US Hostage Will Be 'Spared'

Australia News.com ^ | April 12, 2004 | wire report

[threat matrix]

The Iraqi group holding a US hostage has agreed not to kill him, Mezher Dulaimi, a self described Iraqi mediator, said yesterday.

Dulaimi, who heads an Iraqi human rights group, said the affair of the missing American had been settled, and that he was in good health.

Earlier, Qatar based satellite television station Al-Jazeera screened a video showing a man in civillian clothes and presented him as Thomas Hamill, a United States national held hostage.

Dulaimi said that the United States hostage had recieved medical attention.

However there was no immediate word on when he might be released.

[mathluv]

I am concerned about this also. I hope the released hostages are checked out medically, and maybe even in quarantine for a period of time.

[Eagle Eye]

The US commanders there are willing to let 100 Americans die going block to block while our Air Force sits on the ground. Mind boggling restraint.IMO

Blatantly False. Nowhere near the truth. Uninformed. Please refrain from statments like this, they really don't help anything and are totally incorrect.

[sarasota]

It's called harrassment motivated by hatred and anger and the warrior mentality. Appears that's all these animals have learned to do with their lives.

[Finalapproach29er]

Fine. I'm fed up with this anyhow. I'll never believe this is the best strategy, so their is no point continuing.

[johnb838]

The Arab concept of "truth" is different than the western reality of "truth".

To an Arab, the "truth" is whatever he can convince you is the "truth". It has nothing to do with reality or absolute truth.

And that differs from a leew-yeh or a ratpol, or a partisan media hack exactly how?

Don't the leew-yehs brag that the truth has no place in the courtroom?

[gieriscm]

I have no idea why the hostage is being let go, but I doubt it's because his captors are squeamish about killing. What hasn't been reported in the news is that the hostage was in a convoy of nine fuel trucks that was attacked. He jumped out of his burning truck and was captured. The other eight drivers died.

[reformedliberal]

What do you think of this:


http://belmontclub.blogspot.com/

It would be nice to have this analyzed by someone on the ground.

I think you guys are doing great and I thank you all.

[1903A3]

Head of a Human Right Group ?????
Hummm that " hostage " could actually be on the same side as is " captors "

[vetvetdoug]

This guy went to Iraq to avoid bankruptcy. His wife just had heart surgery and has two kids, aged 12 and 14. He did this so that he would not take the easy way out and file bankruptcy and pay his creditors. The entire town of Macon is behind him and say he is one fine upstanding and religious and honest man.

[Eagle Eye]

Good thing you aren't here. We've got solid people here doing the job. And they don't tire of doing what they need to do so easily.

[Eagle Eye]

I'm not the one to ask about a lot of that stuff. It looks like a lot of garbage to me, but I'm sitting at a whole different place. I look at the troops eyes, listen to them talk, look at the smoke plumes, and dodge the incoming with the rest. Those are the observations I make.

Whatever the media is saying, it is different that what I am seeing.

[gracex7]

...but whats the point of these terrorists to take hostages only to release them a few days later?

I think they're playing a game with public opinion in the US, Japan, etc. The peaceniks will use these releases to fuel their fires and the press will play right along with their charade.

I do hope and pray that all of the hostages are released in good condition and that the public will be a little more savvy than I believe they are.

[johnb838]

Fox is saying that there has been no word from Hammill's captors since before the deadline on Saturday. Why?

[johnb838]

Fox is saying that there has been no word from Hammill's captors since before the deadline on Saturday. Why?

[gieriscm]

Thx for the update. I'll say a prayer for him and for his family.

The friend who gave me the info on the convoy being attacked is also a contractor over there, and for much the same reason. He's working on setting up radio/comm systems, though, not driving a truck.

[plain talk]

they didn't actually have the guts to follow through

I don't think that is the case. The culture over there is pretty barbaric. Perhaps they believe he's worth more to them alive than dead.

[WKB]

MS update ping

The following is from vetvetdoug:
This guy went to Iraq to avoid bankruptcy. His wife just had heart surgery and has two kids, aged 12 and 14. He did this so that he would not take the easy way out and file bankruptcy and pay his creditors. The entire town of Macon is behind him and say he is one fine upstanding and religious and honest man.

[johnb838]

I really hope Dan Rather doesn't seize on this as an opportunity to capitalize on his thesis that these people are contracting in Iraq because the economy is so lousy here.

[Cap Huff]

Whatever your vantage point there, I appreciate your input, being that it is at least one unfiltered by the media perspective.

If you have time, could you clarify what you think is "garbage" --- the Telegraph, Times, and Toronto Globe stories, or the blog itself?

Thanks, and be careful.

[Rams82]

"Would guys in turbans and bedsheets tell lies?"

"Lying is forbidden in Iraq"

--Baghdad Bob