Hostages freed!

[caro]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid...st/4836218.stm

One British and two Canadian peace activists held hostage in Iraq for almost four months have been freed in an operation by multinational forces.

Norman Kember, 74, of north-west London, James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, were three of four men seized in Baghdad in November.

The body of murdered US citizen Tom Fox was found in Baghdad two weeks ago.

[pickel]

GREAT NEWS !!!!!!!! Bet they head home, pronto.......I would.

[caro]

Sorry pickel added a bit more of the quote, felt the poor american guy who got murdered should be remembered too.

[Beemer]

Good news but if the damn peace activists would stay away, they're martyred butts wouldn't have to be rescued.

[caro]

A guy made a good point on the news...that of the 100 or so peace concilliators sent , only 4 got kidnapped, if we're prepared to risk young soldiers lives, we should also be prepared to risk those who are trying to negotiate peaceful relations after war.

[Chuckiechan]

Here's the press release:

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Stor...3-005/page.asp

Not a word or a thanks to the US military who rescued them. Ungrateful bastards.

[Theophylact]

Their liberation is good news. Sad it came too late for Tom Fox, a DC-area Quaker well known and loved around here.

The Quakers have a long history of sticking their heads in the lion's mouth: they even sent a delegation to talk with the Gestapo after Kristallnacht.

[Epidemic]

Great news.

rescued activists. (too bad they are ungrateful bastards) Could it be that an Iraqi citizen turned in the location of the prisoners (that would show they are figuring out who the actual enemy is)

Iraqi Police defended a prison.

[LittleCaesar]

I agree with Caro's point - and I think that people travelling to that region are accuately aware of the dangers associated. Thank god there are young men and women who are willing to risk their lives not just to fight the conflict, but to solve the conflict.

[caro]

Here's the press release:

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Stor...3-005/page.asp

Not a word or a thanks to the US military who rescued them. Ungrateful bastards.

Apparently it was a coalition team led by British special forces

[Twinkletoes]

Yeah, but let's keep this in perspective for goodness sake. Read some of the comments here: http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thre...20060323191018

I cannot but feel that these individuals should be billed for the expense they have caused. They elected to place their lives at risk and then we foot the bill.

Why is the BBC so obsessed with this story is it a slow news day or something? One silly old man who shouldn't of been out there anyway...

The people I care about and admire are the British and Allied Service men and women who conducted the rescue. It must be remembered that Mr Kimber went to Iraq to dig up information to used against the British and Allied Service men and women....

Although it is obviously a huge relief to the families involved to know their love ones are safe, we should question the fact these activists were in Iraq in the first place. I strongly object to these groups going to Iraq and putting the lives of others in danger when they get kidnapped...

...let us not forget that he went there of his own free will into a war zone where he knew his life was in danger. this is insanity at its greatest. how many troops had to risk their lives, even more so than normal, to rescue this man that should have never been there in the first place?...

The real good news here is that thankfully none of the families of the servicemen who rescued these people are receiving bad news of their loved ones

etc etc etc.

[Theophylact]

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

Not a lot of Christians here, I see...

Right wingers are funny. They complain and complain about the lack of good news from Iraq; but when they finally do get some, they use it as an excuse to bitch about "ungrateful" peaceniks.

Two minor points: it wasn't a US effort that freed the hostages, but rather a British operation, with assistance from US (and Canadian!) forces; and it wasn't the hostages (two of whom are in the hospital and apparently unavailable for comment) who failed to be "properly grateful", but rather a spokesman for one of the groups.

[Twinkletoes]

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

War zones don't make good playgrounds for children. Ask the Muslim Peace Teams what sort of reception they got when they turned up at Gettysburg.

[Beemer]

The Canadian perspective: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

After praising the international rescue operation, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay urged Canadians not to "put their lives at risk."

Appearing on AM Friday, MacKay said: "I can understand the motivation and the will to do good, but ... we would always prefer that Canadians not go to places where hostage taking is at play."

In other words, you have no damn business putting others at risk. Stay the frag out of it!

I wonder how many bibles they left behind?

[Theophylact]

I wonder how many bibles they left behind?

Chances are, none. Quakers don't proselytize, and I bet the others weren't doing it either.

Here's something about the group.

[willy_ph]

While it's good that they're no longer captive, the inability or unwillingness to thank those who rescued them (albeit it doesn't seem much of rescue considering there weren't any kidnappers present) is ignorant and uncalled for. While I understand their vehement opposition to war and those who start it, I still think they ought to show some gratitude for those who risked their own lives to save them.

[Beemer]

Very commendable but so far there isn't any government backers. One Mayor asked them in. Their efforts don't seem to be appreciated by any government presently concerned with the Middle-East otherwise they would be mentioned in some way connected to the task forces deployed.

As far as their presence in Iraq goes, friendly fire might get them or they may jeopardise a military mission and cost lives meddling where they don't belong.

They can do their thing either before or after conflicts. During the conflict is insane and disruptive.

[Whir]

Off topic I realize, but what happened to that journalist woman that CNN was making a huge ape over? I haven't seen any news about it lately.

[Beemer]

They're hoping this release will lead to her release as well or at least information of where she is being held.

[Whir]

Hm. I thought her capturs were going to execute her like two weeks ago. I hadn't heard anything on CNN (which is on all day at work, unfortunately), so I assumed they had not done so.

Thanks for the info.