The Jawa Report

Iraqi Police Arrest Beheading Suspect

Xinhua: "Iraqi security forces in Sherqat area in Salahudin province captured Khaled Zakiyah who was suspected of involving in terroristacts and beheadings," and it looks like Zarqawi was just missed in Tikrit.

The post in which I propose the word "bitch" be used instead of "gate" for all future political scandals (except Rick James)

Water-"bitch", Iran-Contra-"bitch", Dan Rather-"bitch", Memo-"bitch", Whitewater-"bitch", Eason-"bitch", etc....

Related. And more. Also.

Peace in Our Time

More...Still More.....

Another Hoax? Website Claims Italian Hostage Dead

The last time a group with a name like "Mujahedeen Brigade" claimed to be holding a hostage, it turned out to be a G.I. Joe doll. Yesterday, the "Jihad Organization" said it would release the Italian hostage, Giuliana Sgrena.

Besides the name of the terrorist organization claiming to have killed Sgrena, there are a few other oddities about this message. Notice, for instance, that the "Mujahadeen Brigade" writes the message as if it is refuting the one posted yesterday. The Jihad Organization claimed yesterday that they had determined that Sgrena was NOT working for US troops. This message claims that the Mujahadeen Brigade was certain she was working for the "American Crusader Troops."

The next few hours will tell which message is the hoax. Unless, of course, the whole incident is a hoax......

Fox News:

A Web posting in the name of a militant group in Iraq (search) claimed Tuesday to have executed an Italian female journalist, but there was no way to determine the report's credibility.

The posting was signed by a different group than the one that had earlier claimed to have kidnapped Giuliana Sgrena (search). Both statements were posted on a Web site used as a clearing house for militants.

The Jihad Organization had earlier claimed responsibility for Friday's kidnapping of Sgrena, 56, but Tuesday's statement was signed by the Mujahedeen Brigade in Iraq (search).

"Your brothers in the Mujahedeen (holy fighters) Brigade have executed the Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena after making sure that she has spied on the mujahedeen for the American Crusade troops," said the statement.

It said the killing was a message to the American government "that this would be the destiny of agents and spies." It was also warning to Italy against continuing with America in its war on Iraq and a message to the holy fighters to "carry on that path until the liberation of the last spot from Muslim land, and know that the occupation of Iraq is the beginning of the end of America, God willing."

Ward Churchill Threatened, Speech Cancelled

No surprise here. Nor is it surprising that it is a bunch of 'ethnic studies' students who are up in arms over the cancellation. Oh, and when they say they don't wish America to be attacked they aren't lying. Committed pacifists on the Left always deplore violence, even violence against the US. It is not terrorism, per se, the Left hates--it is violence. "9-11 was tragic," and ethnic studies major might say, "but an even bigger tragedy was the US invasion of Iraq, Bush lied, no blood for oil, blah, blah..." See how this works.

hat tip: Jeff Quinton

Did Michael Schiavo cause his wife's injuries?

Terri Schiavo is the woman in the vegetative state who's husband, Michael Schiavo, wishes to euthenize. Her parents wish to keep her alive. The controversy is at the heart of several lawsuits and special legislation in Florida passed to protect Terri. Empire Journal:

The family believes that Michael Schiavo and Terri had a violent argument earlier in the evening she collapsed and the medical evidence seems to support, that Terri Schiavo may have been a strangulation victim that evening.

US Troops Free Egyptian Hostages

Thank you Team America...coming to save the mother f***ing world again!! Let's hope Roy Hallums and Dean Sadek are next. Reuters:

U.S. forces in Iraq stormed a house in Baghdad on Monday and freed Egyptian telecommunications engineers kidnapped since Sunday, the head of their Egyptian parent company said. Naguib Sawiris, chairman of Egypt's Orascom Telecom, said U.S. forces raided a villa, possibly in the mainly Sunni al-Aadhamiya district, and freed two of the four Egyptians. The other two managed to escape on their own from a car they had been locked in, he added.

Andrew Sullivan Found!!

Scroll down for AS secret location....but in the meantime did you watch The Simpsons last night?? I mean, come on, they gave Comic Book Guy a name!!!

Christian Reporter Tracked & Threatened on Islamist Website

Something I picked up over at Internet Haganah today. Hey terrorists, when are you going come after me??

Jeremy Reynalds has been a source for The Jawa Report from way back when. We wish him all the best but would suggest he get a concealed gun permit.

The 4th Estate

In all the hullabaloo about exactly how depraved a bunch of Stalinists the Main Stream Media (MSM) are, the actual concrete impact of media bias has not received as much attention as I think is warranted.

Sure, we've got the attempt to swing a presidential election, or the handling of the Tet Offensive, but these are pretty visible first-order effects.  The implications for Open-Source research and the subsequent effect on the policy community do seem to have gone largely unacknowledged.

