Iraq abductions stun embassies across Baghdad

[Judi Lynn]

Iraq abductions stun embassies across Baghdad
Kidnappings stymie Allawi's effort to bolster international help, chill diplomatic community.

By Hannah Allam
Knight Ridder Newspapers
July 27, 2004


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A new wave of kidnappings has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic community in Baghdad, virtually shutting down most embassies and thwarting Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's efforts to drum up international support for his fledgling government.

Insurgents Monday kidnapped two Jordanian drivers, the latest in a string of kidnappings, the most brazen of which was the daylight seizure of a heavily guarded Egyptian diplomat Friday. He was released unharmed Monday.

The latest hostage-takers, an Islamic militant group calling itself the Mujahedeen Corps, repeated now-familiar conditions for the release of the Jordanians: Their employer must cease work in Iraq or the men will be killed within 72 hours, according to a video shown on Arabic-language satellite television. Similar demands were made for many of the 13 hostages grabbed by guerrillas in the past week.

The kidnapping epidemic underscores the inability of Iraqi and U.S. security forces to rein in an increasingly sophisticated insurgency that has turned to hostage-taking as a high-profile way of spreading its militant views and derailing political and reconstruction progress in Iraq.
(snip/...)

http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/165689-5276-010.html

[saigon68]

1. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

"We are winning their Hearts and Minds", he further proclaimed!

[dbt]

4. Goooooooooooood Morning, saigon68!

I was wondering where you were lately!

:hi:
dbt

[saigon68]

6. Been around

Just laying low until the real campaign starts.

IT WILL BE EXCITING

[leftchick]

9. the campaign in Iraq?

The Arab uprising against the occupiers Part II?!

[saigon68]

11. Certainly possible LC

given what is going on there now

[IndianaGreen]

2. The entire purpose of the kidnappings is..

to show that Allawi cannot govern. The insurgents have already won on the argument that the US puppet Allawi regime should not be in power, now they are showing that they are as inept as Paul Bremer.

[Disturbed]

3. Puppet Regimes

Most do not last long. Rule by fear and no respect does not garner support from the masses. The Occupation must cease and Multi-Corps must pull out. The Iraqis need to sort out their own future and economic aid and guidance will be accepted once a semblance of order has been reached. The US cannot impose it's concept of "democracy" on a nation. It was a foolish notion promoted by foolish people.

[leftchick]

5. it was an INSANE notion....

promoted by the insane neo-cons. :grr:

[bemildred]

7. Some sovereignty, eh?

Allawi cannot govern.
The Coalition of the Crumbling cannot provide security.
And meanwhile the fundies grow in power every day.

[0007]

8. Ayad Allawi and John Negroponte go hand in hand

John Negroponte is a controversial figure because of his involvement in covert funding of the Contras and his covering up of (and possible involvement in) human rights abuses carried out by CIA-trained death squads in Honduras in the 1980s. He is accused of sponsoring terrorism for supporting the Contra insurgency against the left wing Sandinistas, the first ever democratically elected government of Nicaragua. He is also accused of inciting Contra attacks on civilians.

I sure the Iraqis know all about John Negroponte as well as they know all about Ayad Allawi.

Maybe we'll see 'em one day in orange suits?

[Judi Lynn]

12. We can dream, can't we? True monsters.

_Bush brings them all together. What a group picture his cronies would make, right? ~ shudder ~

[snippy]

10. Will the Next Bush War go as well as Iraq? n/t