Iraqi kidnappers claim British hostage has committed suicide By John Bynorth ONE OF five British bodyguards held captive in Iraq by extremists has committed suicide just four days before the first anniversary of their hostage taking, the group holding the men claimed last night. The Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq - which is demanding the release of nine prisoners in custody in Basra - claimed in a video released last night that one of the men, named only as Jason, had killed himself out of depression and dispair' at his continued captivity.
The hostages, who include two Scots, were snatched from outside the Iraqi Finance Ministry in Baghdad on May 29 last year. Jason, from England, is claimed by the group to have died on May 25 after the group holding him claimed he had taken his own life as the mental state of the five hostages reached "total depression and despair".
In an embarrassing development for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the group said they have "over and over again" spoken to the UK government in an attempt to resolve the situation, but "the government remains indifferent".
The group went on to claim in the video that "procrastination, foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit suicide. We regret this ... we hold the British government responsible for what has happened and what may happen."
The group also said: "The state of the five hostages had reached total depression and their health and psychological situation had deterorated, which had caused more than one attempted suicide."
The two Scottish hostages include Alan, who is from the outskirts of Glasgow. In another part of the video he urged the UK Government to intervene. Looking drained, Alan said: "I would like for the British government to please hurry."
Late last night British sources close to the negotiations pointed out that although the families had all been informed of the dramatic development there was no independent verification of Jason's suicide. And the source warned that the hostage takers "held all the cards" and described the hostages as pawns in a complicated chess game which the UK government were powerless to control.
The source pointed to the former hostage, BBC TV journalist Alan Johnston, whose captors claimed also had committed suicide before his release last year.
The source said the kidnappers wanted to dominate the news coverage and added: "The government can't do anything. What they have asked for is the release of prisoners who are in coalition custody, and Britain and the US are not going to release them - period.
"What they are hoping is that the UK continues to put diplomatic pressure on the Americans to release the prisoners. One of the difficulties the families have is that they never have full knowledge about what the government is doing behind the scenes. Government policy is clear. They don't negotiate with hostage takers, but there is a lot happening behind the scenes.
"However, there is no proof that he has committed suicide and there was no word that he committed suicide since May - when it's supposed to have happened. We are all surprised by this, although the claims will have to be checked out."
Speaking of claims that the government has not been publicly seen to do enough, the source added: "Having a public appeal doesn't necessarily have any impact because you are talking about some pretty hard core bad guys."
Officials from the security company GardaWorld, who some of the men worked for, have contacted all the families since the revelations emerged. A family friend of one of the Scottish hostages added: "It's very hard to verify the claims. All we know is that it's not our friend and we don't want to speculate any further."
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Posted by: Supershug, Eaglesham on 12:58am Sun 20 Jul 08
Sorry, but much as I deplore this war and sympathise with those held and their families, there can be no people more aware of the risks in the region than those seeking to earn high amounts of money working in security in a war zone.
Aid workers or journalists are a different matter.
I have little time for Gordon Brown but I fail to see how the Government can be to blame for the actions of these criminals who have taken the men hostage. Nor can the Government be held to ransom in defence of wartime profiteers.
However, I hope the hostage has not committed suicide and that they will all be released unharmed.
GardaWorld:
[quote][bold]Strike Security[/bold]
The potential for employee disruption is on the rise amidst increases in downsizings, facility
closings, and international relocation, among others.
Risk of loss from these business decisions is real
when strikes occur: damage to incoming or outgoing products, destruction of company or employee property, trespassing attempts, computer network
sabotage, harm to employees who cross picket lines. Fortunately, GardaWorld's Strike Security services can anticipate and mitigate civil unrest and criminal misconduct, avoid public scandal, and divert media attention.[/quote]
Nice.
Sorry, but much as I deplore this war and sympathise with those held and their families, there can be no people more aware of the risks in the region than those seeking to earn high amounts of money working in security in a war zone.
Aid workers or journalists are a different matter.