Italian Hostage Hoax: Terrorists to Release Giuliana Sgrena

As predicted, Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena is to be released:

Since it has become absolutely clear that the Italian prisoner is not involved in espionage for the infidels in Iraq, and in response to the call from the Muslim Clerics Association, we in the Jihad Organization will release the Italian prisoner in the coming days

Just be sure to cite The Jawa Report when she is released, writes an exclusive story about her 'ordeal', and then slams the US in it for forcing the poor innocent mujahadin to resort to such tactics.

Chad has more. So does Digger. Shamelessly linked at OTB.

Related posts: Italian Hostage: Hoax or the Fruits of anti-American Activism?
Italian Woman Taken Hostage in Iraq

The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah Kills Iraqi Translator (video, images)

The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah released a gruesome videotape of the execution of an Iraqi translator. Images and links to the video are posted below. This came only a day after the group released a video of seven Iraqis being murdered.

The hostage identifies himself as Safad Mohammed Hassan from Mosul. The video is in three parts. The victim is first forced to 'confess' to the 'crime' of working with Americans. Next, a close-up of his identification badge shows that he is a translator. Last, a lone gunman stands behind the blindfolded victim then fires a single shot into the back of his head.

These are the people we are fighting. They are not freedom fighters. They are not fighting to liberate Iraq. They are fighting to set up an Islamic state patterned after the Taliban.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES FOLLOW

The Jawa Report IS a Google News Source

You know, just in case Michelle, Charles, Jeff G., Rob, Wayne, this chick, Basil, Spacemonkey, Confederate Yankee, Jeff, Zonker, David, Uncle, etc...were wondering. (Not a joke: click)

Italian Hostage: Deadline Passes Without Word of her Fate

The deadline set for Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena by her captors has passed. The Organization for Jihad gave the Italian government 48 hours to pull out of Iraq last Saturday, or else:

"we will announce the fate of (Giuliana Sgrena) in the imminent future".

"We are still questioning the hostage, and the Sharia (religious) committee will soon present its verdict," the group said.

"We consider that this is the last message for the Italian
government, and there will be no safety or stability as long as there is one Italian soldier on Iraqi soil," said the group.

Germany shows its love for the country that gave it freedom of speech

Iraqis Videotape Terrorist Confessions as Propaganda Tool

It's about freaking time we started using the enemies propaganda tools against them. The confessions also show the extent to which former regime elements work with the terrorists. The terrorists, it seems, also kill any one they even suspect of working with the Coalition, including a man they murder simply because they see him with a bottle of mineral water. I mean, nothing says American-Jew-infidel-dog more than Evian. (Hat tip Fredy)

Army of Ansar al-Sunnah Murders 7 on Video (Images)

The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah has posted a video of the murder of seven Iraqis. Images and links to the video are posted below.

In a statement released Saturday, the group claimed that the seven had been captured in a raid near Abu Ghraib. The victims were called "apostates" and forced to confess to the "crime" of cooperating with American forces.

The video shows several clips which have been edited together. The first two clips show two different groups of men 'confessing'. Three are dressed in civilian clothes while the second four are in military fatigues. Next the video shows three men being gunned down by two men with AK-47s. A second murder scene follows. All the victims lay in the dirt, face down, and are shot in the back. The last clip shows a single individual being shot at for a lengthy period of time as the shooter misses over and over.

The Islamic Army in Iraq also released a video of three Iraqi National Guardsman claiming that the three had been captured in the same raid. Further evidence that terrorist organizations are cooperating in Iraq.

In a seperate video posted by the Ansar al-Sunnah today, a translator begs Iraqis not to cooperate with Coalition Forces before he is shot.

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES FROM THE VIDEO POSTED BELOW!!!!!

Hostage Hoax Uncovered

Hat Tip: Beth at MVRWC

I, for one, am still not buying it. I'd be less surprised to find the hoaxter in Berkely than Baghdad.

UPDATE: I hate being so right. Confederate Yankee uncovers the hoax behind the person confessing to the hoax.

Calling Anti-Euthenasia Bloggers

Hyscience is preparing a series of articles on Terri Schiavo and a blog-burst aimed at influencing the upcoming legislative session in Florida.

Micro-divestment of Pali Activists

Vic over at anti-com has a new idea. Instead of divesting in Israel, why don't we 'micro-divest' the jobs of pro-Palestinian activists? You know, since the J-O-Os sort of control everything, maybe we can get them to fire their anti-Semitic activist employees. It's a thought.

So all you powerful J-O-Os in the media, banking, etc....why not help a brotha out and publish the names of those calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. Yes, a black-list.

Italian Hostage: Hoax or the Fruits of anti-American Activism?

UPDATE 2/07/05: Italian Hostage Hoax: Terrorists to Release Giuliana Sgrena
-------------------------------
The mystery surrounding the abduction of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena deepened today as Italy promised to negotiate with terrorists for her release. Yesterday we reported that something seemed a little odd about her abduction.

