Tony Blair said it better than I could in the quoted passage below how I feel about the kidnapping of Margaret Hassan. If these guys are really interested in the welfare of Iraq and not the return of Saddam to power, how does anyone explain the kidnapping of a woman heading a charity helping Iraqis? She is a native, for Gods’ sake! What is killing her going to achieve? How is it better for anybody in the whole world if this woman who has dedicated her life to helping Iraqis lead a better life is murdered brutally? I don’t give a damn about the cause - just explain how this one woman’s murder is going to better anything for anybody in Iraq!
Aid worker kidnapped in Iraq“This is someone who has lived in Iraq for 30 years, someone who is immensely respected, someone who is doing her level best to help the country,” said Blair.“It shows you the type of people we are up against, that they are prepared to kidnap somebody like this.”
A Care International spokeswoman said she had no idea who kidnapped Hassan or what their demands might be, but was keen to stress Hassan saw herself as part of the Iraqi community.
“She sees herself as an Iraqi. Iraq is her home. She has been living there for many years and would never consider coming back to Britain,” the spokeswoman said.
Update: So how do you guys explain this video plea by the kidnapped lady? Is that still for ransom?
Posted by shanti at October 19, 2004 3:10 PMTrackBack URL for this entry:
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But will capturing an Iraqi make such news or draw a comment from Blair?
Posted by: Nilu at October 19, 2004 5:19 PM
Really does not matter. Thats the reality of the terrorist infected world we live in today.
I believe she had white skin, so they abducted her. If the terrorists had a common sense — to understand that she is/was working for the Iraqis for the last 30 years — its likely that they would not have become terrorists in the first place.
Also, if the thugs were interested in the welfare of Iraq, they would not fight the US. I do not support the invasion, but now that it has happened, at the end of the day, if there was no insurgency, chances are that Iraq would be in a much much better position right now. Notwithstanding the fact that US would have stolen a lot of oil from it and had put up a military base in Iraq, it would also have helped the country in a huge way.
Posted by: Hari at October 19, 2004 7:17 PM
Actually Shanti, there has been a concerted effort here to highlight Margaret Hassan’s Iraqi affiliations rather than harp about her being a British national. They’re doing it as the ‘experts’ have advised that an Iraqi qould have a better chance of survival at the hands of the captors than would a Britisher!
Moreover, initial suspicions are that her captors are not fundamentalists but rather criminals who’ve kidnapped her purely for ransom money.
Posted by: Sameer at October 20, 2004 3:52 AM
I think there’s a partial picture painted here. The abductions are not unique to foreign nationals, Iraquis (especially well to do ones like Mrs. Hassan) face just as much kidnapping/ extortion. I would like to suggest that this is just a nice frame for the story that is put in place to gain attention and make pretty headlines. I’ll try to (re)find my reference and post at a later point..
Posted by: Anon at October 20, 2004 5:25 PM
it’s probably someone paid by the americans, kidnapping her as a propaganda tool.
Posted by: TJ at October 21, 2004 6:02 PM
U r completely unaware of the situation in Iraq. These guys are not “terrorists” per se, but ur local goons who kidnap and sell people to warlords who r trying to wrest control of a particular region. It has got nothing to do with Iraqi liberation at all.
Posted by: a at October 22, 2004 1:22 AM
TJ, adjust the tinfoil hat tighter.
A, the difference between being spiteful and sightful is that between you and Anon who posted above you. You are not the only all-knowing genius about Iraq’s situation, you know!
Posted by: Shanti at October 22, 2004 7:55 AM
Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. Unknown
Posted by: johnson and johnson Acuvue at November 24, 2004 9:56 AM