at least part of the statement posted here.

"War criminal (U.S. President George W.) Bush continues with his arrogance and no one has any value unless they serve his criminal interests, therefore the American security adviser pig at the Housing Ministry has been killed,"

White House press secretary Scott McClellan said he could not confirm the death and said he had no additional information on the matter. "Any time there is an American that is taken hostage it is a priority for the administration, and their safe return is a priority for the administration," he said.

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UPDATE: An posting from the Islamic Armyin Iraq at an Islamic bulletin board claims that Ronald Schulz has been murdered. See this post for more information. more...

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UPDATE: 12/08--The Jawa Report has learned that Ronald Shulz has been murdered. See this post for update.

The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the original video. Images from it are posted below and to the right. Unlike other hostage videos, the video edits out the terrorist sitting next to American hostage Ronald Schulz. This is very different than any other IAI produced hostage video I have seen. The image right is of Ronald Schuz's passport as seen in video. Schulz can be seen in the video speaking to one of his captors, but his voice cannot be heard.

Scroll to bottom of post for images. The video is rather large. UPDATE: Long-time Jawa collaborater and terror hunter Infovlad now has the video up here. See Dec. 7th post.

A smaller version of the video can be downloaded from Ogrish. UPDATE: The YNC also has the video here. Another update: Noted terror expert Laura Mansfield also with video--Hyscience also hosting video

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UPDATE: 12/08--The Jawa Report has learned that Ronald Schulz has been murdered. See this post for update.

UPDATE III: The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the original video. Images from it are posted below and to the right. Unlike other hostage videos, the video edits out the terrorist sitting next to American hostage Ronald Schulz. This is very different than any other IAI produced hostage video I have seen. The image right is of Ronald Schuz's passport as seen in video. Schulz can be seen in the video speaking to one of his captors, but his voice cannot be heard.

Scroll to bottom of post for images. The video is rather large, but if you would like to host it I will send it to you. A smaller version of the video can be downloaded from Ogrish. Update: The YNC also has video up. Another update: Noted terror expert Laura Mansfield also with video-Hyscience also hosting video more...

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