U.S. Hostage Pleads for His Life in Iraq

cato2 · 01-25-2005, 17:54

Of 10 reported kidnappings the terrorist have posted a video of an American kidnapped in Nov. and just now surfacing. In it he pleads not to Bush but to other Arab leader for his release. I would hope with the call for more kidnappings on the eve of the elections that all foriegn people take care and are aware of the potential for kidnapping.

Quote:

U.S. Hostage Pleads for His Life in Iraq

By SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - An American hostage pleaded for his life with a rifle pointed at his head in a video released Tuesday, while nine Iraqis, including a senior judge, were killed in a series of attacks that highlighted the security risks ahead of this weekend's elections.

On a day that the U.S. military said six American soldiers had died, interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi also said the time was not right to talk of a U.S. troop withdrawal. Iraq must first build up its security forces to confront the insurgents, Allawi said.

In the video, hostage Roy Hallums spoke slowly, rubbing his hands as he sat with the barrel of the rifle inches from his head. He said he had been arrested by a "resistance group" because "I have worked with American forces." He appealed to Arab leaders, including Libya's Moammar Gadhafi, to save his life.

Hallums, 56, was seized Nov. 1 along with Filipino Robert Tarongoy during an armed assault on their compound in Baghdad's Mansour district. The two worked for a Saudi company that does catering for the Iraqi army. The Filipino was not shown.

"I am please asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved I worked for American forces," the bearded Hallums said. "I'm not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who've been pushed into this hellhole."

Hallums said he was asking for help from "Arab rulers especially President Moammar Gadhafi because he's known for helping those who are suffering."

His ex-wife, Susan Hallums, told reporters outside her Corona, Calif., home that he has "never hurt anybody in his life."

"He mentioned in the video that — I believe he said he wouldn't ask President Bush to do anything — but please President Bush do something," Susan Hallums said. "I'm sure it was a speech he was supposed to say but he's an American hero and I think we should try to help him out. He needs our help."

She is separated from her husband, who is the father of their two daughters.

A statement that surfaced Tuesday in the name of the Islamic Army in Iraq called for more kidnappings and attacks before Sunday's elections.

The call, made on a Web site known for its Islamic militant content, could not be authenticated. Militants have used the site to claim responsibility for attacks and to condemn the Iraqi government and U.S.-led forces in Iraq. Less often, they have made such direct appeals for violence.

"Enemies of God such as the Americans and their agents, the hypocrites and the apostates, are attempting to make the infidel elections succeed at the end of the month," the statement said. To that end, it said, "the headquarters of the Islamic Army in Iraq is giving its orders to all troops affiliated with it everywhere to escalate their operations to the maximum."

Officials have warned of a surge in violence around the elections, which insurgents have vowed to disrupt.

At least 10 Americans have been taken hostage, but only one has been freed or escaped.

Fighting erupted Tuesday in Baghdad's eastern Rashad neighborhood as police fired on insurgents who were handing out leaflets warning people not to vote.

About the same time in the same neighborhood, insurgents fired on police who were checking on a possible car bomb.

Another bomb blew off the gate of a secondary school in the neighborhood and gunmen opened fire on Iraqi and U.S. forces responding to the blast.

In all, three policemen were killed and nine were wounded in the clashes, according to an official at Kindi Hospital. Two insurgents died and a shopkeeper also was killed in the crossfire. Earlier, officials reported 11 policemen were killed and offered no explanation for the revised toll.

Elsewhere, gunmen killed two Iraqi army soldiers on patrol west of Baghdad, witnesses said.

The slain judge was identified as Qais Hashim Shameri, secretary general of the judges council in the Justice Ministry. Assailants sprayed his car with bullets, also killing his driver and wounding a bodyguard.

The Ansar al-Sunnah Army, one of Iraq's most active insurgent groups, claimed responsibility. In a Web posting, it called him "one of the heads of infidelity and apostasy of the new Iraqi government."

Assailants also shot and killed a man who worked for a district council in western Baghdad as he was on his way to work, police said.

In a third ambush, gunmen firing from a speeding car wounded three staffers from the Communications Ministry heading to work, police Lt. Iyman Abdul-Hamid said.

Attackers also shot and killed the son of an Iraqi translator working with U.S. troops, police said.

A police colonel was gunned down Monday, along with his 5-year-old daughter, as he was driving in southern Baghdad, officials said. Col. Nadir Hassan was in charge of police protecting electric power facilities in two provinces flanking the capital.

Northeast of Baghdad, a U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled into a canal during a combat patrol, killing five American soldiers from the Army's 1st Infantry Division and wounding two others, the military said Tuesday. The accident, which was under investigation, occurred near the town of Khan Bani Saad during fierce sandstorms Monday night.

Another U.S. soldier died of wounds from a roadside bomb that blasted an American patrol in Baghdad, the military added.

