Okay, it obviously won’t always be on Sunday, but here’s this week’s quote.
Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.
—Winston Churchill
Day: September 27, 2004
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Quote of the Week, 27 SEP 04
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CNN Producer Abducted in Gaza
CNN is reporting that one of its Gaza Strip contingent was brazenly kidnapped today.
A group of armed men abducted a CNN producer [Riad Ali] in Gaza City on Monday.
….
CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman said he, Ali and CNN photographer Mary Rogers had left their Gaza office in a taxi when a white Peugeot pulled in front of them, blocking their way, around 6:35 p.m. (11:35 a.m. ET).
Wedeman said a man in his early 20s and dressed in civilian clothes emerged from the car, stuck a revolver through the taxi window and “said to me in Arabic, ‘Which one of you is Riad?’ ”
“We were dumbstruck at first, but Riad then said, ‘I am Riad.’ And then other men got out of the car that had pulled in front of us, and they were carrying AK-47 assault rifles, and they said to Riad, ‘Get out of the car,’ ” Wedeman said.
He said Ali was forced into the back of the Peugeot, which then drove away. No one was injured.
Wedeman said the kidnappers made no attempt to cover their faces.
Wedeman said CNN has contacted Palestinian security authorities in Gaza, but there was no new information on Ali’s status.
Ali, who is an Arab, has worked for the network for about two years, traveling extensively in Gaza and the West Bank as part of his assignments.
The article states that no claims of responsibility have been made. Hamas has condemned the act, stating “this ugly incident is a violation of the sanctity of journalism and contradicts the morals of the Palestinian people.”
I have little faith in Hamas’ concern with contradicting morals. However, I do have a couple of thoughts on this, which should be pretty obvious or I wouldn’t have blogged it.
First, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority have to disavow involvement and, if it turns out they have any influence on these bandits, will work to ensure a safe and quick release. They have to avoid biting the hand that feeds them which, in this case, is a friendly international media.
Unless, of course, I’m right about my second thought. Noting that Ali was specifically targeted, he may be suspected of collaborating with the Israelis. If this is the case, and it should be noted I base this possibility on little but suspicion, Riad Ali is a dead man.
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France Wants U.S. Pullout on Agenda
France is placing restrictions on its participation in a possible international conference on Iraq. The unusual thing is that I have no problems with the French demands, as they are stated in this article.
France said Monday that it would take part in a proposed international conference on Iraq only if the agenda included a possible U.S. troop withdrawal, thus complicating the planning for a meeting that has drawn mixed reactions.
Fine, a possible U.S. withdrawal can be discussed. Our representatives, however, are allowed to smirk and chuckle at will. During this portion of the conference, speaking with a mockingly silly French accent is encouraged.
Paris also wants representatives of Iraq’s insurgent groups to be invited to a conference in October or November, a call that would seem difficult for the Bush administration to accept.
Fine, we’ll invite the terrorists. There will be no promises of safe passage, or even survival. Body cavity searches to be expected prior to each session.
Otherwise, I couldn’t care less if France participates. They bring no value to the table unless they are bearing croissants.
France needs to realize that, short of a Kerry victory in November, they could be whining and cringing their way into international obsolescence. I, personally, do not think of them as an ally. Instead, they are an obstruction, freely selling arms to any country, be that customer friend or foe to the U.S., and occasionally asking us to rescue them or take over their messes.