An Australian is hostage in Iraq and Australians couldn't give a stuff

[Alexander's Horse]

This guy, a contractor to the US military, has been held for more than a week now. The government and his family is doing all they can to secure his release but the strange thing is the story is already slipping to page 6.

The public is not unsympathetic, most people hope he's released unharmed, but the other strong feeling is he was a silly bugger for going there. People are hardly invested emotionally in it at all.

I don't even read the stories in the paper about Iraq any more. Sign of the times.

[chequita guevara]

More and more, Ozzies seem like sensible people.

[Alexander's Horse]

The government is a different story. They are trying to beat it up, all that "this shows why we are fighting in Iraq" yada yada, "we won't give in to terrorists" blah blah blah. The Prime Minister is positively salivating at the prospect of a hostage execution, which willl show what a strong leader he is - its sickening the way he's carried on. He says he's dreaded this happening etc. You can tell he's getting off on it.

But the public just isn't listening. We all got tax cuts in the budget. That's the big story here right now.

[Dinner]

If they got information from an informant then I'm sure the Coalition would attempt to rescue the hostage but the reality is that paying ransoms is a bad idea. If you do that then you put a price on everyone's head and you will end up with more kidnappings.

[Dinner]

I am firmly convinced the KGB had the right policy on kidnappers. In the 1970's it was all the rage in Lebanon to kidnap foreigners for ransom. A few western governments were foolish enough to pay so kidnappings of westerns shot up. Eventually some militant group decided to abduct some Soviet citizens so the KGB went to work finding out everything they could about this group.

The learned who the leaders were, who the foot soldiers were, what towns they came from, who their families were, etc.. Then the KGB nabbed as many of these guy's family members as possible, tossed them in jail, had an ear cut off of each family member, and then mailed the ears to the terrorists.

The Soviet hostages were released without harm and no one bothered to take Soviet hostages again.

[St Leo]

Re: An Australian is hostage in Iraq and Australians couldn't give a stuff

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
This guy, a contractor to the US military, has been held for more than a week now.

A mercenary by any other name still smells as sweet.

[Dinner]

Re: Re: An Australian is hostage in Iraq and Australians couldn't give a stuff

Originally posted by St Leo

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
This guy, a contractor to the US military, has been held for more than a week now.

A mercenary by any other name still smells as sweet.

Mercenaries fight for their living while guys who drive buses or who work at power plants don't.

[Az]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I am firmly convinced the KGB had the right policy on kidnappers. In the 1970's it was all the rage in Lebanon to kidnap foreigners for ransom. A few western governments were foolish enough to pay so kidnappings of westerns shot up. Eventually some militant group decided to abduct some Soviet citizens so the KGB went to work finding out everything they could about this group.

The learned who the leaders were, who the foot soldiers were, what towns they came from, who their families were, etc.. Then the KGB nabbed as many of these guy's family members as possible, tossed them in jail, had an ear cut off of each family member, and then mailed the ears to the terrorists.

The Soviet hostages were released without harm and no one bothered to take Soviet hostages again.

No need to cut off their ears, otherwise, this plan of action seems great.

I'd simply kidnap them, and make the kids go to normal schools

[Dinner]

The ears are the best part. It showed they were willing to seriously hurt people the terrorists cared about and that the KGB wasn't joking around. If the hostages get harmed then the next package will have half of your family's heads in a box.

[Az]

I agree that this is awesome ( literally), but I'd rather not completely stoop the terrorists' level.

[Lancer]

"I am firmly convinced the KGB had the right policy on kidnappers. In the 1970's it was all the rage in Lebanon to kidnap foreigners for ransom. A few western governments were foolish enough to pay so kidnappings of westerns shot up. Eventually some militant group decided to abduct some Soviet citizens so the KGB went to work finding out everything they could about this group.

The learned who the leaders were, who the foot soldiers were, what towns they came from, who their families were, etc.. Then the KGB nabbed as many of these guy's family members as possible, tossed them in jail, had an ear cut off of each family member, and then mailed the ears to the terrorists.

The Soviet hostages were released without harm and no one bothered to take Soviet hostages again."

Disgusting! These family members, women and children, brothers, sisters, parents..., are innocent of the crime that they are being persecuted for.

Hacking off these people's ear is a crime in itself. Can you imagine if the US did this in Iraq? Go find the families of suicide bombers and hack them up?

Horrific...

For some silly reason this gets me thinking of how Annikin (sp) Skywalker becomes Darth Vader.

Anyway, at one level I'm really revolted by this, at another I see the sense of it. Protect your people. Still, I'm very glad the decision whether to do such a thing is not mine. If it was my decision, I couldn't do the women and children.

[Dauphin]

Sounds good, but its real bad PR.

[Dinner]

Oh, it would never work in a democracy but the Soviets found an effective way to convey the message that you don't screw with their people.

[Nacht]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Oh, it would never work in a democracy but the Soviets found an effective way to convey the message that you don't screw with their people.

They probably didn't want any contenters in screwing their own people.