Militants threaten to kill American hostage unless troops withdraw from Fa

[PfcHammer]

http://www.canada.com/national/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=654d4a4d-2b95-4445-a883-973ac81e70f1

Militants threaten to kill American hostage unless troops withdraw from Fallujah

Canadian Press

Saturday, April 10, 2004

BAGHDAD

Militants on Saturday threatened to kill and mutilate Thomas Hamill, an American civilian captured during the ambush of a convoy west of Baghdad.

In a videotape given to the Al-Jazeera television network, Hamill was shown in front of an Iraqi flag. A spokesman off camera demanded that U.S. troops end their siege of the city of Fallujah, where four American civilians were killed and mutilated last week.

"Our only demand is to remove the siege from the city of mosques. If you don't respond within 12 hours ... he will be treated worse than those who were killed and burned in Fallujah."

Hamill was captured by gunmen who rocketed a fuel convoy on the road between Baghdad and Fallujah on Friday. He identified himself to a reporter for Australian television seconds before being whisked away in a car by gunmen.

Al-Jazeera earlier quoted the kidnappers of three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq as saying that they will release them within 24 hours.

The kidnappers told the network they made the decision after mediation by the Islamic Clerics Committee, an Iraqi Sunni Muslim organization. It was not immediately possible to contact the group.

Al-Jazeera identified the group as the Mujahedeen Squadrons. It said its source was one of the kidnappers, who was not identified.

Insurgents elsewhere in Iraq have kidnapped a Canadian aid worker and an Arab from Jerusalem.

Canadian diplomats are trying to secure the release of the aid worker, Fadi Fadel. They have made preliminary contact with his captors.

A British citizen and two German security officials from their country's embassy in Baghdad are also missing, though it is not known if they have been kidnapped.

[AlCzervik]

1. Is this more of that

success that Rumsfeld's always talking about, you they are sooooo desperate because we have them cornered? This pack of vipers will NEVER admit any wrong doing or piss poor planning ever. The mendacity-o-meter is off the charts.

[daleo]

2. If this happens, remember that the blood is on Bush's hands

This war was his choice, he lied to have it.

on edit - the same goes for Blair.

[asjr]

3. Welcome to the "Bush World."

[okieinpain]

4. I thought that we didn't make deals with terrorist. I thought that

was the last thing you did. I thought that if you made deals with the terrorist and submitted to their wants. you were just inviting them to do more stuff.

what the hell happened to operation resolve. what was the name of this plan. oh well I guess that went down the tubes.

[Tinoire]

5. They have 30 hostages so far

<snip>

In a tape shown on Qatar- based al-Jazeera last night, the kidnappers revealed Hamill in front of an Iraqi flag. 'Our one request is to break the siege of the City of Mosques during the 12 hours from six o'clock on Saturday evening,' a voice said. 'If not, he will be dealt with worse than those who were killed and burnt in Falluja.'

<snip>

The spiralling threat of kidnapping against foreigners in Iraq became more apparent when a group calling itself the 'Marytr Ahmed Yassin Brigades' in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, claimed to have 30 hostages from a variety of countries.

In a film shown on Arabic television, a masked man representing the group said: 'We have Japanese, Bulgarian, Israeli, American, Spanish and Korean hostages. Their numbers are 30. If America doesn't lift its blockade of Falluja, their heads will be cut off.'

<snip>


http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1189963,00.html

[0007]

7. I think the U.S. better back off

[Character Assassin]

6. Oh, Golly. Sure. This will make a difference

It's not even worth reporting.

The troops are going nowhere. Except, perhaps, further into the city.

This threat/request is bullshit.