Japan demands Iraq hostages release, won't pull out

reuters.com ^ | 08 Apr 2004 13:40 | reuters

[show me state]

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan has no plan to withdraw its troops from southern Iraq and demanded the immediate release of three civilian hostages taken by a previously unknown Iraqi group, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

A hitherto unknown Iraqi group issued a video of three Japanese hostages, including a woman, on Thursday and vowed to "burn them alive" if Japanese troops did not leave Iraq.

A statement by Saraya al-Mujahideen (Mujahideen Brigades), shown on the video aired by Al Jazeera television, said Japan had three days to withdraw its forces.

[BrooklynGOP]

If they hurt those hostages, they should be shot on the spot when caught.

[jocon307]

Hey, who ever thought as Americans we'd be saying: GO JAPS!

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[areafiftyone]

((((PING)))))

[man of Yosemite]

The Japanese Prime Minister should respond by sending 10,000 more troops. Every action by these terrorists should be met by planes filled with soldiers.

[tkathy]

The Japanese have always been known for toughness. This will be a real test of their resolve.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Government speaking here. Japanese public not widely in favor of SDF troops over there.

And this statement is possible is because the J hostages are still alive and there has been no brutal footage (yet, thank goodness) of burned, lynched or mutilated bodies.

If they are killed, it will bring a big PR backlash to Koizumi in Japan.

[DustyMoment]

. . . and vowed to "burn them alive" . . .

Ah, yes, another branch of the peaceful religion of Islam heard from. Can you imagine ANY of these threats coming from a christian?

[Gefreiter]

The Japanese are mindful of their past, but that makes them pacifists today.

Isn't it possible to understand their past but not be afraid of their military today? And what population would see their people captured and threatened with torture and NOT want to go in and kick ass? I mean, besides Lefties.

[show me state]

Japanese public not widely in favor of SDF troops over there.

In your opinion, were the Japanese hostages selected as opposed to just being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

[austinite]

Thank You so much Spain....

[cripplecreek]

Ive been thinking that myself. All of this has rampped up considerably since the spanish surrender.

As for Japan, it might not be a good idea to piss them off. We see them as docile but forget that they are capable of brutality on a shocking scale. The Japanese used to bet on beheading contests in their POW camps. The Japanese shocked the most coldhearted NAZI of the day.

[Griffon76]

I wonder if these courageous hostage takers.. would have had the courage to take... oh say some of the Japanese hand to hand fighters of WWII. I highly doubt it. Down with radical Islamo-Fascists, they are a curse to our world.

[Diogenesis]

GOTTA SEE THIS-War for Enduring Freedom 4/8/04 - Fallujah, Abu Ghraib, Sadr City, Nasiriyah, Kirkuk, Mosul, Najaf

[MattinNJ]

I gaurantee that if they torch those Japanese that there will be a sequel to the Rrape of Nanking.

Of course I never thought I would see the day that Spaniards would bend down on their knees to the Moors.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Come on Japan....Time to get Bushido on their a$$es.

[Alia]

My prayers are for the hostages: My praise for Japan's position on this.

[RonHolzwarth]

This proves YET AGAIN what scum we are fighting,,,