Tokyo: Japanese hostages safe near Fallujah

Sky News ^ | April 10, 2004 | Sky News

[Eurotwit]

Being reported on the norning broadcast on Sky.

[livius]

So our little peaceniks' plot didn't work...

[BCrago66]

I remember when the Japanese weren't wussies. Well I don't really remember, but I read about it.

[hawkeye101]

No.........what a shock! These kidnapping terrorists are really nice guys after all. Lets just go in to Fallujah and fly kites for peace and have town meetings on conflict resolution. That will solve the whole situation, since they seem to be peaceful people.

[LdSentinal]

Oops. Japan didn't withdraw its troops.

Behead these traitors.

[CatOwner]

"So our little peaceniks' plot didn't work..."

Well, to a point it did. They whipped up some PR, causes the Japanese to go into a frenzy towards their government demanding a solution, and then made the bad guys look humane when they were graciously released. Do you see the NYT and LAT reporting it any other way?

[the Real fifi]

I am certain that once they are safe the truth will eventually come out. The Japanese Government will see to that.

[FoxInSocks]

Well, I'm glad they're safe.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Anyone seen the video of the American being driven of in a car full of Iwaqis?

[CatOwner]

I wonder if he is a closet peacenik?

[Alia]

rofl...

[Joe Hadenuf]

Excuse me?

[Eurotwit]

TOKYO (Reuters) - Three Japanese civilians kidnapped in Iraq were safe near Falluja on Sunday, Japanese TV said. Government officials could not confirm the report.
Private TV broadcaster TBS quoted Japanese government and ruling party sources as saying the three captives were confirmed safe, but did not make clear if they had been released.

Japan was stunned and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was confronted with the biggest test of his political career when a previously unknown group released a video on Thursday showing the three, blindfolded and with a gun to their heads.

Arabic television station Al Jazeera had said early on Sunday that the captives would be freed within 24 hours.

Koizumi had vowed not to give in to the abductors, who had demanded that Japan withdraw its military from Iraq within three days of the video's broadcast. Japan has about 550 ground troops in Iraq involved in reconstruction and humanitarian work.

The released hostages are Noriaki Imai, 18, who had planned to look into the effects of depleted uranium weapons; aid worker Nahoko Takato, 34; and freelance reporter Soichiro Koriyama, 32.

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http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=ECROY4ACATFUCCRBAEZSFFA?type=topNews&storyID=4797482

[Chad Fairbanks]

Bet they are being "debriefed" as we speak, and quite possibly not enjoying it much...

[Joe Hadenuf]

After watching what happen to Americans at the hands of these people, I'm sure the Japanese families of these people are slightly relieved.

[Eurotwit]

I urge restraint with these conspiray theories. It is an extremely serious charge.

If it turns out to be true it will come out.

[Alia]

I get your full meaning, very clearly. And you are right, IMHO. Best to look at all the different angles. This is a war; and many strategies get used. These could be Trojan Horses, for all we know; it certainly was useful, in any case, for a number of actions. Again, good counsel.

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks for the report.

I'm glad they are safe but, if what is being said is true,
they should be arrested...now.

However, if what is being said is NOT true, then I hope
they are welcomed home with open arms.

[CatOwner]

"I urge restraint..."

That's the problem as I see it. Everyone on our side is urging restraint. Our administration, our military planners. Time to take the chains off because this is war, not peacekeeping, not crowd control. Lives are at stake, ours and our miilitary. Time to start acting like they matter.

[BlackVeil]

Anyone seen the video of the American being driven of in a car full of Iwaqis?

Yes, I did. The journalist in question, who was flagged down by the passing car, was from the Australian Broadcasting Commission (the ABC, but not the American ABC), so he got quite a scoop. The Iraqis looked a rough lot. I noticed that not one of them could speak a word of English. They were capering about, trying to communicate.