Posted on 06/22/2004 2:17:19 PM PDT by traumer
A South Korean hostage threatened with execution in Iraq has been killed, officials in Seoul have confirmed.
The beheaded body of translator Kim Sun-il, 33, was found between Baghdad and the town of Falluja. Mr Kim was working for a security company supplying the US military when he was abducted last week.
South Korea rejected demands from the al-Qaeda-linked kidnappers that it end its military role in Iraq in return for Mr Kim's life.
This is what your hands have committed - your army has not come here for the sake of Iraqis, but for cursed America
Militants' statement The BBC's Charles Scanlon, in Seoul, says the killing will be a traumatic shock for a country that had dared to hope the hostage's life would be spared.
Earlier footage of Kim Sun-il pleading for his life galvanised public opinion. Peace campaigners took to the streets, while diplomats and politicians appealed to the hostage-takers.
On Tuesday evening, Arabic satellite channel al-Jazeera said it had received a new video tape saying that Mr Kim had been killed by a group identifying itself as Jamaat al-Tawhid and Jihad.
Last month, the same group - led by a top al-Qaeda member, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - beheaded American hostage Nick Berg. It has also been responsible for a number of other attacks, including the killing of Iraqi Governing Council head Ezzedine Salim.
US President George W Bush condemned the killers, saying: "The free world cannot be intimidated by the brutal actions of these barbaric people."
It breaks our heart that we have to announce this unfortunate news
South Korea foreign ministry spokesman In the latest footage aired on al-Jazeera, Mr Kim was shown kneeling on the ground in front of five masked men.
His shoulders were heaving, his mouth open. He wore a bright orange jumpsuit and matching blindfold.
The part of the tape broadcast did not show him dead, but the presenter said Mr Kim had been beheaded.
One of the masked kidnappers read a statement addressed to the Korean people, saying: "This is what your hands have committed. Your army has not come here for the sake of Iraqis, but for cursed America."
'I don't want to die'
South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Shin Bong-kil said Mr Kim's body was found by the US military on Tuesday evening between Baghdad and Falluja.
"It breaks our heart that we have to announce this unfortunate news," he said.
South Korea's Baghdad embassy confirmed the body was Mr Kim by checking a picture of the remains that it received by e-mail from the US military.
Following news of the killing, Seoul repeated that it would go ahead with plans to deploy 3,000 troops to northern Iraq, to add to a force of 600 already in the country.
But all South Korean civilians except essential personnel were to be evacuated from Iraq, the foreign ministry said. Only about 22 South Korean civilians are still thought to be in Iraq.
In a previously released two-minute tape - first aired on al-Jazeera on Sunday - Mr Kim was shown begging for his life.
He was seen screaming: "Korean soldiers, please get out of here. I don't want to die. My life is important."
Hundreds of ordinary South Koreans e-mailed al-Jazeera trying to convey appeals for mercy to the militants.
More than 20 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq in recent weeks and at least four have been killed.
Some of the gangs carrying out the kidnapping appear to have financial motives, but there is increasing evidence that Islamic militants from neighbouring countries are involved.
I am sorry for this guy, and I hope to hell I am never in his shoes, but if I am, I hope I don't beg for my life to these vermin. I hope I keep my mouth shut with all the willpower I have and do like that Italian guy, and die with valor. I am very sorry about what happened to this guy, but when I heard about him begging, I wished he wouldn't do it. I know it's nothing for me to say so, not being in his shoes. And I hope I never am. But if I am, I pray that I will have the strength and courage to accept death and not give these animals the satisfaction of seeing me suffer.
They'd have to shoot me, 'cause I sure as hell wouldn't let them capture me without a gunfight.
"I don't want to die. My life is important."
Don't we all feel that way ?
If "these people" keep acting this way, they may find that they are no longer welcome here.
We learned during WTC911 that we must never go along with terrorists. Fight like they did on the 4th airliner. Don't worry about fighting for your life, that's gone the instant they pick you. Just fight with everything you've got.
Of coarse, it's not always possible to make any attemt at escape. But people do often pass-up at least one (desperate) opportunity. You should always be waiting for that slim chance and be ready to go for it.
Yet the same media employees refuse to show 9/11 images and images of other victims of radical Islam. They fear stirring up public opinion against our enemies?
I say our enemies, not the enemies of the mainstream media employees. They are neutral, remember?
I know that mainstream media employees are losing; ratings nose-dive, ad revenue way down, etc.
But it just ain't fast enough. Can't we push harder somehow 'til they are gone -- or until we can get Americans in there?
Islam is pure evil. It is time for Western countries to strip Muslims of any citizenship rights and begin shipping them back to a country of their choice.
Don't wait. Fight instantly. If you happen to destroy the kidnappers, then you are a successful warrior and will be both feared and honored. If you go down fighting, then you will be remembered with respect, even by the terrorists.
Only the Japanese took as much delight in the torture murder and beheading of those they captured and conquered...
They beheaded many of our guys...
The Muslims are worthy of the same effort it took to defeat the Japs..
And the defeat of Islam is as important to our survival as was the defeat of Japan
imo
"The Muslims are worthy of the same effort it took to defeat the Japs... "
You mean to drop the Big One ? The problem is WHERE...?
Oh, I dunno...maybe?:
Hiroshima = Mecca
Nagasaki = Medina
Might convince them, might not. Perhaps we could start with pig blood bombs, see if that works first...
Looks like Michael Berg's/ANSWER's plan has worked out perfectly in the sense of their response in blaming Bush/Rumsfeld and demanding a pull out encouraged many more of these beheadings being that it was the exact response the terrorists were looking for. Fortunatley, the rest of the victim's families aren't following suit in this blame game.
I'm with you. Bomb that mutha. Do it TODAY.
Nothing against the Korean, I cant say i would act differently but that Italian.......what a man!!!!
I think they refer to it as "Haj"...
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