Target Centermass

Day: November 5, 2004

  • Iraq Insurgents Call for Hassan’s Release

    The terrorists in Iraq are reportedly hoping to save a hostage’s life.

    The militant group al-Qaida in Iraq purportedly called Friday for the release of the kidnapped executive of the CARE charity, Margaret Hassan, and promised to free her if she fell into their hands.

    In a message posted on the Internet, the group led by Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said it wanted the world to know “if (the kidnappers of Margaret Hassan) handed us this captive, we will release her immediately unless it is proven she was conspiring against Muslims.”

    “We are demanding that those who are in charge of her release her unless she is proven to be an agent. If guilty, they should show that to everybody so as not to attribute something to our religion that is alien to it,” the message said.

    The authenticity of the statement could not be verified, but it was signed “al-Qaida in Iraq” and appeared on Web site known for publishing messages from Islamic militant groups. The person who posted it used the pseudonym Abu Maysara al-Iraqi — the name usually associated with statements from al-Zarqawi’s group.

    Are the Islamists suddenly having a change of heart and looking to do their good deed of the day? Hell no. As I stated before, they have stumbled badly and are in danger of cutting their own feet out from under themselves. The Iraqi nationals are very opposed to the kidnapping and threatening of the humanitarian Hassan. Knowing that they will now face constant pressure from the Iraqi government and the coalition following President Bush’s re-election, the terrorists are grasping at straws to maintain any local support that they can. The murder of Hassan, while tragic, would only serve to strengthen the government’s hand and undermine the terrorists.

    No, there is no change of heart for the heartless, but evil can be driven to do good out of desperation.

  • Karzai: There’s a New Sheriff in Town

    While not wearing a white cowboy hat or (visibly) packing six-shooters, newly-elected President Hamid Karzai promised to lay down the law to bring stability to the fledgling Afghan democracy.

    Making his acceptance speech a day in the capital Kabul, Karzai said his pre-election vow to eliminate private militias had clearly won the support of the people. He announced, “This will be a government based on the constitution of Afghanistan and in respect of the constitution of Afghanistan. A government that will work for the strengthening of the Afghan National Army, the police and other institutions of the state, There will not any private militias forces in Afghanistan. That’s the first demand of the Afghan people. There will definitely, definitely not going to be any drug thing in Afghanistan.”

    While needed, changing the warlord-druglord culture will be a herculean challenge. The only true hope for a long-term supplanting of the territorial militias lies in building a capable, professional military with a greater loyalty to national success than to regional or religious goals. Elimination of the opium fields will require constant vigilance and especially the installment of a viable economic alternative for the Afghan people. This will be troublesome in a nation not blessed with great natural resources and will require much foreign assistance.

    Karzai is a courageous man with great dreams for his country and his countrymen. Our continued support should never become an issue.

  • Star Wars RotS Trailer Released

    And it looks pretty cool. Maybe a late-inning save for the series?

    Find the trailer here.