First, she was abducted while conducting interviews with refugees from Fallujah in Baghdad. Having read some of Sgrena's work in the past, there is very little doubt that the emphasis of the story would be on the horrors inflicted on that city by the American troops. Ms. Sgrena is an anti-war activist with journalistic credentials.

Second, she just happened to be on the phone with another journalist Barbara Schiavulliduring the abduction. Ms. Schiavulli recently interviewed the terrorist Abu Abid in the Gaza strip. Today, Schiavulli received this mysterious phone call. Reuters:

A friend of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, who was kidnapped in Baghdad on Friday, received a call on Saturday from Sgrena's telephone but it was unclear who was at the other end of the line. Barbara Schiavulli, a correspondent for Italian radio news agency GRT, saw Sgrena's number appear on her telephone screen but when she answered she heard only Arab music and no one spoke, an editor at GRT in Rome said.

"The call lasted only a short moment and then the line was cut off. Barbara tried to call back but she couldn't get through. It was impossible to know if the call was intentional or if it was an accident," Simona D'Alessio told Reuters.

Iraqi police are holding two companions of kidnapped Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena for questioning about her abduction, officials said Saturday.

Interior Ministry official Sabah Khazim said that the two were held for questioning "so that we can have a clear idea about the circumstances of the abduction of the Italian journalist and they will be released soon".

Colonel Adnan Abdul Rahman, another Interior Ministry official, said authorities wanted to gather as many details as possible from the two.

The officials would not identify the pair but sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they included her driver and interpreter.

From Ms. Sgrena's history two things become clear. One, she has a long history of opposing U.S. military force and chooses to emphasize the innocent casualties of war rather than the innocent casualties of the evil regimes these wars topple. Two, her anti-war focus brings her into close proximity with terrorists and their sympathizers.

What kind of people, exactly, did Giuliana Sgrena think she was hanging around with? Unlike hostages such as American Roy Hallums or Italian reporter Enzo Baldoni, Sgrena was not in Iraq to help with reconstruction and abducted from her home. She was interviewing people who think that the Americans were the bad guys.

The leftist world-view is unified by only one theme: America is the bad guy. When seen from this view then it is perfectly logical to see terrorists in Iraq as 'partisans' or 'resistance fighters'. Sgrena seems to be the victim of her own naivity about those who are resisting America's efforts to build a democratic Iraq. Or worse.

Could her own sympathies with the 'resistance' lead her to stage her own abduction? The coming weeks will tell.

More on Sgrena from the pro-terrorist al Jazeera:

Italian Woman Taken Hostage in Iraq (Updated)

The hostage is named Giuliana Sgrena and works for Rome daily Il Manifesto. She was abducted as she conducted interviews near Baghdad University.

Update II: Terrorists claim abduction. Reuters:

A little-known Iraqi group said on Friday it had taken an Italian journalist hostage and set a 72 hour deadline for Italy to remove its troops, but did not make a specific threat to kill her, a Web statement said.
"We in the land of Islam, Iraq, give the Italian government 72 hours to get out of Iraq, otherwise the squadrons will have something else to say in the coming days," said a statement from the Islamic Jihad Organisation titled "about the imprisoning of the Italian journalist".

It was not possible to verify the statement, which first appeared on a site not used by the main Iraqi insurgent groups.

A group using the same name said in September it had killed two abducted Italian aid workers who were subsequently released by another group.

Reuters:

Gunmen have kidnapped an Italian journalist in Baghdad, the latest in a series of brazen abductions but the first since Iraq's election...

Gunmen pulled up alongside her vehicle, forced her driver and an Iraqi journalist with her out of the vehicle at gunpoint and then drove off with Sgrena, the sources said.

Gunmen seized an Italian woman journalist in Baghdad today in a hail of gunfire after she had been interviewing people who fled the US assault on the Sunni insurgent stronghold of Fallujah....

Italian radio journalist Barbara Schiavulli said Sgrena called her on her mobile phone while the assault was underway.

“I heard shots and people running but I did not hear her speak,” Schiavulli said. “I only heard pistol shots ... I heard shots and began to shout Giuliana, Giuliana, but she did not reply.”

Iraqi police said Sgrena was accompanied by two Iraqi reporters and an Iraqi driver when several armed men stopped their vehicle. The gunmen released the Iraqis and took Sgrena in her own car.

Guess where else her work has been published? Z-mag. Yes, the magazine for aging Communists run by Howard Zinn. Yes, that Howard Zinn.

My spidey senses are beginning to tingle here folks. Two possibilities:

a) She will be released after a concerted campaign to pressure the hostage takers to release her from Arab dicatators, Islamists, and European leftists. After all, when the Left pushes for the release of a hostage the Islamofascists listen. They would hate to lose their closes allies in the West.

b) Folks, there is something fishy about this.....on the phone as she's being abducted?

In either case expect a series of stories arising out of her ordeal in which she recounts the attrocities of the Americans in Iraq which forced the 'freedom fighters' to capture her.........

Developing.....

