NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4018335.stm

Political leaders have condemned the apparent murder of aid worker Margaret Hassan by her kidnappers in Iraq.
Tony Blair said it was "abhorrent", while Irish premier Bertie Ahern said her kidnappers "stand condemned by... the entire international community".

Mrs Hassan's husband has begged for the return of the body of his wife, who had Irish, British and Iraqi nationality.

A video showing a blindfolded woman being shot in the head has surfaced and has been checked by experts.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said they had concluded Mrs Hassan had "probably" been murdered.

He added: "To kidnap and kill anyone is inexcusable.

"But it is repugnant to commit such a crime against a woman who has spent most of her life working for the good of the people of Iraq."

Mrs Hassan, 59, had lived in Iraq for 30 years.

She was seized by an unknown group in the Iraqi capital on 19 October.

Arabic TV news channel Al Jazeera said on Tuesday it had had a copy of the videotape showing her apparent killing for several days, but had chosen not to broadcast it.

The video apparently shows a man firing a pistol into the head of a blindfolded woman wearing an orange jumpsuit.

A spokesman for Al Jazeera said he presumed the woman was the kidnapped aid worker.

Mrs Hassan's husband Tahseen has appealed to the kidnappers to return his wife's body.

He said: "I beg those people who took Margaret to tell me what they have done with her.

"They can tell me. They can call the helpline. I need her. I need her back to rest in peace."

Mrs Hassan's sisters and brother, Deirdre and Kathryn - who live in London - and Geraldine and Michael Fitzsimons, said in a statement their "hearts are broken".


They said: "We have kept hoping for as long as we could, but we now have to accept that Margaret has probably gone and at last her suffering has ended.

"She had no prejudice against any creed. She dedicated her whole life to working for the poor and vulnerable, helping those who had no-one else."

After Mrs Hassan was kidnapped, the aid worker's colleagues and family repeatedly pleaded for her release.

Canon Andrew White, who founded the Iraqi Centre for Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace in Baghdad, was also involved in negotiations to get Margaret Hassan freed.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today her probable murder showed terrorism and the insurgency in Iraq was "totally out of control".

"I doubt whether there's anybody else who has been so committed to Iraq and the people of Iraq for so long - she was almost revered in Iraqi society," he said.

Canon White pointed out that even the group led by extreme militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had apparently called for Mrs Hassan's release.

But he added: "We've got so many renegade new kind of terrorist operations that some of them have absolutely standards at all - that they would be willing to kill somebody who, in essence, was an Iraqi who has helped Iraqis for many years."

Mrs Hassan was filmed by her captors asking Tony Blair to pull British troops out of Iraq.

Mrs Hassan was driving to her job as director of Care International's Iraq operations when she was seized. The agency has since halted work in the country.

If her death is confirmed, she will be the first foreign female hostage to have been murdered in Iraq amid a recent wave of hostage-takings.
Hassan did more for Iraqis than those insurgents/terrorists will ever do.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4018335.stm
Hassan did more for Iraqis than those insurgents/terrorists will ever do.
Aye, but they thought killing her would make them seem powerful => a good choice for a governmental power. Thick, but there's some twisted logic back there somewhere.

Seems like a very strange choice of person to kidnap and murder. It's almost as if the act was intended to stir up feelings against the insurgents, even amongst iraqis themselves...

The killers of Mrs Hassan didn't seem to be on the same page with anybody. Even al-Zarqawi supposedly pleaded for her release. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3987913.stm
Strange and sad indeed.

www.cnn.com

Heartbreaking picture on the frontpage. What a strange case...strange and deeply tragic.

God damn everyone who voted for george bush to hell.


You are all responsible for this.

The killers of Mrs Hassan didn't seem to be on the same page with anybody. Even al-Zarqawi supposedly pleaded for her release. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3987913.stm
Strange and sad indeed.
Al-Zarqawi wishes he'd thought of it first. Now, with hindsight, what better way to increase support for his move to power in Iraq than to condemn the act? Besides; increase bloodflow to brain; who else would want iraqis to rise up against the insurgents?

God damn everyone who voted for george bush to hell.
You are all responsible for this.

Just the kind of ignorance we need. :(
-----------------------------------------------

Rip. Marge. You've done so much for the Iraqi's. Rip.