I have little time for Gordon Brown but I fail to see how the Government can be to blame for the actions of these criminals who have taken the men hostage. Nor can the Government be held to ransom in defence of wartime profiteers.
However, I hope the hostage has not committed suicide and that they will all be released unharmed.
GardaWorld:
Strike Security
The potential for employee disruption is on the rise amidst increases in downsizings, facility
closings, and international relocation, among others.
Risk of loss from these business decisions is real
when strikes occur: damage to incoming or outgoing products, destruction of company or employee property, trespassing attempts, computer network
sabotage, harm to employees who cross picket lines. Fortunately, GardaWorld's Strike Security services can anticipate and mitigate civil unrest and criminal misconduct, avoid public scandal, and divert media attention.
Nice.
Posted by: britfree, camelon on 2:15am Sun 20 Jul 08
british spies ? no ? that would be a stupid suggestion , eh ? no innocent deaths on the brit-states watch ? lets all just read the story, like we believe anything they tell us . that way this thread wont get clogged up with too many question marks .
british spies ? no ? that would be a stupid suggestion , eh ? no innocent deaths on the brit-states watch ? lets all just read the story, like we believe anything they tell us . that way this thread wont get clogged up with too many question marks .
Posted by: Benjamin Brown, Jacksonville, Florida USA on 2:37am Sun 20 Jul 08
The group went on to claim in the video that "procrastination, foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit suicide. We regret this ... we hold the British government responsible for what has happened and what may happen."
Bullshit, the hostage takers are the only one directly involved with their physical and mental state not the British Government. Secondly, this group the The Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq is nothing but a bunch of bastards and scum. They care nothing for their hostages, otherwise they'd have never taken them hostage in the first place. They can't even be trusted to tell the truth, they should be given nothing least their cause and methods be justified by the British Government.
The group went on to claim in the video that "procrastination, foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit suicide. We regret this ... we hold the British government responsible for what has happened and what may happen."
Bullshit, the hostage takers are the only one directly involved with their physical and mental state not the British Government. Secondly, this group the The Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq is nothing but a bunch of bastards and scum. They care nothing for their hostages, otherwise they'd have never taken them hostage in the first place. They can't even be trusted to tell the truth, they should be given nothing least their cause and methods be justified by the British Government.
Posted by: Neil, Aberdeenshire on 7:52am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote]In an embarrassing development for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the group said they have "over and over again" spoken to the UK government in an attempt to resolve the situation, but "the government remains indifferent".
advertisementThe group went on to claim in the video that "procrastination, foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration[/quote]
procrastination... foot-dragging... indifferent... lack of seriousness...
Not the government of Gordon Brown, surely!
In an embarrassing development for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband, the group said they have "over and over again" spoken to the UK government in an attempt to resolve the situation, but "the government remains indifferent".
advertisementThe group went on to claim in the video that "procrastination, foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration
procrastination... foot-dragging... indifferent... lack of seriousness...
Not the government of Gordon Brown, surely!
Posted by: McSomeone, Scotland on 8:30am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote]Bullshit, the hostage takers are the only one directly involved with their physical and mental state not the British Government.[/quote]
Sorry Mr Brown but they were in Iraq because of the illegal actions of the American and British governments. If they didn't know or understand the risks involved working in another people's country under brutal occupation then they shouldn't have gone. They went there to make lots of money
[quote]Secondly, this group the The Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq is nothing but a bunch of bastards and scum.[/quote]
No they are ordinary Iraqis who are prepared to fight and die to liberate their country, just like the French Maquis and other resistance groups that resisted the Germans.
[quote]They care nothing for their hostages, otherwise they'd have never taken them hostage in the first place.[/quote]
As in if we'd really cared about the Iraqis we'd never have bombed and invaded in the first place?
[quote]They can't even be trusted to tell the truth, they should be given nothing least their cause and methods be justified by the British Government.[/quote]
Unlike our own governments who'd never lie to us about WMDs and links to Al Qaeda and then tell us the we'd won the war and it was all over bar the shouting and are still lying to us to this day over what is really happening in Iraq and Afghaistan and now lying to us to get us to support another war against Iran.
Oh no they wouldn't do that, not our governments. We were just defending Iraq and liberating the oil from those pesky Sunni and shi'ite Iraqis who were stealing it from its rightful owners, the oil companies.
Other than that at Mr Benjamin Brown, my sympathise to this man's family as they must now pay the price for our governments lies and illegal actions.
Bullshit, the hostage takers are the only one directly involved with their physical and mental state not the British Government.
Sorry Mr Brown but they were in Iraq because of the illegal actions of the American and British governments. If they didn't know or understand the risks involved working in another people's country under brutal occupation then they shouldn't have gone. They went there to make lots of money
Secondly, this group the The Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq is nothing but a bunch of bastards and scum.
No they are ordinary Iraqis who are prepared to fight and die to liberate their country, just like the French Maquis and other resistance groups that resisted the Germans.
They care nothing for their hostages, otherwise they'd have never taken them hostage in the first place.
As in if we'd really cared about the Iraqis we'd never have bombed and invaded in the first place?
They can't even be trusted to tell the truth, they should be given nothing least their cause and methods be justified by the British Government.
Unlike our own governments who'd never lie to us about WMDs and links to Al Qaeda and then tell us the we'd won the war and it was all over bar the shouting and are still lying to us to this day over what is really happening in Iraq and Afghaistan and now lying to us to get us to support another war against Iran.
Oh no they wouldn't do that, not our governments. We were just defending Iraq and liberating the oil from those pesky Sunni and shi'ite Iraqis who were stealing it from its rightful owners, the oil companies.
Other than that at Mr Benjamin Brown, my sympathise to this man's family as they must now pay the price for our governments lies and illegal actions.
Posted by: britfree, camelon on 10:39am Sun 20 Jul 08
spies ?
Posted by: aelle on 10:54am Sun 20 Jul 08
As long as none of the other four will be suffering from 'le syndrôme de Stockholm' the truth will come out soon enough to prove that Jason had been tortured and killed.
As long as none of the other four will be suffering from 'le syndrôme de Stockholm' the truth will come out soon enough to prove that Jason had been tortured and killed.
Posted by: heady on 10:58am Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]britfree[/bold] wrote:
spies ?[/quote] What about the role of that really weird looking and sounding cleric who was involved in all this? I know, there are so many, but this wheezing political operative has some title like Bishop of the Gulf. On a news report he seemed well in with the "security" presence in Iraqi - in fact he might be protected by the same company that employed these operatives who have been detained.
britfree wrote:
spies ?
What about the role of that really weird looking and sounding cleric who was involved in all this? I know, there are so many, but this wheezing political operative has some title like Bishop of the Gulf. On a news report he seemed well in with the "security" presence in Iraqi - in fact he might be protected by the same company that employed these operatives who have been detained.
Posted by: Graeme on 11:57am Sun 20 Jul 08
I watched the video on Times Online. It was very painful to see a fellow countryman being humiliated and obviously in distress.
According to France 24 the Shi'ite Islamic Resistance in Iraq have released two videos of their captives before. I haven't heard of it.
Hopefully Brown is in Iraq to negotiate the release of the five men.
I watched the video on Times Online. It was very painful to see a fellow countryman being humiliated and obviously in distress.
According to France 24 the Shi'ite Islamic Resistance in Iraq have released two videos of their captives before. I haven't heard of it.
Hopefully Brown is in Iraq to negotiate the release of the five men.
Posted by: McSomeone, Scotland on 12:13pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote]Hopefully Brown is in Iraq to negotiate the release of the five men.[/quote]
I'd like to think so but given the government's poor track record I wouldn't hold out much hope. If they were servicemen then he'd be bending over with arse in air to get them out, if he didn't the repercussions would be enormous the government. There's less sympathy for civil contractors and "security" personnel as they're percieved as having been only interested in making money.
Hopefully Brown is in Iraq to negotiate the release of the five men.
I'd like to think so but given the government's poor track record I wouldn't hold out much hope. If they were servicemen then he'd be bending over with arse in air to get them out, if he didn't the repercussions would be enormous the government. There's less sympathy for civil contractors and "security" personnel as they're percieved as having been only interested in making money.
Posted by: heady on 12:46pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote][bold]McSomeone[/bold] wrote:
[quote]Hopefully Brown is in Iraq to negotiate the release of the five men.[/quote] I'd like to think so but given the government's poor track record I wouldn't hold out much hope. If they were servicemen then he'd be bending over with arse in air to get them out, if he didn't the repercussions would be enormous the government. There's less sympathy for civil contractors and "security" personnel as they're percieved as having been only interested in making money.[/quote] I don't think they are only interested in the money - I think these profoundly disturbed people are also interested in the mirror sunglasses, the guns and the terrorised population.
McSomeone wrote:
Hopefully Brown is in Iraq to negotiate the release of the five men.
I'd like to think so but given the government's poor track record I wouldn't hold out much hope. If they were servicemen then he'd be bending over with arse in air to get them out, if he didn't the repercussions would be enormous the government. There's less sympathy for civil contractors and "security" personnel as they're percieved as having been only interested in making money.
I don't think they are only interested in the money - I think these profoundly disturbed people are also interested in the mirror sunglasses, the guns and the terrorised population.
Posted by: A.Thom, Greenock on 3:41pm Sun 20 Jul 08
"No they are ordinary Iraqis who are prepared to fight and die to liberate their country, just like the French Maquis and other resistance groups that resisted the Germans."
No, they are Iran backed militants who want to monopolise the Middle East and help their supporters achieve recognition as a massive regional power.
To achieve this, they will employ methods similar to their Sunni counterparts such as bombing crowds of children; torturing individuals with electric drills for having the "wrong" kind of Islamic beliefs; raping and murdering Mandaeans and triggering car bombs with children lodged in the back seat.
Are bands of the French Resistance fighting Nazi Germany comparable to Islamic fundamentalists taking on British and American troops? Is there an equivalence between coalition troops and the Nazis – is this what you are saying? I didn’t realise Hitler and his cronies were planning to hand over their occupied territories once they had completed their mission.
Don't let your delight at the disaster that is Iraq cloud your judgement too much.
Moron.
"No they are ordinary Iraqis who are prepared to fight and die to liberate their country, just like the French Maquis and other resistance groups that resisted the Germans."
No, they are Iran backed militants who want to monopolise the Middle East and help their supporters achieve recognition as a massive regional power.
To achieve this, they will employ methods similar to their Sunni counterparts such as bombing crowds of children; torturing individuals with electric drills for having the "wrong" kind of Islamic beliefs; raping and murdering Mandaeans and triggering car bombs with children lodged in the back seat.
Are bands of the French Resistance fighting Nazi Germany comparable to Islamic fundamentalists taking on British and American troops? Is there an equivalence between coalition troops and the Nazis – is this what you are saying? I didn’t realise Hitler and his cronies were planning to hand over their occupied territories once they had completed their mission.
Don't let your delight at the disaster that is Iraq cloud your judgement too much.
Moron.
Posted by: anon on 3:58pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[bold]GARDA - a global leader in security and investigation[/bold]: my foot!!!
GARDA - a global leader in security and investigation: my foot!!!
Posted by: britfree, camelon on 4:05pm Sun 20 Jul 08
GARDA a deniable front for the filthy war that the british state is waging all around the world , the zionist clique has bought the brit-states foreign policy , it cost them very very little but they mean to get their monies worth .
GARDA a deniable front for the filthy war that the british state is waging all around the world , the zionist clique has bought the brit-states foreign policy , it cost them very very little but they mean to get their monies worth .