Several Italians have been abducted in Iraq, including two women. The two aid workers, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, were abducted on Sept. 7th by a group calling itself Ansar al Zawahiri. The group initially threatened to behead the two, but later they were released.

Two other Italian hostages were not so lucky. Salvatore Santoro was murdered by the Islamic Army in Iraq some time around December 16th. The terrorists delivered a video to al Jazeera, but the station deemed the footage too gruesome to air.

Enzo Baldoni was another Italian reporter who met the fate of so many hostages in Iraq. Baldoni was in Iraq with the Red Cross when he was abducted by the Islamic Army in Iraq. He was later murdered by that group because Italy refused to remove its troops from Iraq. Al Jazeera aired a tape of Baldoni shortly before he was murdered.

To the terrorists who have taken Giuliana Sgrena I say vaffanculo!!!

PS-Because of a DNS attack on the mu.nu domain, trackbacks have been temporarily disabled. Sorry. E-mail me and I'll manually link you.

Others on the case: Cranky Neocon, Chad Evans, Digger, Michele Catalano, TBTN, Hyscience, MVRWC, Spoons, .....

Why Janeane Garofalo Ought to Date Prince Harry

More from Kevin McCullough

DoS Attack & Trackbacks

The entire mu.nu domain has been the victim of a DoS attack. Some one is trying to shut us down. Because of that our fearless leader Pixy Misa has had to disable the trackbacking function. Sorry about that. E-mail me and I'll manually link you.

Iraqi Villagers Take on Terrorists

File under good news. When more of this starts happening, we'll know we have won. Via Paul at Wizbang this ABC (Aus) article:

The Iraqi police have investigated a case in the village of al-Mudhariya, which is just south of Baghdad. The villagers there say that before the election insurgents came and warned them that if they voted in last weekend's election, they would pay.

Now the people of this mixed village of Sunni and Shia Muslims, they ignored the threat and they did turn out to vote.

We understand that last night the insurgents came back to punish the people of al-Mudhariya, but instead of metering out that punishment the villagers fought back and they killed five of the insurgents and wounded eight. They then burnt the insurgents' car. So the people of that village have certainly had enough of the insurgents.

Pimp My Landcruiser

You too can get your own Landcruiser Tank, just $19,999.00!!!

Now the Llama-bitches can finally put their "My other car is a Landcruiser" bumper stickers on their Volvos.

Hat tip: Jeff Quinton who stole the idea from the Instapundit.

New 'Talibanization' in Pakistan

(Peshawar, Pakistan) According to a report in the Frontier Post, the North-West Frontier Province Assembly has unanimously passed Women Photographs Prohibition Law, Amendment Bill 2005, which outlaws photographs of women in any notice, circular, or other document, displayed on any house, building, wall, signboard, or published in any newspaper or periodical.

Also included in the Amendment Bill 2005 is the Women Ownership Rights and Prohibition of Dance and Music Law which bans the use of women's photographs for any commercial or advertising purpose or in dance or music. It is considered derogatory to human dignity to use a woman's photograph for these purposes.

Opposing the bills, parliamentary leaders Bashir Bilour and Abdul Akbar Khan stated that "both the bills were indicating that the province was moving towards Talibanization." They fear that foreign investment will be affected if women are excluded from being shown on products and advertising.

The Taliban needs to be chased into the mountains, again. Women are voting in Afghanistan as the country moves forward with democracy and, meanwhile, Pakistan is going backwards with a resurgence of the Taliban. Sheesh! They're like athlete's foot. You can get rid of it but it always is lurking, ready to cause problems.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

My Wife is the Victim of Identity Theft

Just got a call from Princess Leah. She just got off the phone from a collection agency. It seems someone used her name and Social Security number to get a cell phone. Now Cingular wants two grand from us. So far every one has been pretty understanding at both Cingular and the collection agency. I'll keep you updated if things go sour. Haven't even begun the process of letting the credit agencies know.

How could it be that easy to steal someone's identity? You mean all that it takes for some crack whore to abuse my wife's good name is her Social Security number? That's it? The person used a different address than ours, just the same name and Soc. to establish a line of credit. That's insane!!!

Excuse me for the rest of the evening. I'll be out buying a shredder---and a gun!

American Defector: "Kim Jong Il is an evil person"

Former soldier and defector to North Korea Charles Jenkins had the following to say in an interview with Japanese media about the Great Leader. The Daily NK:

“I believe Kim Jong Il is an evil person. He is exploiting and oppressing the (North Korean) people,” Jenkins answered the reporters who asked him what he thought.

Jenkins was an American soldier stationed in South Korea, Compound 8, but crossed the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea for fear of being sent to the Vietnam during the war, in January 5, 1965. However, he lived in misery ever since. With three other American soldiers who defected to North Korea, he survived torture and hunger and was obliged to study about Kim Il Sung ten hours per day. He was expelled from Pyongyang for secretly listening to BBC broadcasts by changing the fixed radio stations, and got into trouble by requesting defection to the Soviet Embassy in Pyongyang. One time, a North Korean doctor cut out his skin on his shoulder where he had a tattoo that read, “U.S. Army” without anesthesia. In 1980, He married his wife Soga who was an abductee from Japan, kidnapped by North Korean spies. They gave birth to two daughters, Mika(22) and Brinda(20).