Damn the terrorists. It's terrorists like these that pisses me off, murdering those who help the people of Iraq sincerely for the last 30 years.

It all a conspiracy made by the american goverment to hawest compassion from the countrys not supporting the war in IraQ :sniper:

Al-Zarqawi wishes he'd thought of it first. Now, with hindsight, what better way to increase support for his move to power in Iraq than to condemn the act? Besides; increase bloodflow to brain; who else would want iraqis to rise up against the insurgents?
Oh, I was just saying that even that rabid dog was condemning her kidnapping. That's all. If you look at the link I posted, it's like 2 weeks old. To my knowledge al-Zarqawi hasn't condemned the actual killing (yet?). I think he is otherwise occupied at the moment. "Move to power"? I think not. Can't see the Iraqis wanting a Jordanian in any gov't position after the fighting is over...

Oh, I was just saying that even that rabid dog was condemning her kidnapping. That's all. If you look at the link I posted, it's like 2 weeks old. To my knowledge al-Zarqawi hasn't condemned the actual killing (yet?). I think he is otherwise occupied at the moment. "Move to power"? I think not. Can't see the Iraqis wanting a Jordanian in any gov't position after the fighting is over...
So you think all the insurgents are causing problems for the good of their health?

Oh, my God.
I'm learning the news right now by NS. I'm distraught, I've been hoping so much.

So you think all the insurgents are causing problems for the good of their health?
I didn't quite understand that. Could you elaborate?

I didn't quite understand that. Could you elaborate?
Yes, glad to. The reason they're called insurgents is that they come from outside of Iraq. The term is now bandied around to mean almost anyone who picks up an AK-47 in the Middle East. But that's where it comes from.

So why would these people who are from outside of Iraq want to cause trouble against the force that is seen to be occupying Iraq? Not, as previously mentioned for the good of their health, but to establish themselves as a power which has the support of a good proportion of the population.

Given, this is only my conspiracy theory. But it fits.

Man, I had no idea.

I cried when I saw her on the news.
I was cried even harder when that British guy got beheaded. NOT EVEN A NEGOTIATOR! I was furious!

Someone tell me likewise and say that Blair at least sent over some negotiators

RIP Margaret. As a fellow irish person, god rest her soul and grant peace to all her family wherever they may be.

Awful. Just awful. Rest in peace.

Yes, glad to. The reason they're called insurgents is that they come from outside of Iraq. The term is now bandied around to mean almost anyone who picks up an AK-47 in the Middle East. But that's where it comes from.

So why would these people who are from outside of Iraq want to cause trouble against the force that is seen to be occupying Iraq? Not, as previously mentioned for the good of their health, but to establish themselves as a power which has the support of a good proportion of the population.

Given, this is only my conspiracy theory. But it fits.
Okay. Thanks. I understood all the words, but couldn't follow your thought through. Especially what it had to do with my post. I can now.

I still pretty much think al-Zarqawi isn't interested about gaining personal power in Iraq after the fighting is over. If you check his track record, you'll find out he is a travelling salesman of Jihad. He has been active in Jordan, Afghanistan, etc. He goes where ever he thinks he can stirr things up. Currently the best spot seems to be Iraq.

I only brought his name up cos I couldn't understand who'd want Mrs Hassan dead when even al-Zarqawi didn't. That's all.

Rest in peace Margaret, you will be remembered.

The fucking Jihadists are animals. BTW Al Jazeera won't run the video of Mrs. Hassan's execution, but they will run the video of the US marine killing the wounded insurgent. They're almost as fair and balanced as Fox.

The terrorists have made a martyr out of Margaret Hassan.
www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-11/17/xin_43110117085838512951.jpg

The fucking Jihadists are animals. BTW Al Jazeera won't run the video of Mrs. Hassan's execution, but they will run the video of the US marine killing the wounded insurgent. They're almost as fair and balanced as Fox.

No, all Jazeera is way much more serious then F(acho)OX. BTW, the marine was busted while commiting his murder by the press. Imagine what is happening where the camera's aren't around.

What a hero, shooting a wounded rebbel :rolleyes: Hope that that kind of marines will be killed by the Iraqis and that they suffers a long time before dying, they can think about there own murders and terrorisme while dying.

