Posted on 12/09/2005 8:37:58 AM PST by NorthOf45
Hostages' group on wrong side
Toronto Sun
By Peter Worthington
December 9, 2005
It's possible to have sympathy for people whose actions you consider foolish, reckless and futile.
So it is with those four members of the Christian Peacemakers Teams (CPT) in Iraq who've been taken hostage and whose captors have extended their execution date to Saturday.
Originally, their captors, something calling itself the Swords of the Righteous Brigades, vowed to execute all four yesterday if Britain and the U.S. didn't free all Iraqi prisoners in their custody immediately. Clearly, this isn't going to happen.
The fact that the kidnappers even contemplated that Britain and the U.S. would comply, is testimony to their nutbar status.
However, all is not lost.
In fact, if I were a betting person, I'd bet that a way will be found for the captors to release these guys because they are clearly on the side of the "enemy" and not the side of America or its allies.
The vigils and prayer sessions on behalf of the hostages around the world don't mean much, but the appeals of Hamas, Palestinian groups, and hitherto militant mullahs may register with the Swordsmen.
But don't count on it.
The CPT has a record of dabbling in politics under the guise of religious motivation.
They were among the "human shields" who came to Baghdad to deter the 2003 U.S. bombing campaign.
By going to strategic sites, they believed the Americans wouldn't bomb them. Dumbos.
They scattered like quail when the war began -- or were kicked out.
The CPT describes itself as "an organized, non-violent network alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter-group conflict."
Initiated by Mennonites and Quakers in 1984, CPT placed "violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and militarized areas of the world ... in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the non-violent power of God's truth and love."
If that sounds altruistic -- it isn't.
In Iraq, CPT seems mostly intent on interfering with U.S. efforts to encourage security and stability.
Ironically, it is U.S. soldiers who are prepared to risk their lives to save these guys -- two Canadians, a Brit and a Yank who oppose the military and what it is trying to do.
CPT says its role in Iraq is "to expose abusive acts by U.S. armed forces and support Iraqis committed to non-violent resistance."
Consider the world: Since 1995, in the West Bank (Hebron) CPT says it is "engaged in non-violent opposition to Israeli military occupation" and harassment.
CPT is active in Arizona, along the Mexican border, "to challenge U.S. immigration policies" that try to halt the inflow of illegals.
Whenever an Indian band in the U.S. or Canada is in confrontation with authority, CPT invariably sides with the Indians.
It wants the U.S. Army's School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., shut down because it claims graduates commit "some of the worst abuses of human rights in Latin America."
CPT supporters gather every month to pray for world peace in front of the Army War College at Carlisle, Pa.
In Canada, CPT campaigns against racism in Kenora, Ont., and supports Ojibwas at Grassy Narrows in blocking logging trucks.
CPT supports aboriginals in Nova Scotia who challenge fishing limits, and supports the Dudley George inquiry.
The motto of CPT is: "Getting in the Way," which they've done fairly successfully.
On a human basis one can sympathize with the plight of Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Sooden, and their co-religionists Norm Kember (British) and Tom Fox (American).
But what else did they expect?
Their hope was to provoke Americans, not Iraqis.
CPT is an admirer of Mahatma Gandhi -- but Gandhi shrewdly used passive resistance against an enemy like the British -- not Cossacks or the Mongol Horde.
CPT would be wise to steer clear of Iraq.
Where were these "Christians" while Saddam was murdering thousands? Why aren't these "Christians" in North Korea now, if they're looking for injustice?
Peter Worthington Ping
The IslamoFascits will release these folks in order to create a deeper divide in the West.
Canada Ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this Canada ping list.
$20 says the whole "kidnapping" is a stunt.
"In fact, if I were a betting person, I'd bet that a way will be found for the captors to release these guys because they are clearly on the side of the "enemy" and not the side of America or its allies."
They should get the usual treatment ... .
The morning line is 4-1 that it's a stunt.
Do you need $5 that bad? ;^)
I wonder if put kidnapping and killing by kidnappers on the list of lethat inter-group conflict.
Probably not, because they are so pure that surely, the gentle terrorists wouldn't harm them.
Sanctimonious morons.
Side bet-
At least 1 is a Methodist, and at least 1 is an Episcopalian
So that leaves the other 2... care to guess ?
Hold on, now - I think we should honor these fruitcakes' wishes and leave 'em be. After all, we wouldn't want to potentially injure or frighten anyone by trying to rescue them...
Or Sudan? Or Syria? Or...
extra info on CPT thanks to Davis Horowitz/Frontpage Magazine:
http://www.discoverthenetwork.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=7204
Assuming the unspecified two are the Canucks, I would guess they are congregants of the nation-wide Canadian Church of Christ, Sanctimonious.
John Kerry ( actually served in Vietnam) said today we can't send US troops to attempt a rescue because that would terrorize the terrorists.
Official Supporting Groups
CPT is guided by a Steering Committee of representatives from these officially-endorsing agencies and groups:
Denominations
Church of the Brethren
Friends United Meeting
Mennonite Church Canada
(Peace and Justice Ministries)
Mennonite Church USA
(Peace and Justice Support Network)
Organizations
Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
Brethren Peace Fellowship
Every Church a Peace Church
On Earth Peace
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
Yep - I was right!
(whose captors have extended their execution date to Saturday.)
If I were Bush, I'd play the role Danny Devito played in a movie where he was trying to kill his wife and she was kidnapped before he could do it. Following was the funniest instance of a husband trying to goad his wife's kidnappers into killing her.
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