My thoughts on Ayn Rand's 100th Birthday

Dyke, but not the good kind.

Cathy Young at Reason has more.

Number One Sign the Apocolypse Is Upon Us

Click Me.

State of the Union Speech: My thoughts?

I think I'll have a Double-Double, hold the onions, with a side of fries and a strawberry milkshake.

Chechen Terrorist Vows More School Massacres on Video

In a video interview, Shamil Basayev claims that the Beslan massacre was a mistake. No, not like you think. He was hoping his terrorist followers would be able to take two schools full of children hostage. Oh, and yes, he probably will be forced to massacre more school children in the future. But it's not his fault. It's the Russians fault.

Russia, for their part, has asked the British TV station Channel 4 to refrain from broadcasting the video.

In related news, rumors have begun circulating that Basayev is dead. No tears shed here if true. A web-site linked to the Chechen terrorists has also called for a cease-fire, bolstering claims of the terrorist chief's death.

And what does the MSM call the man?

Australia's ABC News calls the man a Chechen warlord. The Canadian Globe and Mail calls him a Chechen leader.

Israel to Release 900 Palestinian Prisoners, Withdraw from West Bank Towns

As part of a cease-fire deal in preparation for the upcomig summit between Prime Minister Arial Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel promised to Release 900 Palestinian Prisoners and withdraw from Jericho and five other West Bank towns.

Exactly how releasing 900 suspected terrorists and their sympathizers could possibly help a cease-fire was not explained by either the PA or the Israeli cabinet which approved the deal.

Georgian PM Found Dead of Gas Poisoning

The reformist Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Zhvania, has been found dead. Media sources indicate that the 44 year old's death was likely due to a gas leak at a friend's home. Russia has denied any involvement in the Prime Minister's death.

The American Way

You'll want to see this....

Abu Ghraib Guards Plea Guilty, Sentenced

Two soldiers plead guilty yesterday to crimes against prisoners in Iraq.

US Army Reserve Specialist Roman Krol, 23 from Massachusetts, was sentenced to 10 months yesterday for his role in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.

What were his offenses?

He forced prisoners to crawl around on the ground. He threw a Nerf football at prisoners. He poured water on prisoners.

Sounds more like any high school football program in Texas than 'torture'. No, that anology doesn't quite do justice to the rigors of high school football. After all, Krol had the decency to use Nerf.

The second guard's crimes were more heinous. Javal Davis, 27 from New Jersey, admitted to stepping on the fingers and toes of a group of prisoners. He is to be sentenced today.

Stepping on fingers and toes? I guess my big brother is a 'War Criminal' too. And trust me, my big brother did much worse.

Notice the words used to describe what these two men did:

Zaman (Turkey): US Soldiers Confess to Abu Ghraib Torture

Torture?

Quentin Walker's First Pic

I'm holding Steve Green hostage

Release Auburn from the SEC or the blogger gets it!

Law Professor: Muslim Apostates Should be Punished

No not in Saudi Arabia where the punishment for leaving the faith is death, nor Pakistan, nor Iran--Muslims in the US should be punished for converting to other faiths. Commentary:

A still more original apologist for the harsh treatment of apostates who reside in the West is Ali Khan, a law professor at Washburn University in Kansas. In a recent issue of the Cumberland Law Review, Khan suggested that Islam can be seen as a form of intellectual property, and Muslims as “trustees” who have vowed to protect their faith’s “knowledge-based assets.” ...

The key point, however, is not the outlandish substance of Khan’s argument. Rather, it is the fact that he was able to use an American law review as a soapbox from which to advocate the licensed punishment of apostates—and that his grossly illiberal views were never rebutted in its pages.

And for our Canadian readers, never fear, there is Syed Mumtaz Ali, the president of the Canadian Society of Muslims. Mr. Ali is a lawyer and the man behind Canada's move to recognize sharia courts. Don't worry, unlike Muslim lawyers in the Middle East, he doesn't advocate killing apostates. He's a moderate, you see. Moderates just want to put you in jail or fine you for turning your back on the umma.

In fact, in a long essay (see Conclusions) by Mr. Ali, he explains to Canadians why they are bigots and illiberal if they do not let Muslims in Canada punish blasphemers and apostates.

Nothing says moderation more to me than that. (h/t: Robert Spencer)

State of the Union to Feature Sharansky's Philosophy

I have long been an admirer of Natan Sharansky. It seems I am in good company.

Jesse Jackson to Intervene on Behalf of US Hostage Roy Hallums

Unfortunately for the family, I do not believe that the Rev. Jackson's intervention will greatly affect the release of Roy Hallums [background on Roy Hallums here]. We are not dealing with heads of state here but either a) Islamofascist terrorists or b) common thugs bent on getting money. The latter seems more likely.