Speaking to reporters, Allawi said U.S. troops could not be withdrawn until Iraq builds up its security forces.

"Others spoke about the immediate withdrawal or setting a timetable for the withdrawal of multinational forces," he said. "I will not deal with the security matter under political pretexts and exaggerations that do not serve Iraq and its people."

"I will not set final dates" for the withdrawal of international forces "because setting final dates will be futile and dangerous," Allawi said.

There has been speculation that the new Iraqi government to be chosen after the weekend elections might ask the Americans to begin negotiations for their departure — as demanded by Sunni Arab insurgents as well as members of the Sunni clergy. However, none of the major political figures contesting the election has publicly called for such a step.

Bush discussed the elections Tuesday with Allawi, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, the latest in a series of consultations about the vote.

Iraqis are to choose a 275-member National Assembly and legislatures in each of the 18 provinces. Voters in the Kurdish-ruled area of the north also will elect a regional parliament.

Many Sunni Arabs are expected to boycott the elections, either in opposition to the process or for fear of reprisals.

On Tuesday, militants handed out flyers in Baghdad promising that rebels would attack voters and shower polling stations with bombs, mortar fire and rockets. The leaflets, which didn't bear the name of any militant group, warned that "those who dare to stand in the lines of death to participate in the elections will be responsible for the consequences that will be heavy."

"He will not be able to imagine what will happen to him and his family for taking part in this crusaders' conspiracy to occupy the land of Islam," the flyers said.

In other violence, gunmen in northern Iraq kidnapped a senior official in the Iraqi Communist Party, Mohammed Nouri Aqrawi, in the city of Mosul, a party official said.

Attackers blasted a school to be used as a polling station with machine gun fire in the central city of Diwaniyah, but no one was hurt, a Polish military spokesman said.

On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting the abuse of detainees by Iraq's fledgling, U.S.-trained security forces.

With few exceptions, Iraqi authorities have not acted to stop the mistreatment, the report said. International police advisers, largely funded by Washington, "have turned a blind eye to these rampant abuses," it said.

Human Rights Watch said it interviewed 90 detainees in Iraq, of whom 72 claimed to have been tortured or abused.

The Iraqi government acknowledged abuses and said it had launched its own inquiry.

"We are sure that there are violations in these prisons, but not so serious. The investigation is still under way," said Husham al-Suhail, an official in Iraq's Human Rights Ministry.

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odannyboy · 01-25-2005, 20:13

I'm not optimistic he will be realesed, these animals love killing for the sake of killing alone, and I don't believe any American captured by these savages influences them at all by pleading for their life, as they patiently wait for their perverted thrill in murdering their innocent captives and further spreading fear.

Snowden · 01-25-2005, 23:15

I agree, Dan. He says what they say he must say; but there is nobody who can help him unless we find him and capture those who are holding him.

Mercy is not part of their game; they love killing the "infidels," and even if he's Muslim or says he will convert, he is still an American. He will probably be on video on the Iraqi election day. God forbid; but it's what I would expect to hear.

BrianK · 01-25-2005, 23:59

Doesn't seem likely that help will come from any source. I think the shock value of beheading was calculated to have cost credibility in their cause and that is why he has been held since Nov. But now so close to the elections brutality in any form has a psycological value.

The plea has to have been scripted

["I am please asking for help because my life is in danger because it's been proved I worked for American forces," the bearded Hallums said. "I'm not asking for any help from President Bush because I know of his selfishness and unconcern for those who've been pushed into this hellhole."]

This man is a civilian so theoretically he wasn't pushed to be in Iraq. A choice of his own for whatever reason. I can't blame the man for saying whatever he needs to to try to save his own life. He isn't in the military so wouldn't fall under the same rules. He has to know his life has no meaning to his captors so whatever keeps him alive gives him some hope of being rescued. IMO that will be the only way he gets out of there alive.

cato2 · 01-26-2005, 00:28

I think being an American seals his fate. I am sure he fears for his life and rightfully so. And as noted he is a civilian who chose to go to Iraq. Capitulating to his captors is not going to buy him time. When the time comes, they will do what they have in the past to their victems. Hard to say what any of us will do unless we are in those shoes. But his plea will not prevail, he is a pawn in something that is much bigger then he or even his captors.

odannyboy · 01-26-2005, 01:09

Don't overestimate the terrorists and their brutality, they know they can only win through fear but the Iraqi people, perhaps when organized and properlly equipped, could find some unifying value in a popular backlash to all this disgusting violence the terrorists are hoisting their way, which obviously sickens anyone with any conscience, regardless of your religion.

However, at the present time, fear still rules the street. And you have to marvel at the strength and bravery of those running for office in the upcoming elections.

I think if we had more troops over there we could declare martial law for the elections and people would be happy we did, cause its for their own safety.

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