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WSJ: The New Stockholm Syndrome - "It's the infidel West against the Muslim world."
Wall Street Journal ^
| June 29, 2005
| Editorial (full text)
Posted on 06/29/2005 5:10:13 AM PDT by OESY
If a conservative is a liberal who's been mugged, what do you call a Swede who's been kidnapped? Somebody you wouldn't want to cross, that's for sure.
Ulf Hjertstrom has redefined the term Stockholm Syndrome, the bizarre attachment some hostages develop for their captors, first observed during a bank robbery in the Swedish capital more than 30 years ago. No such bonds were forged between Mr. Hjertstrom, a Swedish oil engineer, and the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq, which held him captive for 67 days. "I have now put some people to work to find these bastards," Mr. Hjertstrom told reporters after his release. "I invested about $50,000 so far. And we will get them one by one. These scum should be out of business."
It does sound as if Mr. Hjertstrom has seen a few Charles Bronson movies, though it's impossible not to empathize with his reaction. Mr. Hjertstrom was subject to mock executions and forced to witness the murder of several hostages. Contrast his response with that of Guiliana Sgrena, the Italian journalist accidentally shot by U.S. troops, who said coalition soldiers were ultimately responsible for the kidnappings in Iraq.
Likewise, Georges Malbrunot, one of two French hostages released in December, first did not understand why he and his colleague were held captive since their country had opposed the war. Eventually, though, Mr. Malbrunot came to understand. "Little by little, we came to discover we were really on planet bin Laden," he wrote in Le Figaro. "For them [the terrorists], France is the West, it's a global vision, it's the infidel West against the Muslim world."
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: binladen; bronson; hjertstrom; hostagesfrance; iraq; italy; kidknapping; lefigaro; malbrunot; muslims; sgrena; stockholmsyndrome; sweden; trop; west
1
posted on
06/29/2005 5:10:16 AM PDT
by
OESY
To: OESY
"I have now put some people to work to find these bastards," Mr. Hjertstrom told reporters after his release. "I invested about $50,000 so far. And we will get them one by one. These scum should be out of business." Well said, Mr Hjertstrom.
2
posted on
06/29/2005 5:15:00 AM PDT
by
SIDENET
("You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred")
To: OESY
"Little by little, we came to discover we were really on planet bin Laden,"Large light bulb appears over head.
3
posted on
06/29/2005 5:15:03 AM PDT
by
rhombus
To: OESY
"Little by little, we came to discover we were really on planet bin Laden," he wrote in Le Figaro. "For them [the terrorists], France is the West, it's a global vision, it's the infidel West against the Muslim world."
Boy, those French are right on top of things... Duh...
4
posted on
06/29/2005 5:15:36 AM PDT
by
DB
(©)
To: OESY
one of two French hostages released in December, first did not understand why he and his colleague were held captive since their country had opposed the war.Good Lord it is almost surreal to see how little common sense these people have. Had they not been listening to the Muslim's in their own country? The constant calls for death of the west? Their lack of common sense and feel for knowing whats right and true would be quite hilarious if not so dangerous.
5
posted on
06/29/2005 5:39:10 AM PDT
by
Archon of the East
("universal executive power of the law of nature")
To: Archon of the East
Good Lord it is almost surreal to see how little common sense these people have. Had they not been listening to the Muslim's in their own country? The constant calls for death of the west? Their lack of common sense and feel for knowing whats right and true would be quite hilarious if not so dangerous. The ability to perceive reality is not one of the lefts strong points. The whole leftist philosophy, or perhaps religion, is based on the ability to ignore reality.
6
posted on
06/29/2005 5:45:22 AM PDT
by
marktwain
To: rhombus
"Little by little, we came to discover we were really on planet bin Laden,"If only we could get the Mujahedeen of Iraq to snatch a Jim McDermott or a Sean Penn off the streets of Baghdad....hmmm.
7
posted on
06/29/2005 5:49:20 AM PDT
by
WideGlide
(That light at the end of the tunnel might be a muzzle flash.)
To: marktwain
The whole leftist philosophy, or perhaps religion, is based on the ability to ignore reality.Ignore, reshape, subvert....Sounds almost purposeful!
8
posted on
06/29/2005 5:50:50 AM PDT
by
Archon of the East
("universal executive power of the law of nature")
To: marktwain
The ability to perceive reality is not one of the lefts strong points. The whole leftist philosophy, or perhaps religion, is based on the ability to ignore reality. Funny, I thought they called themselves "reality-based."
;-)
9
posted on
06/29/2005 6:05:43 AM PDT
by
white trash redneck
(Everything I needed to know about Islam I learned on 9-11-01.)
To: WideGlide
The terrorists deserve nothing but a slow and painful death, but isn't wishing mcdermott or penn on them just a little too much?
10
posted on
06/29/2005 6:05:44 AM PDT
by
sticker
To: OESY
No such bonds were forged between Mr. Hjertstrom, a Swedish oil engineer, and the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq, which held him captive for 67 days. "I have now put some people to work to find these bastards," Mr. Hjertstrom told reporters after his release. "I invested about $50,000 so far. And we will get them one by one. These scum should be out of business." Good for Hjertstrom! At least he gets it.
11
posted on
06/29/2005 6:10:09 AM PDT
by
Rummyfan
To: 1234; american colleen; AndyPH; anguish; AzSteven; Bartholomew Roberts; Bushwacker777; ...
![](http://www.freerepublic.com/images/flags/swedenC.gif)
Ping to the Swedish Ping List.
This is one of a couple new threads on this story today.
To: OESY
"It does sound as if Mr. Hjertstrom has seen a few Charles Bronson movies."Sounds more like Hjertstrom oughtta be prosecuted for hatespeach!
13
posted on
06/29/2005 6:53:22 AM PDT
by
Savage Beast
(The homeowner should be paid DOUBLE the "fair market value." --Yooper)
To: Archon of the East
The whole leftist philosophy, or perhaps religion, is based on the ability to ignore reality."Ignore, reshape, subvert....Sounds almost purposeful!"
Unintelligent Design.
To: Archon of the East
Good Lord it is almost surreal to see how little common sense these people have. Had they not been listening to the Muslim's in their own country? The constant calls for death of the west? Their lack of common sense and feel for knowing whats right and true would be quite hilarious if not so dangerous.
I remember a while back, there was an article posted here about one Swedish woman who lives in Malmo (a large concentration of Moslems live there) felt so unsafe that "she misses New York City" because it was much safer there.
15
posted on
06/29/2005 8:08:22 AM PDT
by
Nowhere Man
(Lutheran, Conservative, Neo-Victorian/Edwardian, Michael Savage in '08! - DeCAFTA-nate CAFTA!)
To: OESY
The Stockholm Syndrome treated by the Baghdad Solution!
I hope Mr Hjertström soon will have a whole new bunch of trophy heads to adorn his walls.
16
posted on
06/29/2005 9:48:45 AM PDT
by
ScaniaBoy
(Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
To: Rummyfan
According to Swedish papers, his crew who is "the best money can buy" has already taken care of two of them.
When asked what "taken care of" implied.
Mr. Hjertstrom replied that he didn't ask, but he had some ideas.
Cheers.
17
posted on
06/29/2005 11:18:14 AM PDT
by
Eurotwit
(WI)
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