Kidnap videotape shows Hassan collapsing in terror

Times Online ^ | November 04, 2004 | Daniel McGrory

[Former Military Chick]

THE family of the Iraq hostage Margaret Hassan fear that she cannot stand more torment from her captors after they were told that she is seen on video collapsing unconscious to the ground as she begs for her life. Her sisters and brother could not bear to watch the film, but were given a graphic description of Mrs Hassan’s obvious distress as she faints while being taunted by a masked man.

A hooded figure is seen throwing a bucket of water over her as she lays sprawled on the floor. The 59-year-old Irish-born aid worker then struggles to her feet, soaking wet and shaking. Then her captor reportedly taunts Mrs Hassan while she starts to cry and buries her head in her hands.

Relatives were told of her mistreatment just before they made their first public plea for her release in Dublin on Tuesday. Her kidnappers have threatened that today they will hand her over to the terror group that beheaded Kenneth Bigley, the British hostage. The group, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has never been known to free a hostage.

Her employer, the charity CARE International, said that it was “profoundly distressed” at film of Mrs Hassan’s condition. The Arab broadcaster al-Jazeera said that it was sticking to its decision not to show the latest video of her in full for “humanitarian reasons”.

A network spokesman said: “She looks in a terrible state.”

[tiamat]

It's likely they raped her.

THAT is why Al-jizz isn't showing it... that would turn off even some of THEM.

[MamaTexan]

She's been in Iraq for some 30 odd years now.

Her kidnapping just proves that these animals could care less about their country, their countrymen, or the rest of the world.

This woman has been in Iraq for 3 decades helping with food, shelter, clothing etc. for the Iraq people, yet now she faces death because of human scum that enjoy torturing and killing defenseless people in the name of their 'religion'.

[Red Badger]

How do these murdering thugs think that torturing an old woman on video tape advances their cause? These, oh so brave fighters, who ALWAYS wear masks and make sure their victims are tied like animals so they can't fight back. Real men would not care who saw their faces or pick helpless people to attack. Fight face to face? Not these cowards. Do they not know that the rest of the world sees them as cowards and criminals? Every video makes our resolve that much stronger. We are not France and Spain. Our reaction / motivation is to rid the world of this type of scum rather than cower and whimper in the corner.......

[PleaseNoMore]

A neighbor of mine ( ret. military ) mentioned this same thing last night. He said that Bush now has the order from the American people to take care of business.

[Sally'sConcerns]

She should have stayed in Dublin. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.

Guess that's true of every hostage that has been beheaded by these terrorists since I think all of them have been civilians and not military. Guess you think they all deserved their treatment since they either volunteered or accepted a job.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

former presidential candidate John Kerry

Wow that has a nice ring to it!

[G.Mason]

" She would have had to have had one hell of a crystal ball. She's been in Iraq for some 30 odd years now."

Yeah ... and in that 30 years she never once saw any indications that Iraq was a dangerous place to be, never knew the war against Iran was going on for 8 years, her adopted people were being exterminated by Saddam & Co., that the USA & Allies had gone to war with Iraq over Kuwait, or that GWB was going to war with Saddam once again.

Some just have to be the last in line to get the news.

[PleaseNoMore]

I agree with you. This woman did nothing to deserve this.

[Max Combined]

There are people in Ireland who could use aid and if she had stayed there, she would not soon be getting her head cut off.

I agree with Mark Steyn when he says that when he was in Iraq, he was not getting into a car with anyone. Better to shoot as many of your assailants as possible and go down fighting than to be tortured and have one's head cut off.

[AppyPappy]

We can fight them there or fight them here.

[jusduat]

I think you are right, baby spiders just grow up to bite.

[Arpege92]

I wonder if there is a way that we could get our hands on this tape, and broadcast it for the whole world to see. Backlashing would be a good thing IMHO!

[livius]

In addition, she's married to an Iraqi, converted to Islam, was opposed to the Iraq war and is quite anti-Western, judging by earlier statements she had made. But even that was not radical enough for the terrorists.

In short, there's no way of appeasing the terrorists or even getting along with them in any way. They must be killed.

[Max Combined]

"She's been in Iraq for some 30 odd years now."

That is 30 years too long. She is a Muslim. She should have stayed Catholic. She bought into that sick cult and now she can reap her reward for her good deeds.

[Mi-kha-el]

Just remeber the Nazis, the Soviet communists, the Pol Pot thugs and many of their ilk. The new generation of thugs is just evil reincarnated.

[Two-Bits]

I think with the election over, we may see less and less of this. The terrorists now know we mean business and the American people are behind their President. This crap started when the Democrats and the "extremist" media (no longer mainstream) started their anti-war stuff. These cowards now know we mean business and we are NOT just taking names.....

[Miss Behave]

"The election is over. Hell is coming their way."

I like that thought and line. May I piggyback on that and say OUR version of Kerry's "Help is on the way?"

HELL IS ON THE WAY.

[Max Combined]

"she faces death because of human scum that enjoy torturing and killing defenseless people in the name of their 'religion'."

It is her religion too. Unlike them, she cannot say that she did not know better, since she was raised to be a Catholic. She rejected the light and chose the evil dark. As you sow, so shall ye reap.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Islamofascism == Cowardice

[Max Combined]

"Guess you think they all deserved their treatment since they either volunteered or accepted a job."

Everyone who has had his head cut off since that Italian guy should have been armed and gone down fighting rather than allowing themselves to be kidnapped, IMHO. That is what I would do and that is what Mark Steyn said he was going to do when he toured Iraq, including Fallujah, right after the war.