There's got to be a money quote here somewhere...
The hostages were last seen in a silent, 25-second video that aired March 7 on the al-Jazeera satellite network. A message delivered with the video, from the group that claimed to have kidnapped them -- the previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigades -- threatened that they would be killed unless all Iraqi prisoners were released from Iraqi and U.S. prisons...
The "Swords of Righteousness" threatened to kill peace activists.
Few details were immediately available about how the men were released, or whether anyone, including the captors, was injured during the raid. The Associated Press quoted Iraqi police Lt. Col. Falah al-Mohammedawi saying it was believed the operation took place in Mishahda, 20 miles north of Baghdad. Other news reports claimed the operation occurred in Baghdad...
I don't suppose that reason prevailed here...
The trio "have been released as a result of a multinational force operation which took place earlier today," British foreign secretary Jack Straw said in a televised statement. "It followed weeks and weeks of very careful work by our military and coalition personnel in Iraq, and many civilians as well.
"I am delighted that now we have a happy ending to this terrible ordeal," he said.
Straw said he had talked to Kember's wife after the release, and that "She is absolutely delighted, elated with this news."
He expressed his condolences to Fox's family. "There were four hostages captured originally -- including one, an American, Mr. Fox -- and it's a matter of great sorrow to everybody that he was killed a little while ago."
Sorrow? Maybe. But if anything goes with the territory here, it's religious violence. I'm in awe and admiration of the folks with the courage, audacity, and stupidity to pull off a stunt like these peaceworkers tried. But death goes with the territory.
Now, ummm...I wonder if they'll do this to free that Afghan Christian guy...nah, better not go there.
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