BS: Norman Kember freed

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST,dianavan
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 09:03 PM

This kidnapping was not for money.

They were demanding that all Iraqi prisoners be set free.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 08:52 PM

Don't think they want to be handed back T.
Neither do they want to be used by the folk who started this mess.

I agree with those who think it stupid/foolhardy to go out there in the first place.
We need to put more pressure on our politicians both here and in US to bring an end to our envolvement.....but apathy prevails as usual.

As you say most of these kidnappings are purely criminal...for money, and they prove that the country is far from secure.
When this situation is allied to infiltration of the army and police by fundamentalists and sectarian murders carried out daily, is there anyone left who thinks the war winnable??

With the exception of "mad Tony" I mean.....Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 08:38 PM

Teribus - I heard one of the freed hostages say that although he does not support the war in Iraq, he was grateful to the military for rescuing them.

I think that is considered a word of thanks.

What do you expect? Do you really think that their captivity changed their minds that war is wrong? They aren't taking sides in Iraq. They do not consider anyone to be their enemies.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Teribus
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 08:00 PM

Fair enough Akenaton, we'll just hand them back, they'll probably feel just a little bit appreciative just before they suffer the same fate as their compatriot Tom Fox.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: akenaton
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 06:23 PM

This looks, feels and smells like a "deal".

Co-alition so anxious for any "good press" that they have fabricated some rescue fairytale.
Apparently the hostages were taken to a ground floor room in the building in which they were being held and tied up.
The kidnappers then slipped off into the night, leaving the hostages to be picked up by our forces.
Kember and the Canadians obviously dont want Bush/Blair to make any capital out of this pantomime and are refusing to co-operate in de-briefing.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Teribus
Date: 25 Mar 06 - 08:02 AM

Interesting, not one word of thanks for those who rescued them. Looking at the figures for kidnappings in Iraq, between 20 and 30 Iraqi's are kidnapped each day, as opposed to 400 'foreigners' since May 2003, of whom all but 55 were released unharmed. The kidnappings in general are criminal, the motive being to extract a ransom, not political. The perpetrators, anybody remember in the run up to the US led invasion, Saddam's general amnesty of all criminals held in prison in Iraq, it didn't apply to his political prisoners, those he ordered to be executed.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 09:16 AM

Actually guest I thought they were there to peddle religious propaganda. Not something I really applaud at all.

I'm delighted that they are free

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 08:06 AM

PS maybe if there are any clones about, this thread should be combined with the other one "Remaining Religious Hostages Freed", as the same sentiments seem to be posted on both.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 08:03 AM

Keith - it may have been military but there was no force as the captors had already fled. And if you are a pacifist being freed by military force, what exactly are you supposed to do to prevent it?

Guest - they were there because they are courageous men who are dedicated to working for peace regardless of the risk to their own lives. I think they should be applauded for not accepting the inevitiblility of violence and actively working to try to prevent it.

Finally I think we should remember that the vast majority of hostages in Iraq are not westerners but Iraqis and that they don't have the media spotlighting their plight, or much hope at all of release. They too should be in our thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 07:45 AM

Of course its is good news but
should they have been there in the first place?

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 10:27 AM

Brilliant news.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 08:12 AM

Great good news.
There has been little of it lately.

Should a pacifist allow himself to be released by military force?

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Flash Company
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 07:54 AM

First thing I saw when I logged on this morning, Rescued by 'a multi-national force' apparently.
They're out is the important thing

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 07:36 AM

You mean Nobby Hall?

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 07:25 AM

they found the guy with one arm?

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: MBSLynne
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 07:12 AM

Oh what a relief for their families!!! Great news!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Paul Burke
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:41 AM

Yes, good on them. It will be interesting to see who was responsible when it all comes out.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: gnomad
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:38 AM

Saw thread title, but only one post, suspicious git checks news online, BBC confirms.

Wish I could do the fancy HTML stuff,

HOORAY


I am really pleased for these guys, and hope they come out of it all without too much trauma.

Subject: RE: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:31 AM

Hear hear, there were cheers in this house when we heard the news!
Giok

Subject: BS: Norman Kember freed
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 06:23 AM

Sad though it was to hear of Tom Fox's murder. Good news that Norman Kember & the two Canadian fellow peace activists have been freed unharmed from the criminal gang who kidnapped them.
Some good news from Iraq for once.

RtS