Jackson ought to be applauded for his efforts despite the slim chance of success. Let's hope and pray this can make some difference.

AP:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson will try to help negotiate the release of a kidnapped American contractor who was snatched in Baghdad three months ago and recently appeared pleading for his life at gunpoint.

Susan Hallums, 52, turned to the founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition after calling on politicians and President Bush to help free her ex-husband, Roy Hallums, 56, who was kidnapped Nov. 1 at his office with another man.

"I feel so drained, and this has given me more strength again to have more hope and faith," she said.

The United States government has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists or insurgents.

Jackson, who has successfully secured the release of hostages on several occasions since the 1980s, said he was confident the captors would cooperate.

"We hope that the captors will pick up on the spirit of what has happened the last few days in Iraq and not use Roy as a trophy," Jackson said, referring to Sunday's election in Iraq. "While our government can't negotiate, someone who can ought to."

Jackson said he will appeal to religious leaders who know the hostage takers.

Susan has been hitting all the media she can to try and get Roy's plight some publicity. I'm not sure what more we can do other than offer our moral support to her and her family. Any one with media connections or their own blog might also help by keeping Roy in the headlines. Below is a picture Susan sent me at an interview with Paula Zahn on CNN. From left to right: Carrie Hallums Cooper, Paula Zahn, Susan Hallums.

h/t: Chad Evans

Related: Terrorists Release Video of American Hostage Roy Hallums, Tribute to American Hostage Roy Hallums, Remembering the Forgotten American Hostages in Iraq

Washington Post, 1944: UN Finds No Genocide in Germany

Feb. 1, 1944 Washington Post story: U.N. Panel Finds No Genocide in Germany but Urges Tribunals (printer friendly version)

Linked at OTB

*Hint

Still Not Gay

*

The First-Best Option

by Demosophist

A link to an article in a left-leaning paper, in a left-leaning area of a left-leaning country, sent to me today by a left-leaning friend. In his words: "All I want is a good outcome. I don't have to have been right."

Admit It: Bush Was Right About Iraq. Excerpt:

But on the defining, fundamental question, Bush was right.

He understood that to defeat an idea, no matter how perverse and brutal it might be, it was necessary to have an opposite and superior idea.

He understood, in other words — instinctively rather than intellectually — that the only way to win a war against terrorism was to turn it into a war for democracy.

This is now happening. Against the quest of ordinary Iraqis for dignity and self-respect and freedom, the terrorists in Iraq had nothing ultimately to offer, except blood and hatred.

(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Demosophia and Anticipatory Retaliation)

More Hoaxes: Experts Doubt Authenticity of British Plane Downing Video

First, the Jawa report debunked Ansar al-Islam's claim to have downed a British plane yesterday. Then, we help the blogosphere debunk the claim that the Mujahideen Squadrons captured a US soldier in Iraq today. (Incidentally, both claims were made on the same Islamist bulletin board, meaning whoever is behind the claims speaks Arabic.) Today, there is word that the video released by the 1920 Revolution's Brigade and shown on al Jazeera, of the British C-130 being shot down is also a hoax.

AFP in Turkish Press:

Francis Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis, said the footage contained numerous discrepancies, noting that it was taped in broad daylight while the crash took place early evening.

There was also no direct image of the supposed attack, simply three different clips edited together. One showed a finger pressing a button to launch a rocket, followed by a fireball and finally the wreckage of what was alleged to be the British plane.

"At the moment there is no evidence they have shown that shows that is the RAF aircraft," Tusa told AFP.

If the militants had really put all the camera gear in place, you would have expected to see more of the action, he said.

"The other thing is that it took them over a day to get that video out, which we think was because they were taking time to try to edit footage to make it look right."

The wreckage of an engine shown in the film could have come from a Hercules but "it also bears some similarity to a large helicopter engine," said Tusa, referring to a Sea Stallion such as the one that crashed in Iraq last month, killing all 31 US marines aboard.

Terrorists Threaten to Behead US Soldier John Adam (Update: HOAX!!)

We will post video as soon as it becomes available. Reuters:

A little-known Iraqi insurgent group said on Tuesday it was holding a U.S. soldier and threatened to kill him within 72 hours if Iraqi prisoners were not released, according to an Internet statement.
"Our mujahideen ... have managed to capture the American soldier John Adam after killing a number of his colleagues," said the Mujahideen Squadrons in the undated statement.

It carried a picture appearing to show a U.S. soldier sitting in front of a black banner with a rifle pointed at his head. The authenticity of the claim, which did not say where the man was seized, could not be verified.

"We will cut his throat in 72 hours if our male and female prisoners in the occupation jails are not released," it said.

A group using the same name, Mujahideen Squadrons, last month claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of a Brazilian engineer in Iraq.

