Posted on 10/02/2004 1:07:17 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
ROME, Oct. 1 -- For three weeks, Italians across the country marched, held vigils and lit candles, and politicians united to promote freedom for a pair of humanitarian aid workers held captive in Iraq.
Only days after the safe return of Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, the country and its politicians are divided. The celebration of the "Two Simonas," as the pair came to be known, has been clouded by a wave of recrimination over Italy's participation in the U.S.-led efforts to pacify Iraq.
Detractors called the women ingrates and accused them of being soft on terrorists. Opposition politicians renewed the debate over whether to press for the withdrawal of Italy's 2,700 troops from Iraq.
The criticism began almost immediately upon the arrival of Pari and Torretta in Rome on Tuesday. The pair expressed thanks to a variety of people and groups, including Arab moderates and Muslims. But they failed to single out the government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi organized a diplomatic campaign to free them and, it is widely reported, paid a ransom of $1 million. Berlusconi tepidly denied paying the money.
The women, who opposed the war and Italy's involvement in the occupation, also expressed a desire to quickly return to Iraq, and they called for an end to Italy's involvement. They made no appeal for the freedom of other hostages.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
As we learned under Jimmy Carter, this sort of approach does nothing but make you look weak, and invites more killings and kidnappings by islamic terrorists.. It's probably pointless to suggest to any European country, but perhaps they ought to try kicking ass once in a while. Paying a million dollars has ensured Italians will be a rich target pool. Damn fools.
Hmmmm... this is very telling about their personalities and/or state of mind.
It all ties together. See also:
Raid on Bigley's brother ["Caged" video faked?] ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1233195/posts
"Okay, found that the 2 Simonas were part of "Occupation Watch"
And these are the founders of "Occupation Watch"... Leslie Cagan is there along with some other usual suspects like Medea Benjamin"
Look especially at #'s 77; 141; 144.
You'll find it VERY interesting.
Freed Italian Hostage Says Iraq Rebels 'Justified'
ROME (Oct. 1) - An Italian aid worker held hostage last month in Iraq said guerrillas there were right to fight U.S.-led forces and their Iraqi "puppet government."
In comments that were bound to annoy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government, Simona Torretta also called on Rome to withdraw the troops it sent to Iraq to support its U.S. ally.
Former Captive Backs Guerillas
"I said it before the kidnapping and I repeat it today," she told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published Friday.
"You have to distinguish between terrorism and resistance. The guerrilla war is justified, but I am against the kidnapping of civilians."
Torretta and her Italian colleague Simona Pari, both of them 29, were freed Tuesday, three weeks after being snatched from their Baghdad office. Berlusconi has brushed aside widespread reports that his government paid a ransom of up to $1 million.
Describing the administration of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi as "a puppet government in the hands of the Americans," Torretta said elections planned for January would have no legitimacy: "During my days in detention ... I came to the conclusion it will take decades to put Iraq back on its feet."
Torretta, who lived in Iraq before, during and after the U.S.-led invasion, said she wanted to return despite her ordeal -- but would not do so as long as U.S. troops were there: "I've got to wait until the end of the U.S. occupation," she said.
She said she did know whether Italy bought her freedom from the kidnappers: "If a ransom was paid then I am very sorry. But I know nothing about it ... I believe that (the kidnappers) were a very political, religious group and that in the end they were convinced that we were not enemies."
I doubt they were hostages at all.
Yeah, that appears to be a very real possibility.
Thanks for the LINK.
There was something odd when the news showed them returning to Italy. I couldn't put my finger on it but now it is becoming clearer.
I think many of these people are colluding with their captors. These women especially. I think most of the lefwingers in the NGOs should be forced to leave Iraq.
I guess Italy learned their lesson
Wow, that's interesting to say the least. Makes you wonder about all these people now. It wouldn't surprise me that the left is colluding with the Muslim fanatics. I never suspected that Bigley was a fake but it really makes you wonder. All that Tony Blair doesn't care about me stuff. Don't know what to believe.
These two are either sympathizers (in which case they are treasonous) or are suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Either way, their opinion is invalidated due to bias or diminished mental capacity. Regardless, they would both look great in a burkha.
She sounds like she could be Kerry's new spokesperson.
I think the two Italian women are sympathizers of Iragi terrorists and there is a collusion between them to raise money. Expect them to come back to Iraq and bring more Italians with them for another bout of kidnapping. That means... MORE MONEY PLEASE!!!
It is very suspect.
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