I believe that in most of the world kidnapping is still a crime, and kidnappers usually have ransom demands. Terrorists commit crimes by kidnapping and taking hostages, and they do make their own ransom demands. What do you think the kidnapping that led to the turmoil in the Middle East was all about? Hezbollah committed a crime when they kidnapped two Israelis and held them for ransom. Hamas militants committed a crime when they kidnapped Cpl. Gilad Shilat. None of the kidnapped individuals have been freed and the kidnappers are still at large. As of this moment Hezbollah has not disarmed, and all of the kidnappers and murderers have not yet stood to give an account for their crimes.
What is it about terrorists and terrorist organizations? They lead by example, no matter how insane that example may be and others are crazy enough to follow. As I write this there are two journalists that have been kidnapped in Gaza, and their criminal acts lead them to ask for a ransom as well – the release of prisoners. But they aren’t challenging Israel. They are challenging America.
A previously unheard of Palestinian group released video footage on Wednesday showing two kidnapped Fox News journalists and demanded Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails be released within 72 hours in exchange for the men, a Palestinian news agency reported.
In the footage, American correspondent Steve Centanni, 60, and cameraman Olaf Wiig, 36, of New Zealand, said they were being cared for and appealed for help in winning their release. The footage was the first sign of the journalists since they were kidnapped Aug. 14 from their TV van in Gaza City.
“Our captors are treating us well,” Centanni said.
The statement issued by the Holy Jihad Brigades marked the first time a Palestinian group in Gaza made demands on a foreign country other than Israel. Militant groups have routinely tried to limit the conflict to a fight between Palestinians and Israel. (They call themselves the Holy Jihad Brigades. That bothers me. There is nothing holy about jihad. There is nothing holy about kidnapping and murder.)
Although Palestinian militant groups have often seized foreigners, including members of the media, this is the longest any have been held.
In the video footage, the men, sitting cross-legged on the floor in sweat suits, appear to be in good health. No armed men were seen.
Centanni said the two men had access to clean water, showers, bathrooms, food and clothing.
“So, just want to let you know I am here and alive and give my love to my family and friends and ask to do anything you can to try to help us get out of here.”
Wiig called for help to get them freed.
“If you could apply any pressure on the local government here in Gaza and the West Bank that would be much appreciated by Steve and myself,” Wiig said.
In an attached statement, the Holy Jihad Brigades demanded that Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails be released within three days in exchange for Centanni and Wiig. The group did not say what would happen if the deadline passed unanswered, Ramattan reported.
“We are going to exchange the Muslim female and male prisoners in American jails in return for the prisoners that we have. We are going to give you 72 hours, beginning midnight tonight, to take your decision,” the statement said. “If you implement and meet our condition, we will fulfill our promise. If not, wait, and we are going to wait with you.”
It was not clear whether the group was referring to prisoners being held by the United States in Guantanamo Bay or Iraq, where the U.S. is holding large numbers of Muslim prisoners. (There is the ransom they want to negotiate for. It’s insane. How many times has that been done by terrorists – kidnapping and demanding the release of prisoners? Al Qaeda does it. Hamas does it. Hezbollah certainly does it. They are crimes against humanity.)
Earlier, Ramattan said the kidnappers had demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Past Gaza kidnappings — more than two dozen foreigners have been snatched in the past two years — have followed a clear pattern.
Militants boast of their success within hours, followed by demands for jobs or freedom for jailed relatives, then brief negotiations and finally the release of those abducted, often the same day. Abductees routinely bear tales of being served tea and robust meals of rice and meat, passing the time watching TV or chatting with their captors.
But this kidnapping has not followed that pattern. Until Wednesday, no group had claimed responsibility for the seizure, and the whereabouts of the Fox News journalists remained a mystery despite emotional appeals from family members.
Palestinian government officials, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, have called for the release of Centanni and Wiig. (I seem to remember not to long ago when the Palestinian government was having trouble negotiating with its own Hamas militant (terrorist) branch. They are still holding Gilad Shilat hostage. Now they are trying to negotiate with other terrorists for the release of hostages.)
An Al Jazeera employee said the claim of responsibility came in a video delivered to the TV station. (There is Al Jazeera again, the terrorists favorite TV network.)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/23/world/main1926621.shtml
I PRAY FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF STEVE CENTANNI AND OLAF WIIG.
“KIDNAPPING INNOCENTS AND DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF PRISONERS WHO ARE LOCKED UP BECAUSE THEY AREN’T INNOCENT…DOESN’T THAT SOUND JUST LIKE A TERRORIST?
The other thing that irks me is how terrorists claim they are doing their murderous acts for a higher cause. This style of thinking leads me to include a column I read today by the Reverend John F. Hudson of the West Concord Union Church in my favorite city Concord, Massachusetts.
MAKING HIS first public remarks in more than 1,000 years, God appeared in the heavens yesterday and ordered all world religions founded in His/Her name to “immediately take a well-deserved and long overdue time-out.” At the crowded press conference, hastily called by the angel Gabriel with a trumpet blast, God’s tone switched between anger and sadness as He/She described being frustrated with the boundless cruelty and violence committed in His/Her name.
“It’s not like I haven’t been patient,” said God, who is also known as Lord, Yahweh, Allah, Creator, and the Unnamed One. “I make and give to humans this beautiful gift called Creation. I give them the ability to think and love and imagine. I send them messengers who teach. I provide food for all, sunsets, cute babies, music, even the Internet! But the minute I turn my back, they all start fighting. Holy War this, Crusade that, and Jihad, blah, blah, blah,” He/She said.
Citing the recent war in Lebanon as the final straw, God declared that, until further notice, each of the world’s major religions would be punished. God then sent the religious leaders, with their faiths, to their rooms so they could “sit and think about all the ways they’ve been bad. They can take their sacred books with them to read,” continued God, “but that’s it. No TV, no cellphone, and no iPod.”
God was quick to assure the world that the good works of religion, including peacemaking, disaster relief, healthcare, education, and aiding the poor and downtrodden, would not be affected by the time-out order. “It’s not that everything they do on my behalf is bad,” noted God. “They do a lot of good. But just when you think humanity gets it and has learned how to live with one another, they start bombing each other. They stamp their feet and say, `My faith is better than your faith, my country matters more than your country.’ They act like each owns me and knows my mind. But not anymore. I’m back in town and taking charge!”
Responding to questions, God offered various opinions about life on earth, including reality TV (“No comment: Ask the Devil”), global warming (“I didn’t turn up the thermostat”), and the recent Boston Red Sox-New York Yankees series (“I had to turn it off. It was too painful to watch”).
Asked when religious leaders and their faiths might be allowed down to the dinner table, God responded, “When they learn how to share and get along.” Leaving the press conference through a hole in the clouds, God failed to respond to questions about when He/She might return. The clerics, struck speechless, went to their rooms.
Around the world, wars ceased, poverty plummeted, and millions of people used the time they had scheduled for criticizing others — in God’s name — instead to clean up the earth, get involved in their communities, and wipe out disease.
And, truly, it was good.