Update: Kevin Aylward chimes in

If you think that there's something odd about the picture you're not alone. My bullshit meter went off immediately. The size of the head looks all wrong, like the picture was created in Photoshop.

Update II: Evan Kohlman writes:

1.) The soldier is seen seated in front of the trademark rising sun banner of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's Al-Qaida faction in Iraq. Yet, this was not the group that took credit for the kidnapping. In fact, no credible representative from Zarqawi's group has yet taken credit for this kidnapping.
2.) As pointed out by several colleagues, the boots and uniform worn by "John Adam" are not U.S. military issue. For that matter, where is John Adam's name patch on his uniform?

Marks, a retired Army general, said he has several questions about the photograph's authenticity.

A flak jacket the man is wearing in the picture has an unfamiliar kind of piping or trim along its edges, Marks said. The man's open-legged pants, as opposed to gathered hems, seem odd, he said.

Marks also questioned what appeared to be camouflage paint on the man's face. "We have not used camo paint with conventional forces serving in Iraq," Marks said.

Click for bigger image

I'm happy to have been in on this expose from the beginning. Jeff Quinton has a good run down of the progression, starting with Kevin Aylward, my own, and Evan Kohlman's (who e-mailed me early about the hoax and who will be on MSNBC's Keith Olbermann @ 8:00 p.m.) questions. Others involved in the expose seem to be Michelle Cantalano (who gives the credit to Total Farkers).

Something seemed fishy from the start. I started looking through my photo archives to see if I could match the banner. Unfortunately I had this thing called 'a job' where I had to be in class to 'teach'. Damn, the blogosphere works fast!!

UPDATE V:

Note to self:

Calculate probability that the hoax was generated by an American--very likely because this is, after all, a G.I. Joe doll.

Next, calculate probability that an American would have the wherewithall to post the 'hostage photo' at a website run entirely in Arabic---hmm, very unlikely.

Last, calculate probability that the culprit is an Arab-American..........

All the blogs below are also on the story. I got to hand it to Preston Taylor Holmes, Ace, Powerline, and
GOP & the City for making reality even funnier.

(h/t: Jeff Quinton & M.H. King)

Others: Wizbang, Moderate Voice, Counterterrorism, OTB, ITB, SondraK, Ace, Instapundit, M. H. King, Cynical Nation, Blogs for Bush, Charles Johnson, and a billion more......

Jihadi Love Mail from UK

Here's a first at the Jawa. In the past reader love mail has ranged from supporting the actions of terrorists to the occasional death threat. Reader 'kaka' writes and tells me--among other things--that he will be joining the Mujahadin in Iraq this summer. What other amazing things do my Jedi powers tell me about 'kaka'? Well, he logged in from the City of Westminister College in London, where he is presumably a student (WARNING: Foul Language):

Egypt Attempts Cover Up of Christian Murders in New Jerssey

In yesterday's Religion of Peace Update we told you of a website where Muslims were tracking Christians who had the cajones to speak out against repressive Islam. Today, more info from Robert Spencer who has the exclusive:

A close friend of Hossam Armanious and relatives of the family murdered in New Jersey [background info here] have revealed the following:

Shortly after the murders, members of the Egyptian consulate went to visit the family to encourage them to keep quiet. And many family members have obeyed, saying nothing to reporters or anyone else....

Though the family wants to reserve judgment until the results of the case are released, they did say that the way the four family members were bound and gagged and the way their throats were slit with holes carved is similar to executions that are shown on al-Jazeera. The American public is not aware of this because the details of the executions are not often described in news accounts.

Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Egyptian government wants to keep reports of a possible religiously motivated mass murder out of the headlines of American newspapers. That, after all, would not look good for the Religion of Peace. I'm paraphrasing here but remember: It is better to look good than to be good.

(h/t: Tim at Opinion Bug)

Have You Stopped Beating Your Wife?

So how racist are you, exactly?  Harvard thinks they have a way of figuring that out, via the Harvard Implicit Association Test (Courtesy Tim Blair.)

This test purports to discover what hidden biases you might have on race, gender, sexuality or any one of a number of things.  The methodology the test seems to use is based largely on what appears to be the Freudian Slip methodology.  Take it and you'll see what I mean.

The part that I found supremely interesting was that I took the test to determine whether or not I was biased in favor of Kerry or Bush.  Now, I am going to wait a minute for you all to look back through my posting history and form your own judgment on where I stand.  Don't worry, go ahead - I'll wait.

Congratulations!!!

Was there a major power outtage or what nine months ago? Did I miss orglefest 2004?

Religion of Peace Update 1/31/05

Today's Religion of Peace Update is brought to you by the folks at American Greetings, now offering their new line of CAIR Bears. (Thanks to Eric Smith for the CAIR Bears pic) and by the Mathemeticians for Freedom Alliance reminding you that d/dt (mv) = 0 ; v = const

Today's Religion of Peace theme: "Nunca encontraras una mas miserable madriguera de escoria y villania." (via Flea)

Federal judge says terror suspects at Gitmo can challenge detention in US courts.

