US Hostage Will Be 'Spared'

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

[fly_so_free]

"They need prayer"

Yes, prayers for them for their safe return, in the Name of our Lord Jesus, Amen

[risk]

The way he looked into the camera this weekend and said his name would make anyone realize what sort of man he is. I hope his family is welcoming him home very soon.

[Atlantic Friend]

Maybe they traded them for some diplomatic advantage, like the promise not to arrest or kill Sadr, or something of a more solid nature ? Who are these groups negotiating with, anyway ?

[Modernman]

Maybe they traded them for some diplomatic advantage, like the promise not to arrest or kill Sadr, or something of a more solid nature ? Who are these groups negotiating with, anyway ?

You're assuming that these groups have a centralized command structure. Sure, some of these guy could be characterized as "militia," but I'm betting a good percentage of the guys actually shooting at US soldiers are local hotheads who see this as a chance to stick it to the occupiers. What we're seeing, though, is that a lot of the fair-weather Jihadees are discovering that shooting at Marines is a good way to end up in a shallow grave. It quickly stopped being fun for them and a lot of these guys are simply melting away, back into the civilian population.

I think it's a very real possiblity that the guys who took this truck driver hostage now find themselves in well over their heads. Holding onto the hostage gets more and more dangerous every day, as American troops continue to close in. Killing him would make them all marked men. So, they're trying to save their own skins. Hopefully, they're smart enough to realize that keeping this guy alive is the only way for them to get out of this situation alive.

[Atlantic Friend]

Possibly...But even isolated groups could think gaining a Western hostage will give them some leverage with the Iraqi or Coalition authorities. Remember the 80s in Lebanon ? The fragmented groups seized Americans, Frenchmen, Englishmen, just so they could negotiate something or over : money, weapons, diplomatic advantages among themselves. Weren't some of the hostages traded from a splinter group to another ?

I concur when you say this could be some act of desperation. They've lost in the guerrilla field, so they freak out and take hostages in some forlorn hope that this will open them a way out. And, as some groups just melt away, they let the hostage loose. But they could also trade them with larger groups, like Hizbollah, getting rid of the problem and scoring some good points within the terrorist "community".

[gracex7]

That's a good question.

[fbcoach]

Thank you. Yes I do know the family. Discovered FR, trying to find more info about TH.

For those who are interested...heard on the radio this am that some of the people in the community have set a fund for T Hamill and family. It is through BankFirst Financial Services here in Macon. Appologize for not having anymore of the particulars.

[SoCal Pubbie]

"He can never be allowed to be a hero! After all, he works for Brown and Root, a non-union arm of the dreaded "Haliburton", you know, the old "Cheney" company."

If you can believe it, a host on an LA radio show a few weekends ago said the four souls who were killed and mutilated were mercenaries, and we invaded Iraq so the Iraqis have the right to defend themselves. He basically said they four deserved what they got.

[Mr. K]

BINGO- you nailed it

[Eagle Eye]

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[Jim Noble]

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

In those few days, they have discovered the meaning of "Marine sniper"...

[chilepepper]

are you sure that wasn't...speared???

[floriduh voter]

Well, "four bodies" found near Baghdad. I lost count on how many missing Americans there actually were as of today. I admit I'm not brave enough to go to Iraq such as it is. I respect those who are doing the heavy and dangerous lifting over there.

A dem ad in Florida is asking for a hit on Donald Rumsfeld. We're not even safe in Florida to be honest.