Everybody wen't crazy there.

RIP Margaret :(

No, all Jazeera is way much more serious then F(acho)OX. BTW, the marine was busted while commiting his murder by the press. Imagine what is happening where the camera's aren't around.

What a hero, shooting a wounded rebbel :rolleyes: Hope that that kind of marines will be killed by the Iraqis and that they suffers a long time before dying, they can think about there own murders and terrorisme while dying.

I would have done the same thing.
I'd be thinking that these guys want me dead and they are laying there not
responding; so it could be a trick like detonating themselves when I move in
closer. That soldier didn't do anything wrong - he was being careful.

Man, I had no idea.

I cried when I saw her on the news.
I was cried even harder when that British guy got beheaded. NOT EVEN A NEGOTIATOR! I was furious!

Someone tell me likewise and say that Blair at least sent over some negotiators

blah blah blah imperative to our task blah blah blah no negotiating with terrorists blah blah blah.

That's why.

As for the Marine, I obviously wasn't there, but it doesn't seem like he checked anything, like if the wounded man had his hands anywhere near a weapon / detonator, or indeed if the man was able to use either. What I've heard so far amounts to him acting out of rage and revenge.

I would have done the same thing.
I'd be thinking that these guys want me dead and they are laying there not
responding; so it could be a trick like detonating themselves when I move in
closer. That soldier didn't do anything wrong - he was being careful.
It's a tough call. A court martial will decide if he was justified. Still, kidnapping and killing an aid worker is much more horrific.

Al-Zarqawi wishes he'd thought of it first. Now, with hindsight, what better way to increase support for his move to power in Iraq than to condemn the act? Besides; increase bloodflow to brain; who else would want iraqis to rise up against the insurgents?


>.<

I can just feel the bile rise as I try to avoid thinking... the CIA...

The murder of Margaret Hassan is far worse than the killing by the U.S. marine. If the portrayal we've seen from the media is accurate (and at this point I have no reason to question it) then the marine is guilty of a crime and should be punished. However, that was a snap judgment on his part during the heat of battle. Ms. Hassan's kidnappers, on the other hand, committed cold-blooded murder.

I would have done the same thing.
.

That is why you and the SS are wrong :rolleyes:

I haven't seen the clip. Was it an insurgent with bombs strap to himself or just a normal insurgent with guns and all screaming in pain on the floor?

its because of that american **** who shot the iraqi "playing dead" thanks a fucking lot

The fucking Jihadists are animals.

Animals? The only animal I know that destroys it's own species so brutally and in such vast numbers is Homo Sapiens.

Animals? The only animal I know that destroys it's own species so brutally and in such vast numbers is Homo Sapiens.
Ants too, maybe. Ant collonies have been known to raid each other and eat each other's larva. Miniature genocidal cannibalism.

As for the Marine, I obviously wasn't there, but it doesn't seem like he checked anything, like if the wounded man had his hands anywhere near a weapon / detonator, or indeed if the man was able to use either. What I've heard so far amounts to him acting out of rage and revenge.
The problem with checking is that you have to get close. Your average suicidal terrorist will have unpinned a grenade and have it so it goes off as the soldier moves him.

A minor point the TV crew seem to have missed: from the tape it appears that they were well within the blast radius for a standard grenade had one exploded.

God damn everyone who voted for george bush to hell.


You are all responsible for this.
mind explaining the logic behind this outburst?
As far I'm aware, Margaret Hassan lived and worked in Iraq for 30 years (ie under the regime of Saddam) and felt so safe there she never had bodyguards. Now a few months after the US invade - thanks to GWB - she's kidnapped, mistreated (possibly tortured) and then killed.
And those of us who don't support the war are responsible?
A very big WTF? heading your way.

For the life of me, I couldn't see any rhyme or reason why they kidnapped her. I hope that some good will come of her murder in that the local Iraqis she spent her life helping will now be actively against the insurgents.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4018335.stm


Hassan did more for Iraqis than those insurgents/terrorists will ever do.

WE (the Americans [minus the Kerristas]) are behind you (and in front of you) 110% (Marine talk). You and I know who the Devil is.

mind explaining the logic behind this outburst?

To be fair, a lot of people would like to vote George Bush to hell.