"The work he was doing is the work they would like to see done," daughter of hostage to terrorists

ABC Nightline | Dec 6,2005 | Jeff Head

[Gordongekko909]

Paying ransoms is appeasement, with all the attendant ills.

[Jeff Head]

...or, he is truly a comvicted peace activist that wants no violence in any way. That's fine for him...but real life tells us in words that speak with utter violence us that there are those who will do abject and total vilencve against any they come acroiss unless there is an equally strong force keeping them from doing so.

Thank God we have so many willing to stand in the breach to protect the innocent (which this guy is not) and the free who would otherwise be the prey of such criminals as the terrorists we fight against.

[American in Israel]

He specifically stated that if taken hostage he did not want US or Iraqi forces to attempt his rescue with any use of force.

A living will if I ever saw one. By all means, respect it. After all Terri was never given half a chance to live.

[Jeff Head]

But that payment would not have been made or facilitated by our government in any way. I have no doubts that Pearl's family would have done so.

[RushCrush]

I am saddened by the fact that our brave US Military would and will do everything in their power to save this US citizen.

Every day I am completely amazed at what our military will do for us. And I am so thanksful!

[Jeff Head]

Amen.

[Cinnamon Girl]

That's not what I heard, but okay.

[Jeff Head]

...and I am equally amazed and aghast that we have our own citizens, in the face of what has happened, who would so blatantly appease and abett the enemy...thereby putting themselves and our forces in harms way. It is not only the height of irresponsibility...it is a disgrace and a betrayal of the very freedom that these people are blessed to have themselves.

...and they are now finding this out. These Islamic terrorists will butcher them as readily as any other westerner...perhaps even more so.

[Jeff Head]

That's not what I heard,

Wow, I sincerely hope you heard wrong...I really do. To break our policy on this issue would be a tragedy in my estimation and lead to much, much more and worse.

[Cinnamon Girl]

I just remember thinking, when the whole thing was happening, how surprised I was that money was offered. But if you're saying the way it went is that the government allowed the money to be offered, which was privately raised, I could see that.

[VeniVidiVici]

I noticed that the passion was absent from President Bush's voice when he commented that the U.S. would pay no ransom for these kidnapped people.

Interesting that you would say that.

Some have suggested that these folks are in cahoots with the captors. I'm sort of leaning toward the notion that maybe they WANTED this to happen.

Though I think it will have the opposite affect that they desired.

[OrangeBlossomSpecial]

Call me cold-hearted.

Honor his wishes and let him work things out with his captors since he is there to help them and oppose his own country. No need to risk American life to attempt his rescue. He said he didn't want bloodshed on his behalf. He understands the consequences and took the risk of having his head carried out in the basket.

If hundreds more of his kind venture over to Iraq are we to waste men, women, and resources to rescue them?

[Jeff Head]

I am just going on the stated and emphatic policy over years...which I happen to agree with. I hope the government was not involved in any way with the offer, raising, or transfer of any funds for terroists hostages.

But I do not have personal knowledge in the Pearl case either way...just a strong opinion is all.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Just remember that certain people like Mike Gallager and I think also Savage made asses of themselves by saying they thought Daniel Pearl was faking his kidnapping.

[Jeff Head]

I understand you sentiments, but also know, that if our forces gain intelligence that would make a rescue feasable, they will act on it. They are equally convicted to protect and defend US lives and liberty.

[kinghorse]

No kidding. Where did she get the idea the US govt got into the Italian appeasement game with kidnappers. Those people are not going to be saved by capitulation. They might serve a higher purpose though, should they be slaughtered. A lot of active XIANS and what I'll call heritage ethicists (not driven by a belief in God but rather a belief in the Judeo Christian ethic) are going to be seeing red, figuratively and literally.

[Windsong]

Jesus DID say he came not to bring peace, but a sword.

I guess that is why he healed the high priest's ear after Peter hacked it off, right?

The "sword" Jesus refers to is not a sword that draws bloodshed, but rather divides the sheep from the goats..those that will convert from love (Christianity) and those that will convert through violence (Islam).

[SteveMcKing]

I can't believe people are buying this at face value. There is good circumstantial reason to think that THE WHOLE THING IS A FARCE.

(Did I miss some piece of news proving it's real?)

[Jeff Head]

I do not believe these people were in cohoots with their captors, other than the unbelievably misguided notion that they should go over there and try to "help" them...sort of like the foolish, "wanker" human shields.

Thye are just completely liberally idealistic and convicted to bad sense...and yes, it will have the opposite effect that they intended. Thepr captors do not and will not "like", or "appreciate" their help. These poor fools are only now learning that these people simply want to kill us all, including them, and it will lead to their deaths, and it will bring down, and justifiably so, more ordinance on the terrorists heads.

In that sense too...it will have the opposite effect on the terrorists. Good.

[LibFreeOrDie]

In case anyone has any doubts about what intentions these "peace" activists have, read these quotes by their leader:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1533488/posts