Posted on 11/29/2005 4:22:38 PM PST by mypetjawa
The 'Christian Peacemaker Teams' organization has confirmed the identities of four Westerners kidnapped in Iraq after The Jawa Report first revealed their names earlier today. In addition, the group blamed the U.S. and U.K. governments for the terrorist abductions of their team members. Like many Left wing 'peace' activists, the group decided to condemn the unintended consequences of the U.S. invasion while overlooking the very intentional acts of violence against civilians by terrorists.
More here: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/139797.php
(Excerpt) Read more at mypetjawa.mu.nu ...
Sources tell The Jawa Report that the "The Swords of Righteousness Brigade" may be an offshoot of The Islamic Army in Iraq. The announcement and video were posted on that group's website earlier today. The Islamic Army in Iraq has murdered foreign hostages in the past, including Italian Red Cross worker Enzo Baldoni, and has worked with Abu Musab al Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq in the past. The group routinely murders those suspected of being 'collaborators', 'apostates', and 'spies'.
This is bad news for the hostages if confirmed. If the mesage from the Christian Peacemaker Teams is meant to garner sympathy from the Salafist terror organization, then they are barking up the wrong tree. The only hope for the four Westerners is if the U.S., British, or Iraqi armies find them and liberate them--as they did former hostage Roy Hallums. Ironic, since these are the very people who are risking their lives yet who are blamed by the pacifist organization for the plight of their representatives.
Despite the misguided efforts of the pacifist organization, these four activists are victims of Islamist aggression. We condemn the hostage takers and pray for the immediate release. And, unlike the 'Christian Peacemaker Teams', we hope that the terrorists die at the hands of an angry Marine.
Their press release is below:
"Update on Missing Persons in Iraq"God speed to these and all other hostages still being held and who have been forgotten by the world in Iraq.We were very saddened to see the images of our loved ones on Al Jazeera television recently. We were disturbed by seeing the video and believe that repeated showing of it will endanger the lives of our friends. We are deeply disturbed by their abduction. We pray that those who hold them will be merciful and that they will be released soon. We want so much to see their faces in our home again, and we want them to know how much we love them, how much we miss them, and how anxious and concerned we are by what is happening to them.
We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the actions of the U.S. and U.K. government due to the illegal attack on Iraq and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people. Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has worked for the rights of Iraqi prisoners who have been illegally detained and abused by the U.S. government. We were the first people to publicly denounce the torture of Iraqi people at the hands of U.S. forces, long before the western media admitted what was happening at Abu Ghraib. We are some of the few internationals left in Iraq who are telling the truth about what is happening to the Iraqi people We hope that we can continue to do this work and we pray for the speedy release of our beloved teammates.
We can confirm the identities of those who are being held as follows:
Tom Fox, age 54, is from Clearbrook, Virginia and is a dedicated father of two children. For the past two years, Mr. Fox has worked with CPT in partnership with Iraqi human rights organizations to promote peace. Mr. Fox has been faithful in the observance of Quaker practice for 22 years. While in Iraq, he sought a more complete understanding of Islamic cultural richness. He is committed to telling the truth to U.S. citizens about the horrors of war and its effects on ordinary Iraqi civilians and families as a result of U.S. policies and practices.
Mr. Fox is an accomplished musician. He plays the bass clarinet and the recorder and he loves to cook. He has also worked as a professional grocer. Mr. Fox devotes much of his time to working with children. He has served as an adult leader of youth programs and worked at a Quaker camp for youth. He has facilitated young people's participation in opposing war and violence. Mr. Fox is a quiet and peaceful man, respectful of everyone, who believes that "there is that of God in every person" which is why work for peace is so important to him.
Norman Kember, age 74, is from London, England.He and his wife of 45 years have two married daughters and a 3-year old grandson. He has been a pacifist all his life beginning with his work in a hospital instead of National Service at age 18. Before his retirement he was a professor teaching medical students at St Bartholemew's Hospital in London. He is well-known as a peace activist, and has been involved in several peace groups. For the past 10 years he has volunteered with a local program providing free food to the homeless. He likes walking, birdwatching, and writing humorous songs and sketches. In his younger days he enjoyed mountaineering.
James Loney, 41, is a community worker from Toronto, Canada. He has been a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams since August 2000, and is currently the Program Coordinator for CPT Canada. On previous visits to Iraq, his work focused on taking testimonies from families of detainees for CPT's report on detainee abuse, and making recommendations for securing basic legal rights. James was leading the November 2005 delegation in Iraq when he went missing.
James is a peace activist, writer, trained mediator, and works actively with two Toronto community conflict resolution services. He has spent many years working to provide housing and support for homeless people.
In a personal statement from James to CPT, he writes: "I believe that our actions as a people of peace must be an expression of hope for everyone. My hope in practising non-violence is that I can be a conduit for the transformative power of God's love acting upon me as much as I hope it will act upon others around me."
Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 is a Canadian electrical engineer. He is studying for a masters degree in English literature in Auckland University in New Zealand to prepare for a teaching career. He enjoys art, is active in squash and worked part time as a local squash coach. His family describes him as peaceful and fun-loving and he is known to be passionate about the plight of the underprivileged around the globe. He works tirelessly in his spare time to educate and help others.
More on the forgotten plight of hostages in Iraq here.
Rush Limbaugh today made a very interesting point that these abductions (if that's what they indeed were) occurred at a time when this group was having a lot of trouble stirring interest in its activities.
STUCK ON STUPID
We had better not lose a man trying to rescue these idiots.
They are now officially classified as "human shields", ROTFL.
Methinks they can probably thank Murtha.
why should I give a d!#@ about these people?
ignorance is its own worst enemy, and these
people certainly have worst enemy syndrome.
methinks this is a stunt
Looks fake to me, if I may be more direct here...
These "peace activists" are in league with the terrorists. Their goal? To make America look bad.
And some people on this board don't think that Darwin was right!
you could be correct .... well for this group anyway.
If this is for real the big hand of reality just slapped them up side the head. I'm betting it is a stunt to get ransom money to support the enemy.
I think, the entire "Peacemaker Team" membership,
should all go over to Iraq, to act as negotiators
for their brother members...alone and unarmed, as is
their "philosophy".
What's the problem here?
We all know only the US tortures its captured terrorists.
These peace loving people have nothing to fear, as they were taken by reasonable men who want only peace and love. Clearly they will be released after several days of comfortable chats around the fire, with delicious food at their beck and call. Why, i'll bet they're even getting one or two of those 72 virgins we hear about all the time.
so remember, when the sawing of their throats start, its really an american senator disguised as a terrorist, committing the atrocity. after all, hillary and teddy voted for the war, too.
While in Iraq, he sought a more complete understanding of Islamic cultural richness.
In best Jackie Gleason voice,
"How Sweeeeeeet it is."
Can one picture four more complete loons than these?
He has facilitated young people's participation in opposing war and violence.
Is involved in squash.....
a peace activist, writer, trained mediator, and works actively with two Toronto community conflict resolution services. He has spent many years working to provide housing and support for homeless people.
they can only blame themselves
I'm not convinced it isn't a stunt.
Nor do I care if it's real.
Let that speak about my character what it will, but they are endangering this nation's security and our forces by playing interference for terrorists. They are collaborating with the enemy. The consequences will be accordingly inline with the people they've thrown their lot in.
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