Posted by: McSomeone, Scotland on 4:48pm Sun 20 Jul 08
[quote]Are bands of the French Resistance fighting Nazi Germany comparable to Islamic fundamentalists taking on British and American troops?[/quote]
Yes! What part of "We are the enemy"! do you not understand?
We committed a war crime by illegally invading their country based on lies and are still occupying their country against their wishes. That's the same as what the Germans did in France and all the other occupied countries.
What part of "They don't want us in their Country" do you not understand?
We've slaughtered around 1.2 million of their people and dispossesed another 4 to 5 million. Do you expect them to be grateful for our destructive presence in their country, invading their homes and destroying their world?
Now go away you silly little man and read up on the history of Iraq beginning from 1922 and the part that we and the Americans have played in their tragedy.
Are bands of the French Resistance fighting Nazi Germany comparable to Islamic fundamentalists taking on British and American troops?
Yes! What part of "We are the enemy"! do you not understand?
We committed a war crime by illegally invading their country based on lies and are still occupying their country against their wishes. That's the same as what the Germans did in France and all the other occupied countries.
What part of "They don't want us in their Country" do you not understand?
We've slaughtered around 1.2 million of their people and dispossesed another 4 to 5 million. Do you expect them to be grateful for our destructive presence in their country, invading their homes and destroying their world?
Now go away you silly little man and read up on the history of Iraq beginning from 1922 and the part that we and the Americans have played in their tragedy.
Posted by: A.Thom, Greenock on 10:46pm Sun 20 Jul 08
“We’ve slaughtered…” Absolute fool.
Those deaths are the responsibility of the insurgents and the murderers who committed them and your apologist antics and sheer delight at them ever happening can never change that. What’s it like being a little reptile whose sanctimonious, student rants and political goals mean more to him than that country ever improving? We all know you’d rather see the West demoralised and embarrassed than a successful, rebuilt Iraq.
Now go away you silly little moron and get a job. But, before doing that, go to Google’s homepage and type in “Sunday Herald McSomeone.” It’ll bring up the ridiculous amount of entries you’ve had on these forums. A self-righteous, pontificator hell-bent on “educating” and dismissing anybody who dares to disagree.
And as hard as it is may seem, let’s see if you can let somebody else have the last word for a change (although I very much doubt it).
P.S. In that history, McMoron, I’ll be sure to include Saddam's pseudo-fascist Baathist dictatorship and the hundreds of thousands of murders he committed during his time.
Sleep tight. X
“We’ve slaughtered…” Absolute fool.
Those deaths are the responsibility of the insurgents and the murderers who committed them and your apologist antics and sheer delight at them ever happening can never change that. What’s it like being a little reptile whose sanctimonious, student rants and political goals mean more to him than that country ever improving? We all know you’d rather see the West demoralised and embarrassed than a successful, rebuilt Iraq.
Now go away you silly little moron and get a job. But, before doing that, go to Google’s homepage and type in “Sunday Herald McSomeone.” It’ll bring up the ridiculous amount of entries you’ve had on these forums. A self-righteous, pontificator hell-bent on “educating” and dismissing anybody who dares to disagree.
And as hard as it is may seem, let’s see if you can let somebody else have the last word for a change (although I very much doubt it).
P.S. In that history, McMoron, I’ll be sure to include Saddam's pseudo-fascist Baathist dictatorship and the hundreds of thousands of murders he committed during his time.
Sleep tight. X
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 11:17pm Sun 20 Jul 08
Your post is so wrong A Thom on so many levels that I can't be bothered dissecting it, because a wean can see where it doesn't stand up, and that's just about every sentence.
We will not see a successful rebuilt Iraq along the lines of the neocon vision. We will not see a Western friendly ''democracy'' created to bolster Israel's fragile position. Iraq is an arab country. Deal with it.
ps most of us think Mcsomeone's posts are pretty good, student politics ? I don't think so. We've all read about the Project for a New American Century you know, only we didn't fall for it, it appears you have. Mebbe you should do a bit of googling yourself - the truth is out there.
