Italian hostage killed in Iraq

[hadassahchana[$]]

One of four Italian hostages held in Iraq has been executed by kidnappers. A videotape of the execution was sent to al-Jazeera who have refused to air it because it is "...too gruesome...".


Cindy

[erik_kosberg]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...lian.hostages/

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has defended his decision to appear on a live chat show and reveal the name of a hostage killed by Iraqi kidnappers before the man's family had been told.

Critics accuse Frattini of turning the tragedy into a TV reality show. The family of the dead man was aghast.

[Redlass]

I suppose this question is rhetorical, but why do they do this? Has any hostage taking in the past three decades been successful in winning the demands of the hostage-takers?

It's horrible and it is cruel and it isn't the least bit pragmatic. All they are doing is hardening people against them.

[erik_kosberg]

Has any hostage taking in the past three decades been successful in winning the demands of the hostage-takers?

In the case of ransom demands, yes. Many times in Colombia for example (sometimes with overt political overtones when FARC is involved). Successful hostage taking for political/military objectives is more rare (but not unheard of — Benjamin Weir was basically traded for 504 TOW anti-tank rockets). And didn’t Hezbollah recently use the remains of three Israelis and one live hostage to secure the release of hundreds of Arabs in Israeli custody?

[conradd]

hadassachana said

A videotape of the execution was sent to al-Jazeera who have refused to air it because it is "...too gruesome...".

No. The reason Al Jazheera didn't use the tape is because he ruined it for them. Remember that this is the same station that televised terrorists slitting the throat of Daniel Pearl.

He died a hero.

The Italian hostage executed in Iraq tried to tear off his hood seconds before he was shot dead and screamed: "Now I'll show you how an Italian dies."

Instead of a piece of propaganda that they could use to taunt his family and country, he remained defiant. It was a Flight 93 moment - he cheated the terrorists of a victory.

He was 36 years old. He was forced to dig his own grave. And he found, in his final moments, the strength to stand up to terrorism and he won. May he rest in peace. I have no such wish for his murderers.

Deb