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Al Jazeera Shows Tape of Italian Hostages in Iraq

DUBAI (Reuters) - Arabic satellite channel Al Jazeera aired a tape on Wednesday of three Italian hostages held hostage in Iraq (news - web sites) which it said was dated May 31.


One of the three men, shown eating at a table and then seated next to each other, said they were being treated well, Al Jazeera said. The man was speaking in Italian.


The three, sporting beards and dressed in short-sleeved shirts and trousers, appeared to be in good health.


"Today is Monday, May 31, 2004. We tell the government, the Pope, the Catholic church and our families that we have been treated in an excellent manner up to now and we are well," the channel quoted one of the Italians as saying as he pointed to his colleagues.


"We have had no problems with the men holding us in this place," he said as he sat between the other two in front of a white wall. They were first shown eating a dish of rice and meat at a round table.


Four Italians working for a U.S. security firm were abducted on April 12 near Baghdad. One of them was shot dead after Italy refused to bow to demands to withdraw its troops from Iraq.


Italy has some 2,700 troops based in the southern town of Nassiriya, the third-biggest contingent to U.S.-led occupation forces after the United States and Britain.


Al Jazeera also showed an Arabic-language statement by the kidnappers, calling itself the Green Battalion, urging Italian people to demonstrate against the policies of President Bush (news - web sites) and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.


"Day after day, it becomes clear to Iraqis that your government is part of the decisions of the U.S. occupier and follows the decisions of the criminal Bush. And there is news of a visit by Bush to your land, creating more differences between the Iraqi and Italian people," the statement said.


"Your government is ignoring the fate of the three Italian hostages and the dire consequences they face. Italian people must stage protests condemning President Bush and the Italian government as a message against these policies and this visit."


In Rome on Wednesday, opponents of the Iraq war held demonstrations, two days before Bush visits Italy.


Dozens of foreigners have been taken hostage by Iraqi armed groups who are battling the U.S.-led presence in Iraq. Some hostages have been released but others have been killed.

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So do the Italians cave and get their three people back, or do they stand firm and have them executed like Nick Berg and thier fellow co-worker was?

What a wonderful choice.

I also cannot help but notice the total lack of editorializing in all these articles that describe the enemy, which is in sharp contrast to the articles that describe US misdeeds or mistakes.

The enemy within strikes again.


"O stranger passing by,
go tell the Lacedaemonians that here,
faithful to their bidding, we lie"

Epitath of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae

You don't complain about a hyena's disgusting behavior, you just kill it and get it out of the way. My apologies to hyenas in the comparison with islamic terrorists.

I don't just think outside the box...I turn it inside out with my mind.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>"Today is Monday, May 31, 2004. We tell the government, the Pope, the Catholic church and our families that we have been treated in an excellent manner up to now and we are well," the channel quoted one of the Italians as saying as he pointed to his colleagues. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Yeah, treated great... Except for the one they SHOT! He wasn't treated so great, was he? I hope the Italian government, and people, understand this for what it is: one big piece of Propaganda.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> My apologies to hyenas in the comparison with islamic terrorists.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I like it.

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

I wonder what good 'ol John Paul would think ifin the three got their heads removed ?
If I took that one step further, I wonder what George and Ringo would think ? <img src=newicons/anim_lol.gif border=0 align=middle>

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

_________________
YGBSM !

They've got a ticket to ride, and they don't care!

I don't just think outside the box...I turn it inside out with my mind.

Damn guys, these are innocent human beings.

Take it easy.

"O stranger passing by,
go tell the Lacedaemonians that here,
faithful to their bidding, we lie"

Epitath of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae

Snipe my response was only to the remark made by Horrido about hyenas behavior, comparing Islamic terrorist to Hyenas. And his apology to the hyenas for the remark. I found that to be humorous.

I have the upmost compassion and respect for human life. Sorry you thought I was cold and callus towards these individuals. I assure you that is not the case.

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

And mine was in response to the Beatles comment.

We'll just all point the finger at Hawg166 at this point...<img src=newicons/pain10.gif border=0 align=middle>

I don't just think outside the box...I turn it inside out with my mind.

Wow, threw poor ole Hawg right under the bus eh evan?

LOL



"O stranger passing by,
go tell the Lacedaemonians that here,
faithful to their bidding, we lie"

Epitath of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae

Hawg166 on the wheels of the bus go round and round...

Just as long as he's spared the indignity of being center-striped by the road painters. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I don't just think outside the box...I turn it inside out with my mind.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Hawg166 on the wheels of the bus go round and round... <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

See, he did it again. LOL

Fender
"A woman drove me to drink
and I hadn't even the courtesy to thank her".
W.C. Fields

I cant believe that not one of you thought that was funny. Not even a snicker. <img src=icon_smile_dissapprove.gif border=0 align=middle>

By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a pearage or Westminster Abbey........Nelson

_________________
YGBSM !

I did! Why I was willing to join you on the other side of the bus going whump-whump-whump-whump-whump.... <img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>

<img src=newicons/idea.gif border=0 align=middle>

99 bottles of beer, anyone?

I don't just think outside the box...I turn it inside out with my mind.

Dammit no, it's not funny.

Imagine if these guys were Americans.

I understand you mean no offense, but i don't need an Italian spam invasion on my hands if someone who's name ends with the letter i stumbles across this thread. And besides, it's disrespectful.

Goddamned Hoglets.

"O stranger passing by,
go tell the Lacedaemonians that here,
faithful to their bidding, we lie"

Epitath of the 300 Spartans at Thermopylae