Iraq militants threaten to kill American

[twilight]

BAGHDAD (AP) — Militants on Saturday threatened to kill and mutilate Thomas Hamill, an American civilian captured during the ambush of a convoy west of Baghdad. Also Saturday, the kidnappers of three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq said they will release them within 24 hours, the Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera reported.

The kidnappers of the Japanese, identifying themselves as the "Muhahedeen Squadron," said they made the decision after mediation by the Islamic Clerics Committee, an Iraqi Sunni Muslim organization, Al-Jazeera reported.

In a statement, the kidnappers urged the Japanese public to press their government to withdraw its troops from Iraq, the station said.

Videotape delivered to Al-Jazeera, as well as Associated Press Television News, on Thursday showed the three Japanese — two aid workers and a journalist — blindfolded and threatened by masked men with guns and knives.

The kidnappers threatened to burn the hostages alive if Japan did not promise within three days to pull its troops out of Iraq.



Above photo: Thomas Hamill, shown in this undated image from a videotape given to the Al-Jazeera television network, was captured in a convoy ambush.
AP

more here ...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-04-11-hostage_x.htm?csp=24

:dem:

[bedtimeforbonzo]

1. screw him

and the rest of his halliburton mercinary buddies.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[twilight]

3. welcome to the DU but ...

:hi: You might think twice before you post something as inflammatory as this. Not everyone on this forum hates America ...

Edited ... for the sake of a human life; one that has a family

:dem: :kick:

[Prodemsouth]

4. You should both be ashamed of yourselfs this is a tragic situation all

way around.

[BeachBuckeye]

5. You can bet....

That his radical post is already posted on the freeper's site as an example of the "UnAmerican" Du'ers.

[Prodemsouth]

8. I put the alert out on that one to mods.. I hope they take action.

I tried to be nice last night when people were posting similar comments last night. I said I understand their anger at Halliburton, but this man has a family as do the people of Iraq. We need to be careful here. Such comments are an embarrassment to DU and the anti war movement. Thanks for your support.

[twilight]

6. agree

While I am no fan of Halliburton, I do not like seeing anyone killed in this unjust "war". Sure, it isn't right (Halliburton), but nonetheless, I hope that this man isn't killed and/or tortured.

The Iraqis have themselves a real American here to toy with. They let the Japanese and British go ... but not this guy.

I believe they are doing this to show to the world their hatred of Americans. It is sad that another life will likely be lost as they too play this "war" game.

:dem:

[ultramega]

7. I just keep thinking about his family.

And Shoshanna Johnson. I read that her family first saw her on tv before they even knew that she was kidnapped, they were channel surfing and clicked on Telemundo and there she was on the tv screen. What hell this must be to see a loved one like that and be able to do nothing...

[True_Blue]

9. Bush: I'm on vacation dammit !!!

Notice the leaders of other countries personally intervened for the hostages, but Bush is totally relaxing on his ranch in Crawford, TX trying to decide whether to go fishing or quail hunting.

[psychopomp]

10. Not PM Koizumi of Japan

He put his Chief Cabinet Secretary on the case to negotiate from Jordan and told the families of the hostages that he would not meet them personally because there is "nothing to talk about."

Koizumi refuses to meet relatives of hostages in Iraq