Tale of Two Hostages

Here is a tale of two hostages, one British, one German...Both are Arabic-speaking and Islamophile, both on self-appointed missions to "help" the Palestinians and the Iraqis respectively. Both were initially treated as heroines by the British and German media; both ended by colluding with their kidnappers, and both gave Islamism a propaganda coup.

Faced with this hullabaloo, the new coalition government of Chancellor Angela Merkel panicked. A ransom, believed to be as much as $5 million, was paid, thereby rewarding blackmail and offering an incentive for future abductions.

But the kidnappers wanted more...One of the most notorious terrorists in German custody, Mohammed Ali Hamadi, was given early release from his life sentence and flown immediately to his native Lebanon. This broke solemn undertakings given to the United States after Hamadi was convicted of the murder of U.S. Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem in 1985 during the hijacking of a TWA airliner by Hezbollah. This act of appeasement has set a disgraceful precedent and leaves an indelible stain on the reputation of Ms. Merkel and the honor of the German Federal Republic.

While Ms. Osthoff was taking a shower at the German embassy in Baghdad after her release, intelligence officers found that she was secretly carrying "several thousand dollars" concealed in her clothes. The serial numbers on the banknotes matched those on the ransom money.

As for the hostages who identify with their kidnappers: This is not only a psychological phenomenon (the "Stockholm syndrome"), but a political one, too. Europe is being held hostage by the Islamists in its midst. If our leaders are not yet ready to stand up to them, the women of Europe might as well buy their burkas now.

As for Burton:

"Ms. Burton was kidnapped with her elderly parents in December, while on a tour of Gaza.

'snip'

The kidnappers held the Burtons for only four days, but in a quiet holiday period the story led the British news agenda. This gave various terrorist groups, including Hamas, an opportunity to pose as moderates by calling for their release. Public figures in Britain appealed on behalf of the Burtons, prayer vigils were held and great emphasis was laid on the fact that Ms. Burton was a committed pro-Palestinian activist.

The shadowy group holding the Burtons, the Brigades of the Mujahidin, demanded that Britain and the European Union put pressure on Israel over various grievances. No ransom seems to have been demanded or paid, but the kidnappers apparently received assurances that a protest would be lodged about the "no-go" zone along the Gaza border. This is designed to protect Israelis against the terrorist incursions, which still continue and are likely to increase, assuming that Hamas does well in yesterday's Palestinian election.

'snip'

Once Ms. Burton was released, she praised her kidnappers for being "kind," adding that they had "a sensitive side"...The British Foreign Office has apparently made no objection to Ms. Burton's insouciant attitude"

Fear: fear of your family being tortured, Fear of being tortured yourself, Fear of How the Public Might Judge You if you DON'T choose what seems to be the easist solution. I've got 25 years of experience backing up these axioms....unfortunately, relatively few people, including those in Iraq and even Iran and Syria, have enough of an understanding to sketch the margins of peril....and those who DO wind up in power and in too much Fear of Public How the Public Might Judge You to make the correct decision.

In a way, that means the government of Iraq IS, indeed, working desperately hard to create a free, open and just society....but it also means more stories like these.

Islam has only one weapon: FEAR.

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