MORE CIVILIANS KIDNAPPED (7 Chinese)

sky ^ | 4/11/04 | Sky

[Mark Felton]

Seven Chinese are reportedly the latest civilians to be kidnapped in Iraq.

China's official Xinhua news agency said the civilians were taken hostage by armed men in central Iraq.

The news follows continuing uncertainty over the future of three Japanese civilians being held hostage and the release of eight foreign men described as truck drivers.

Despite the worsening hostage situation, the ceasefire between US troops and insurgents in the flashpoint Iraqi town of Fallujah has been extended.

Mediators said the ceasefire would now stand until 6am (GMT) Monday.

"We remain optimistic because we still have promises from the two parties," said Alaa Makki, a senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party.

"There are a few hurdles along the way, but we will get there."

An initial 12-hour ceasefire passed with only sporadic gunfire.

The extension comes as the city's hospitals reveal that some 600 Iraqis were killed in last week's fighting.

The US military also announced that eight American troops were killed in various attacks in the past two days.

Map of Iraq

It is hoped the extension could now save the life of kidnapped American Thomas Hamill.

His captors had threatened to kill him unless the US stopped its offensive.

The other key developments in Iraq:

:: Insurgents kill eight US soldiers in various attacks in the past two days, the US military says in a statement.

:: A US Apache helicopter is shot down west of Baghdad, killing the two crew, the US army says.

:: One US soldier dies of wounds received in a firefight last week in Baquba, north of Bahgdad, the US military says.

:: Tens of thousands of Shi'ite pilgrims head home after a subdued religious festival overshadowed by a rally in support of a radical Shi'ite cleric and fears of Sunni militant attacks.

:: Two German security officials who disappeared after coming under attack while travelling from Jordan to Baghdad last week have probably been killed, a German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman says. Last Updated: 22:16 UK, Sunday April 11, 2004

[DUMBGRUNT]

The Chinese work for less then the locals?

[monkeywrench]

Civilians? Unh, huh...

[ChadGore]

Why does CNN and Al Gizzera even bother reporting this garbage ?

[Shaun_MD]

Oh yes, piss off the Chinese. Thats a real smart move.
If they are going to start kidnapping Chinese civilians, they would be well advised to start learning Cantonese and Mandarin asap. Why waste time...

[EGPWS]

"We remain optimistic because we still have promises from the two parties," said Alaa Makki, a senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party.

"There are a few hurdles along the way, but we will get there."

This scenario is really a tough one for me to understand, it is like the whole situation is being treated like a prison uprising or the like.

This is war, and a lot of innocent peoples lives are at stake and this worsens as time goes on.

Perhaps my attitude is wrong but it appears that "cashing the chips in" at this time is not a move which places the coalition in an advantageous position.

Dependence on terrorist promises does not appear to be a good position to be in.

[Viking2002]

Kidnapping - the last resort of lunatics and heathens that know they're going down. And I don't think the Chinese are going to be too nice about it, either.

[section9]

This is actually insignificant. Local mobsters and gangbangers are getting involved for the money, that's all.

I seriously doubt that there is a political angle to this. Someone wants a payoff, that's all.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[correctthought]

These people are geniuses, piss off Hindus, the East, the West (except for old Europe, to scared to do anything), piss off the Buddhist, and the Christians. They really are more of a suicide cult and not a death cult.

[EGPWS]

This is actually insignificant. Local mobsters and gangbangers are getting involved for the money, that's all.

This may be true, however can you substantiate this to be just a financial maneuver on the part of gangsters, S9?

[threat matrix]

DEBKA says these are the same guys who organized the kidnappings back in '80s Beirut.

Hard to tell what on their site is Mossad heresay and Arab street rumours..

[threat matrix]

[Starboard]

Perhaps my attitude is wrong but it appears that "cashing the chips in" at this time is not a move which places the coalition in an advantageous position. Dependence on terrorist promises does not appear to be a good position to be in.

There's nothing wrong with your logic. A terrorist's promise is meaningless. Negotiating with terrorists is senseless.

[Shaun_MD]

According to the Islamic propaganda, they want to draw all nations into an conflict in the middle east, where Islam
will destroy the West and reign supreme and yadda yadda yadda. Get the Chinese rolling and they'll be well on the way.

[EGPWS]

And I don't think the Chinese are going to be too nice about it, either.

This could be more of an issue for the coalition than for the "insurgents".

[whadizit]

I just heard on radio that the road from Fallujah to west to Jordan is not secure and HAS NOT BEEN SECURE. What is going on over there?

[Mark Felton]

• From Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam

"In reality Islam is a revolutionary ideology and programme which seeks to alter the social order of the whole world and rebiuld it in conformity with its own tenets and ideals... ...Islam wishes to destroy all States and Governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and programme of Islam..."

• From Sheikh Abdullah Azzam, Join The Caravan

                    "Jihad and the rifle alone. NO negotiations, NO conferences and NO dialogue

• From Osama Bin Laden "Letter to America" Nov. 24, 2002:

"What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you?

(1) The first thing that we are calling you to is Islam.

(a) The religion of the Unification of God; of freedom from associating partners with Him, and rejection of this; of complete love of Him, the Exalted; of complete submission to His Laws;

[Pearls Before Swine]

Oh yes, piss off the Chinese. Thats a real smart move.

They may not be able to project power like we can, but they have a lot less scruples about using it. Not a good idea.

[Chunga]

Oh yes, piss off the Chinese. Thats a real smart move.

The government of China doesn't care about the plight of its citizens. They've systematically killed their own throughout history and I doubt seven hostages will even raise one of their eyebrows.

I think the Chinese will use this as a political sledgehammer to discredit the ambitions of the capitalist members of the coalition. They'll allow their hostages to be burned alive if it comes to it, and 99% of their population will never hear a word.

It will be reminiscent of the mainstream media's handling of the declassified Richard Clarke background briefing.

[Shaun_MD]

If it came to a personal choice between Death and submitting to the abomination that is Islam, I would rather
die. Preferably with a very mean and nasty looking .44 in my hand.