Your post is so wrong A Thom on so many levels that I can't be bothered dissecting it, because a wean can see where it doesn't stand up, and that's just about every sentence.
We will not see a successful rebuilt Iraq along the lines of the neocon vision. We will not see a Western friendly ''democracy'' created to bolster Israel's fragile position. Iraq is an arab country. Deal with it.
ps most of us think Mcsomeone's posts are pretty good, student politics ? I don't think so. We've all read about the Project for a New American Century you know, only we didn't fall for it, it appears you have. Mebbe you should do a bit of googling yourself - the truth is out there.
Posted by: allymax, tayside police cell on 4:37pm Mon 21 Jul 08
I agree with Observer, McSomeone has her finger on the pulse of international politics. And, I do find her analysis of this particular 'middle-east' debate very thorough and well informed.
On the article; them's the risks, but I do feel a lot more could have been done by the UK government. This is war; just like divorce, no holds barred in love and war. (unfortunately, we have proved this to be true by side-stepping the geneva convention rules; Guantanamo).
I agree with Observer, McSomeone has her finger on the pulse of international politics. And, I do find her analysis of this particular 'middle-east' debate very thorough and well informed.
On the article; them's the risks, but I do feel a lot more could have been done by the UK government. This is war; just like divorce, no holds barred in love and war. (unfortunately, we have proved this to be true by side-stepping the geneva convention rules; Guantanamo).
Posted by: Ray Pest, Irvine Beach Park on 6:02pm Mon 21 Jul 08
Not sure whether to laugh or cry.
Your finger is clearly not on anything, but up your own erse, SallyMax. Or perhaps it's up that of your lesbian lover, McMoron?
French Resistance = Islamic Shi'ite Resistance
Nazis = US/UK
Can't quite work out why if they are as bad as each other how you are sitting here enjoying a free, liberal life.
Perhaps you should read up on their comparable behaviour. Couldn't be more different really.
Don't let your Western hating beliefs get in the way of the truth, Sally.
Not sure whether to laugh or cry.
Your finger is clearly not on anything, but up your own erse, SallyMax. Or perhaps it's up that of your lesbian lover, McMoron?
French Resistance = Islamic Shi'ite Resistance
Nazis = US/UK
Can't quite work out why if they are as bad as each other how you are sitting here enjoying a free, liberal life.
Perhaps you should read up on their comparable behaviour. Couldn't be more different really.
Don't let your Western hating beliefs get in the way of the truth, Sally.
Posted by: britfree, camelon on 10:57am Tue 22 Jul 08
i know something , that ray pest is a fuuny man ,eh ? funny peculiar ?
i know something , that ray pest is a fuuny man ,eh ? funny peculiar ?
Posted by: Ray Pest, On the move on Wed 23 Jul 08
A.Thom:
I too have had a brief look at McSomeone's history. The neo-nazi thread from May I believe had around 30 odd posts. Truly pathetic and clearly unemployed after getting thrown out her last social workers post.
Bet she wears £3.99 sandals; a faded Che Guevara t-shirt and doesn't give a **** about Radovan Karadzic and the Balkans genocide 'cause it aint fashionable enough. Clearly has feck all in her life other hard left ideology to satisfy her bitter sentiments and how badly life has treated her, and most probably her family as well.
Sort yourself out McSally.
P.S Wullie from Aberdeen is a genius.
A.Thom:
I too have had a brief look at McSomeone's history. The neo-nazi thread from May I believe had around 30 odd posts. Truly pathetic and clearly unemployed after getting thrown out her last social workers post.
Bet she wears £3.99 sandals; a faded Che Guevara t-shirt and doesn't give a **** about Radovan Karadzic and the Balkans genocide 'cause it aint fashionable enough. Clearly has feck all in her life other hard left ideology to satisfy her bitter sentiments and how badly life has treated her, and most probably her family as well.
Sort yourself out McSally.
P.S Wullie from Aberdeen is a genius.
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