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June 21, 2004
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Facing death
Laurence asks with regards to the captured South Korean hostage in Iraq if it is fair to compare his pleading with Fabrizio Quattrocchi. Firstly the AP story in full: The Arab satellite TV network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape Sunday purportedly from al-Qaida linked militants showing a South Korean hostage begging for his life and pleading with his government to withdraw troops from Iraq.Let's get some things straight. This ongoing kidnapping campaign is abhorrent in the extreme and will not work. Governments learnt long ago not to negotiate with terrorists and South Korea have already stated they will still send troops to Iraq. However it impossible to judge any person put in that situation. I fully applaud Mr. Quattrocchi's bravery as he faced certain death. He provided insipiration and hope in a hopeless situation. But this Korean man's reaction is far closer to that which most would have in a similar position. Faced with the inevitability of what is to come most would say almost anything if they thought it would mitigate their fate. He is simply being human. Each man faces these monsters in their own way. We cannot judge or compare them. What is fair is to judge the scum that commit these crimes and hope they will brought to justice. A slow, painful justice. That is what the war on terror is about. posted by Simon on 06.21.04 at 11:49 AM in the
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TrackBack URL for this entry: http://blog.mu.nu/cgi/trackback.cgi/32768 Send a manual trackback ping to this post. Oliver Makes A Great Point... Excerpt: Face it folks, especially all you Macho dudes out there, who are as we used to say in the ghetto, "selling wolf tickets." In the same situation as the Korean, you too would be shitting your pants and begging for mercy. I would like to think that in t... Weblog: In Search of Utopia Tracked: June 22, 2004 12:22 AM Spitting in Death's Eye? Excerpt: I have to say "yes" to Laurence's question about the Korean hostage. I agree with Simon's thoughts...most of us can't imagine what we'd do in a similar situation, and we can't judge anyone who is actually IN THAT SITUATION. I... Weblog: Jennifer's History and Stuff Tracked: June 22, 2004 01:31 AM
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Do you remember what the Russians did in Lebanon that freed the hostages, yes they rounded up a family member of one of the miliants, chopped off HIS head and posted it to some important people. There is no way that any government is going to negotiate with these people so unless there is a comando style rescue or some cleric a lot of influence mediates, probably by offering cash, then any hostage taken is pretty much dead. posted by: Angry Chinese Blogger on 06.21.04 at 02:53 PM [permalink]Guess those Japanese hostages from a few months back got off easy. posted by: Kevin on 06.21.04 at 04:32 PM [permalink]"This ongoing kidnapping campaign is abhorrent in the extreme and will not work." I disagree that it will not work. It depends on what the aim of killing hostages is. For instance, if the aim is to get SK out of Iraq, then it might work-->see Spain. If the goal is simple theater for domestic consumption, then it also may work-->ie, showing that the Islamists are strong and that the allies are weak. posted by: Rusty Shackleford on 06.22.04 at 12:28 AM [permalink]Rusty is right. That is why I advocate the simple expedient of killing anyone the terrorists say they want released, and then doing the same to some of their tribesmen and families as well. I notice that an Israeli officer has just said today that, by targeting the houses of families of suicide bombers, they have made major gains: already several suicide bombers have been turned in before achieving lift-off BY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, in order to preserve their houses. posted by: Oscar on 06.22.04 at 12:42 AM [permalink]Well said. I've always wished we would tell the terrorists we could release ten, and only ten, prisoners, and get a list of names from them as to who they'd most like to see released. Jihadi: Here is your list, son of a dog! American Diplomat: Thank you. [sound of gunfire] AD: I'm sorry. Those guys aren't available. Can I get another list? --- In all seriousness, my heart goes out to Kim and to the Koreans. These men will not always be able to commit murder from the shadows. This is a war, and Kim Sun-Il is (I fear) going to fall in this battle. It is important that his life, and the lives of those who went before and those who will fall tomorrow, not be sacrificed in vain. -BF posted by: BacksightForethought on 06.22.04 at 05:50 AM [permalink]Well said, Simon. Too often people forget where to lay the blame and judgement in these events. posted by: Ric James on 06.22.04 at 08:16 PM [permalink] |
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