Al Jazeera may be put on auction block--bin Laden to start early bidding on e-Bay.

Terror suspect raised money for Islamic schools (shock)

Terrorists strike in Tajikistan, blow up government building.

Iraqi election news roundup from the Poliblogger.

Pakistani, Afghani, and Lebanese jihadis open fire on ex-patriot Iraqi elections voters in Australia. And John Howard, the Aussi PM, proves once again to be one of America's staunchest allies.

Iraqis give terrorists the finger---literally!! (scroll down)

Ansar al Islam Claims To Have Shot Down British Plane but 1920 Revolution Brigade (the group that brought you such hostage takings as Dean Sadek) also claiming responsibility. (via Michelle Malkin)

Giving a Muslim a dirty look = anti-Muslim
Murdering Arab Christians in New Jersey = anti-Muslim
Remembering Israeli victims of terrorism at UC Irvine = anti-Muslim

Christians on PalTalk Chat Service Tracked by Radical Islamic Web Site.

Religion of Peace Uses Child With Down's Syndrome as Suicide Bomber

Thousands protest in Morocco: Tsunamai was Allah's punishment for wicked!

Islamic miracle: Like the images of Mary on a corn tortilla, Abu Mussab al Zarqawi begins to turn up in the oddest of places.

Kofi Annan gets it wrong again.

Arab broadcasters report Iraqi election more favorably than Germans. (via Instapundit)

Iraqi elections a European victory, not US.

Auschwitz and al Qaeda

Ansar al Islam Claims British Plane Shot Down

UPDATE: I knew it! 1920 Revolution Brigade claims downing of British Plane on Video. This is the same group responsible for the kidnapping of American Dean Sadek. (ht: Michelle Malkin)

10 are believed dead in the crash. Via Jeff Quinton this Times article:

The Ansar al-Islam group said in a statement on an Islamic website that its fighters tracked the Hercules aircraft, "which was flying at a low altitude, and fired an anti-tank missile at it".

The statement said: "Thanks be to God, the plane was downed and a huge fire and black clouds of smoke were seen rising from the location of the crash."

Established after the 9/11 attacks, Ansar al-Islam is one of Iraq’s older extremist groups and has been linked to al-Qaida.

First, Ansar al Islam has not been active in over a year. Unless the report is wrong and they mean Ansar al Sunna, which happens from time to time. The fighting remnants of Ansar al Islam seemed to have joined Ansar al Sunna. The only Ansar al Islam related activities in the past year have been fundraising and planning by a cell in Germany.

Second, wrong area. Ansar al Islam's base of operation was in Kurdistan. Ansar al Sunna has been operating in areas that were formerly Kurdish but which were 'Arabized' under the Saddam Hussein regime. The plane was apparantly shot down only 20 miles north-west of Baghdad which is in the Sunni triange but nowhere near al Sunna's normal base of operations.

Unless of course the terrorists were referring to this....

Religion of Peace Uses Child With Down's Syndrome as Suicide Bomber

Via Matt Cardens this WaPo report:

"A handicapped child was used to carry out a suicide attack on a polling site," al-Naqib said. "This is an indication of what horrific actions they are carrying out."

He gave no other details about the attack, but police at the scene of one the Baghdad blasts said the bomber appeared to have Down's Syndrome.

Kuwaitis Kill 4 Terrorists, Capture 'Spiritual Leader'

The 'spiritual leader' of an al Qaeda linked jihadi group in Kuwait, Amer Khlaif al-Enezi, was captured in a 9 hour running gunbattle between the terror suspects and Kuwaiti security forces. Four suspected terrorists were killed in the battle. One of those killed was a Saudi national. The former imam's brother was taken into custody yesterday.

One civilian was also killed in the clashes.

Thousands of rounds were said to have been exchanged in the shootout.

This is the fourth clash in the past month between suspected terrorists and Kuwaiti security forces this month. Many of the suspected terrorists are believed to have been in transit from other Arab states to Iraq. Hundreds of foreign terrorists have been reported fighting the U.S. in Iraq.

More: AFP, The Scotsman.

But, but, but... (Update)

by Demosophist

Today, during a discussion on Fox News about the Iraq Election Moira Liasson objected to Brit Hume's contention that many people had been habitually skeptical about the odds of establishing a legitimate democracy in Iraq. Moira allowed that this just wasn't so, and that although many people had expressed skepticism about the details of the Bush plan nearly everyone had always had faith in the "will of all people to be free." Well, I can't speak for Liasson, nor do I know what she thought back then, but it seems to me her memory may be a bit "selective." Frankly, I don't know anyone who has more credibility with political sociologists on the topic of democratization than Amitai Etzioni, and over a year ago, back in November, 2003, I posted a comment to his blog post A Sociologist's Iraqi Exit Strategy. For documentation purposes you can find the original here, along with his response, but it's reproduced below for the sake of convenience: