The three Spanish volunteer aid workers have been kidnapped by gunmen when their vehicle was separated from a 13 vehicle convoy in Mauritania.
Mauritanian police say the aid workers were attacked while delivering supplies to villages along a 400-kilometre road linking the capital, Nouakchott, to Nouadhibou in the north.
It is suspected to be a kidnapping by AQMI, al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa. The group operates mainly in Algeria but is suspected of crossing desert borders to spread violence in the rest of northwestern Africa.
In June, American Christopher Leggett, 39, was fatally shot in the Mauritanian capital, not far from a school he helped run. AQMI claimed responsibility, saying they killed the Tennessee native because he allegedly was trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.
In 2007, gunmen in Mauritania killed four French tourists that were picnicking on the side of a highway. In 2008, the world famous Dakar Rally auto race was canceled after organizer’s received threats of a possible attack.
Elsewhere in West Africa, the group also has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two U.N. staffers in December, and the kidnapping of four European tourists a month later. One of the four Europeans, a Briton, was killed by his captors. The U.N. staffers and the other tourists were released.

Just wrote this as a paper, but it’s something we can talk about here as well. Where do you stand in terms of media blackouts?

When CBC journalist Melissa Fung was kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2008, news publications in Canada did not publish information about her abduction to ensure her safety. Four weeks after she was captured, she was released. In that same year another Canadian journalist was abducted. Robert Fowler was taken hostage in Niger for 130 days, but in this case, media chose to report on his situation. Fowler believed that the intense media coverage had a serious impact on the length of his time in captivity.

Most news organizations see media blackouts as a slippery slope. If we ban the coverage of journalist kidnappings, isn’t it only fair to ban coverage of non-journalist abductions? What are the limits of public access to sensitive information? Let’s look at both sides of the coin.

Blackouts reduce the value of public awareness

In the case of Melissa Fung, there was criticism on the part of senior journalists and news organizations regarding the decision to withhold information from the public. The criticism centred on the belief that the nature of news is to report everything that happens rather than suppress it. Sensitive topics must be covered because it is more important for the public to be made aware than it is to hide things from them.

And what about kidnapped civilians? In cases of missing or abducted persons, media coverage is extremely extensive, regardless of their condition. Je Yell Kim, a Canadian man, for example, was held in North Korea. His family kept this a secret for two months until the Star published an article about him. The Kim’s daughter feared the media coverage would put his life in danger but the paper refused to refrain from publishing on account of the story being of public interest. Although Kim was released unscathed, it brought forth an important consideration of what is more important, the value of public knowledge or human life.

In terms of the technological climate, can news be kept secret? Even if Canadian media did not report on a journalist kidnapping, who says a Canadian could not access this information via the Internet? A ban on reporting in Canada does not necessarily mean a ban worldwide. On this topic, John Cruikshank, the head of CBC at the time of Fung’s kidnapping, has said: “It’s hard for us, being who we are, to maintain a blackout once there has been light.” If a story hits the desk of a journalist right after it happens, they feel obligated to report on it. It’s tough telling journalists not to cover a story if they already know about the situation.

Perhaps a media outlets fear they may proceed with a blackout while other stations do not thus keeping them from reporting an important story. It’s hard to get all Canadian news stations to commit to media blackouts so when one sheds light on a particular situation; the others are obligated to do the same.

With respect to Fowler’s kidnapping, Globe and Mail’s foreign editor Stephen Northfield did not deem a media blackout necessary because the stories written did not contain new information for the abductors. This was reason enough to bring the circumstances into the public sphere.

Media bans, a necessity

It’s hard to tell whether or not a media blackout can keep captives alive or shorten their captivity, but based on the testimony of those who have survived hostage situations, a ban or a lack thereof does make a difference. Robert Fowler strongly believes the media coverage had a direct influence on the length of his captivity. “Everything that was said, and indeed not said, had an impact,” he said. His situation was covered right from the beginning up until his release.

Why it is so important to enforce a blackout especially on captured journalists is because hostage takers know the more important the abducted, the higher the ransom, and the more attention brought to their organization. This means more motivation to keep a person captive for publicity’s sake. Fowler asserts that although his Al Qaeda kidnappers were very primitive in some ways, they were extremely technologically savvy and thus aware of what was being said about Fowler. “Anything could inflame or excite them,” he said. “When the media hyped my CV, the price went up.”

Fowler draws a clear connection between the actions of his kidnappers and what was published about him. Even if it’s information that exists already, as previously argued, it gives abductors reason to maintain a hostage situation, or harm hostages in exchange for increased media hype. Even coverage of his release, Fowler said, put him in danger. Other gangs in that region of Niger, upon hearing the news, may have been interested in transferring him into their custody, he said.

In 2004, two inmates in Arizona held a prison guard tower hostage for 15 days. Although the media was aware of the details surrounding this situation, they remained silent on certain aspects. In this circumstance, the purpose of the blackout was to assist authorities in negotiation with the inmates and to ensure no one was harmed. The inmates ended up surrendering without injuring the prison guards.

Journalists to withholding certain details does go against ethics standards of news organizations, but bending the rules in cases such as this one can save lives. A partial blackout is, however, problematic because news consumers do not like to know just half of the story. As Beth DeFalco of the Associated Press, one of the journalists covering this event, puts it: “I think the readers had a lot of questions about what was going on. Not knowing what was going on in the tower made them think the worst was happening.” Is it worth it to give the public partial news, or is it more beneficial to keep them from panicking? Creating worry may be okay when compromising between media ethics and standards and general morality.

Given there is a way to report partially on a situation, to argue that once a story breaks there cannot be limits, doesn’t stand its ground. When Robert Fowler was kidnapped, the storm of reporting that took place could have at least been reduced. Fowler even said that although he is an advocate for complete blackouts, he understands that this is not always plausible.  In those cases, the bombardment of media reporting based on unconfirmed information should be monitored and reduced greatly.

In reality

There is no clear solution to the media blackout dilemma, but based on the accounts of Fung and Fowler and the hostage situation in Arizona, it seems like blackouts do more good than damage.

After Fung and Fowler’s abductions, The Star has created a policy to determine whether or not to apply a media ban. “In certain cases involving kidnapping, hostage taking and/or terrorism, when publication could endanger someone’s life, the Star must put the victim’s safety first.” News sources such as CBC and CTV do say that they weigh the pros and cons of media coverage but there are no set standards in place. The Globe and Mail’s policy, for example, is to publish unless there is a rare circumstance involving the direct correlation between harm and publication. A definition of said circumstance has not been determined.

Media blackouts appear to be necessary in rare cases, but in others, the real issue is how much information should be given to the public? Although this is never arbitrary, there can be guidelines in place. The Star’s policy is a seemingly reasonable standard to follow. It has at least put the wheels in motion for creating limits to publication for the sake of safety.

In dire situations, life must essentially supersede public interest.

“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.” –Thomas Jefferson

With notes from:

The Toronto Star, CBC, Torontoist and Journal of Mass Media Ethics

“THE KIDNAPPER” Photographic print – Courtesy of the FANTOM FACTION

A Japanese engineer was freed after nine days held hostage by tribesmen near the Yemeni capital Sanaa. It appears his kidnapping was a reaction to a member of the kidnappers’ tribe being held without charge by authorities.
Tribal mediators said the kidnappers were insisting on an exchange in which a detained Islamist member of their tribe would be freed. The tribe member being held is believed to be, Hussein Abdullah Koub was a “dangerous element who has fought in Iraq and a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. He was jailed for a year by the US military in Iraq, before moving to Lebanon where he fought alongside Islamist militants against the Lebanese army in 2007, the official said. He was later arrested in Syria before being taken into custody upon his return to Yemen.
More than 200 foreigners have been seized during the past 15 years, with most being freed unharmed. But five Germans and a Briton, who were seized in June in the north of the country, are still missing with no word on their fate. They were among nine people seized in the Saada region, the stronghold of Shiite rebels at war with the Sanaa government. The three others in the group — two Germans and a South Korean — were killed.

A Frenchman, Pierre Camatte, has been kidnapped in Mali by Al-Qaeda’s north African branch, a Malian security official said. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is the group which killed a Briton in May, the first time the Islamists had executed a Western hostage. The kidnapping prompted France to urge its citizens to “immediately leave the area due to a new escalation in the terrorist threat.” French people in Kidal, Gao and Tombouctou regions should “head back without delay to the capital,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement. They also urged its citizens to avoid northern Niger, which borders Mali. Camatte was snatched from his hotel in Menaka in the Sahel region of northern Mali, more than 1,500 kms from the capital Bamako and about 100 kms from the border with Niger, the region is plagued by Tuareg rebels, Al-Qaeda militants and traffickers. Mr Camatte is a regular visitor to Mali, where he is cultivating a plant known for its anti-malarial properties, he also manages a hotel.

Triangle Charity has stated two of their French aid workers have been kidnapped in the Central African Republic, by gunmen in the town of Birao, on the border with Chad and Sudan. The abductions are the latest to hit aid agencies working in the region, with French workers taken in Chad this month and Sudan last month. A local elder told AFP news the armed kidnappers, numbering about 20, fled to Sudan with their hostages, as well as three cars and a motorbike. The International Red Cross temporarily suspended operations in Chad after a French employee was abducted by armed men in eastern Chad on 9 November. The employee, Laurent Maurice, remains missing.

Work and other commitments have left me slow at posting updates, but here’s the lowdown from around the globe:

–Twenty-one persons taken hostage in the southern Philippines have been found dead. Authorities blamed political rivalry for the murder of the 13 women and 8 men.

–A 12-year-old girl is allegedly among those hostages being held by Somali pirates. The girl – identified by a former Spanish hostage who was released after being held on another boat – is the daughter of Ukrainian crew members aboard the Ariana, one of several vessels captured by pirates in recent weeks.

–A deal is said to be close to being made that would secure the release of Gilad Shalit from his Hamas captors. Shalit, an Israeli soldier, was seized three years ago. His captors have demanded freedom for more than 400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for his release.

–The remains of a Briton taken hostage in Lebanon decades ago have been identified. Alec Collett, a UN employee, was abducted during the civil war by Palestinian guerrillas. Human remains were found last week at an excavation site in an area notorious for banditry and kidnapping.

–Pope Benedict XVI has received a helmet from a group of motorcyclists who rode to Rome to highlight the plight of hostages in Colombia. The Pope welcomed the riders, who included journalist Herbin Hoyos, and said he would pray for the release of all hostages.

bagdad line-up tonight also includes dax jordan. hot damn that is a treat! i am excited about this show, for realsies.

ooo speaking of which – why not repost things that were interesting three months ago! memes are forever. memes are a girl’s best friend. it is difficult to know if memes from africa have been mined ethically.

イギリス議会の2009−10年度会期が始まった。初日である昨日11月18日には、「State Opening of Parliament（議会開会式）」と呼ばれる伝統に則った華麗なセレモニーが、議事堂であるウェストミンスター宮殿で行われた。

議会開会式は、通常11月が12月、または総選挙の年の新しい議会の初日に行われる。議会開会式ではまず、ヨーマン・オブ・ザ・ガードにより、現代版火薬陰謀事件を防ぐという名目で、ウェストミンスター宮殿の地下室をくまなく調べる。君主である女王が住居を出る前には、House of Commons（庶民院）の議員が、女王の安全を守るという名目のために、儀式上の人質としてバッキンガム宮殿に連れて行かれるが、女王が無事帰ってこられた折りには解放されることになっている。女王は、公式馬車で議会に到着。女王が儀式に出席しておられる間は、イギリスの国旗・ユニオンジャックに代わり、「Royal Standard」と呼ばれる王旗が掲げられる。そして、

ローブと王冠を身につけた女王が、エジンバラ公に付き添われ、House of Lords（貴族院）に入場されると、庶民院議員を召喚するために黒杖官（こくじょうかん、Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod）が議場に遣わされる。黒杖官が扉の前まで来ると、目の前でドアがばたんと閉められるが、これは庶民院の独立性の象徴だとのことだ。その後、黒杖官は持っている杖で3度ドアを叩いたあと、中に招き入れられる。

そして、守衛官（Serjeant-at-Arms）が英国下院議長の職杖（ceremonial mace）を手に、議長、黒杖官とともに、二人一組になった庶民院議員を率いて、貴族院に向かう。首相と野党党首が通常並んで歩き（今年はゴードン・ブラウンとデービッド・キャメロン）、その後２列になった議員たちが続く。庶民院議員はスピーチの間、女王の反対側に当たる横木の後ろに立って聞いている。女王は中立性を示す平坦な語りによって、「Speech from the Throne」または「Queen’s Speech（女王演説）」と呼ばれる、内閣によって用意された政府の来年度の施政方針を読みあげる。その後は、両議員とも議場に戻り、スピーチの議題を議論する、と言う段取りだ。

伝統を重んじるイギリスらしい、時代錯誤とも思える儀式だが、君主である女王、庶民院、貴族院による国の統治と、それぞれの独立性を国民に示すという意味で、重要なのだそうだ。恥ずかしながら、7年間イギリスに住んでいながら、この儀式をちゃんと見たことはおろか、その存在すらも意識していなかったのだが、少し前に議会見学ツアーに参加したので、今年の「State Opening of Parliament」は興味を持って見た。儀式の所作ひとつひとつに歴史的意味があり、その意味を知れば知る程面白いなあと思う。

ちなみに約75分のこの議会見学ツアー、見所満載の歴史あるウェストミンスター宮殿の中をゆっくり見て回ることができ、経験豊富なツアーガイドがユーモアたっぷりに歴史や蘊蓄を語ってくれる。出口には小さいお土産物のショップもあって、「Parliament」ロゴのお土産も買えるので、ご興味がある方はぜひ（Parliament Website）。しロンドンに来るのが無理なら、オンラインツアーもありますよ。Yesterday on November 18 was the day of the annual State Opening of Parliament to marks the commencement of a 2009-10 session of the Parliament. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December, or in a General Election year when the new Parliament first assembles.

 

In this lavish ceremony, firstly the cellars of the Palace of Westminster are searched by the Yeomen of the Guard in order to prevent a modern-day Gunpowder Plot. Before the monarch departs her residence, the Crown takes a member of the House of Commons to Buckingham Palace as a ceremonial hostage, to guarantee the safety of the Queen. But don’t worry, the hostage is released upon the safe return of the Queen.

The Queen arrives at the Parliament in a horse-drawn coach. The Royal Standard is hoisted to replace the Union Jack on the Queen’s entrance and remains while she is in attendance. After she takes on the Robes of State and the Imperial State Crown, the Queen proceeds to the House of Lords, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh.

Then Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is called to summon the member of the Commons to hear her speach. When he approaches the doors to the chamber of the Commons, the doors are slammed in his face on his approach – symbolising the independence of the Commons. He strikes the door three times with his Black Rod, and is then admitted.

The Serjeant-at-Arms picks up the ceremonial mace and, with the Speaker and Black Rod, leads the Members of the House of Commons to walk in pairs towards the House of Lords. The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition (Gordon Brown and David Cameron this year) usually walk side by side, followed by the two lines of MPs. Inside the chamber, the Commons stand behind the Bar of the House of Lords, and remain there during the speech.

The Queen reads a prepared speech written by the Cabinet, known as the Speech from the Throne or the Queen’s Speech, outlining the Government’s agenda for the coming year, in the presence of members of both Houses. The Queen reads the entire speech in the same tone, so as to indicate her neutrality. Following the State Opening, the Government’s programme presented in the Queen’s Speech is debated by both Houses.

This anachronistic State Opening of Parliament is not a mere historical ritual but also has symbolic significance to demonstrate the governance of UK; the Crown-in-Parliament (Her Majesty, together with the House of Commons and the House of Lords) and the separation of powers. Embarrassed say but I had never paid attention nor was I aware of the ceremony at all during my 7 years life in UK, but I happened to have a chance to join a tour of the Parliament the other day, and I enjoyed watching this year’s State Opening – each ceremonial process and action has its historical meaning and the more I know, the more intriguing.

The 75 minutes tour of Parliament offers you to see inside of the historical Westminster Palace with an experienced tour guide explaining its history and episodes with full of British (old man’s) humor.  If you are interested, check our their website for details. If you cannot come to London, online tour is available as well

The forced recruitment of children is a common tactic amongst rebel groups, and the FARC prove they are not exempt from the practice. This week, there have been accusations levelled at FARC by UNICEF that they have stepped up child recruitment, especially along the border areas with Venezuela and Ecuador.

But an even more stinging accusation has come from former hostage Luis Eladio Perez, who claimed that FARC uses the young girls it recruits as sex slaves. Perez spent almost seven years in captivity and observed how young girls perform sexual favours as a way to earn small luxuries.

Two gunmen wearing Darth Vader masks took 10 people hostage in Venice department store, Florida, Tuesday night.

According to the Associated Press, the hostages were held for three hours before SWAT team rescued them after midnight.

However, the gunmen left the scene and were still at large.

“They took USD12.000 from the store,” said the store manager.

Seven hostages left unharmed, but a 16-year-old female hostage was injured. A video footage of the rescue operation showed she was dragged out of the store by the police.

The guitarist in the band we were hanging out with (Tony), wrote this great, “big-hair”, bombastic guitar piece that I really liked. I wrote these lyrics to that piece. It is based loosely on the relationship of the lead singer and his girlfriend, Dave and Casina. At some point Casina described herself as a vagabond (we made fun of her, of course) and this is what came out of that. We still see David and he is still singing. Casina dropped out of sight.

Vagabond Baby (copyright 1988)

(verse 1)

Appeared from nowhere in leather and in black

She don’t know where but she’d be going back

From her belt hung a bag of crystal fun 

and on his hip he had a loaded gun

She could not deny his intensity and she was all that he could see

All he could see, all he could see

(chorus)

His Vagabond Baby, Vagabond Baby, Vagabond Baby, Vagabond Baby

(verse 2)

He held her hostage and she held him on chains

He was backseat driving with her hands on the reins

When he pulled the ribbon from her hair it felt so right

And he unwrapped her like a gift from the night

Oh, and she smiled all the while, he knew she had come home to be

come home to be, come home to be

(chorus)

His Vagabond Baby, Vagabond Baby, Vagabond Baby, Vagabond Baby

I have taken some people hostage.
Friday the 13th, how fitting!
Now, I have planned this carefully.
You know… looked up the visiting
hours and stuff.
Yes, I took them hostage in a mental
institution, as you might have guessed.
Unfortunately you need a weapon for them
to take you serious.

You’d be forgiven for wondering by now
why I would do such a thing.
Well, I was in one of these once,
being ‘treated’.
I’m a wreck now, fighting the aftermath,
side-effects, call it what you want.
I’ve become irritated, agressive, the like.
And since my life’s going nowhere…
I could have committed suicide but apparently
that’s not an option.
Oh wel…

Psychiatry comes away with it, time after school
shooting time.
Parents, others, too trigger happy with an excuse
that it’s not ‘their fault’, it’s all
‘explainable’ as an ‘illness’.

Great.
So psychiatry is NOT a pseudo-science.
It’s all to do with substances in the brain.
Okay. Good.
They’ll be able to do something about
paedophilia soon.
School shootings.

My cure’d be about £25,000,000.

Enough is enough.
I’m doing to them, what they did to me.
Including making things up to get me locked
up in the first place.

Fr. Michael Sinnott

An elderly Irish priest kidnapped and held captive in the Philippines has been released, it has been revealed tonight.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin confirmed Fr Michael Sinnott has been freed.

The missionary was abducted from his gated compound in Pagadian City on the island of Mindanao on October 11.

Sinnott, 79, from Barntown in Co Wexford, has a serious heart condition and has been taken to a centre for a medical check-up.

Irish foreign affairs minister Michael Martin said no ransom had been paid for the release of the priest, who is a member of the Missionaries of St Columban.

“I am personally delighted and relieved to relay the news that Fr Michael Sinnott has been freed by his captives and handed over to the Philippine authorities,” said Martin.

“The release of Fr Michael represents the successful conclusion of a major diplomatic effort by the Irish and Philippine governments.

“As in previous kidnaps, no ransom was paid by the Irish government. To do so would only have jeopardised the vital work of aid workers and missionaries around the world – it would also place other Irish citizens in danger.”

Sinnott was seized by six gunmen from his gated compound in Pagadian City, on the southern island of Mindanao.

The raiders reportedly duped staff at Columban House, home to 47 missionaries, to gain entry and captured the priest as he was strolling around the gardens.

He had spent the past four years running a school for children with hearing difficulties. He has lived in the Philippines since 1976.

Shortly after Sinnott’s capture, Philippine troops and navy gunboats had tried to encircle the kidnappers to pressure them to release him.

At the start of November the kidnappers released a video in which Sinnott said $2m (€1.36m) must be paid for his release.

                                                                 –guardian.co.uk

The news of Fr. Michael Sinnott’s release was shown into almost all networks in Philippine media on 12 November 2009. Coincidentally, it was also the date of the state visit of US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. Coincidences do not just happen especially if the government says so. It was even said that hostage releases of kidnappers occurred near certain important dates such as the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

At the least, I would think that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo only gives priority to hostages during times when the international community is looking. If no one gives a damn about hostages why would she care? She is a political leech sucking on every opportunity of her fellow people’s misery. No matter how much sucking up he does to the Americans, I doubt that they would fully trust her. She is seen as someone who is fully cooperating with their policy and being America’s No. 1 Puppet in its Freak Show called international relations.

There is also the possibility that she might be collaborating with the kidnappers. After every hostage release, the administration always says that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers. That is most probably not true. In negotiations, something must be given in exchange for the goal. The administration did not say what the thing is that was given. There was no hostage rescue operation since if there was and it was successful, Malacanang would have published it to the media to feast on.

In a documentary of the ordeal of the Burnhams during their kidnapping, it was said that the US dicreetly paid ransom for their release but, due to some problems, they were not released at that instant. GMA could benefit from this by cutting a deal with the kidnappers wherein she would get a portion of the ransom of foreigners and she would look good to the public. 

The weekend starts early this week:
Thursday: Crookers@WMF, support by Birdy Nam Nam

Friday:

Saturday:

and here’s a new tune by my man Hostage!
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6832823681bd2df5/

www.myspace.com/alanhostage

Michael Sinnott, taken hostage by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in October, was freed last night in a goodwill gesture by his captors in the southern Philippines. The 79-year-old man was said to be well despite his pre-existing fragile health. Sinnott has vowed that he will continue his work in the country and does not fear another kidnapping.

This Monday, November 16, Ambassador John Limbert will join the Council to discuss the US approach to negotiating with Iran. Limbert, who has a distinguished history with the US Foreign Service, was just named to the post of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Iran. The announcement came thirty years to the week of his being taken hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran.

To learn more about the appointment and Limbert’s experiences with Iran, read Laura Rozen’s blog on Politico or visit the website of the National Iranian American Council, on whose Board of Advisors Limbert recently served.

On ne moque jamais assez les opérations marketing tirées par les cheveux. Certaines poussent le bouchon un peu loin, d’autres sont juste craignos.

La marque scandinave Cheap Monday – qui à imposé au monde entier le jean slim via des prix dérisoires – a ainsi décidé de jouer la connivence avec ses petits potes : les jeunes hipsters décalés et cools. La nouvelle DA de la marque a fait semblant de se faire kidnapper pour sa “trop grande audace créative”.

Pour sa défense, elle reconnait en toute modestie et sans étouffer un petit rire stupide “ne pas avoir manqué d’occasion d’être épinglée sur le blog Fashion Policy“ qui répertorie les don’t des défilés… Les messages des ravisseurs sont ridicules.

Je suis doublement blâmable : je participe à la création du buzz de cette opération et j’en enrichis le message en faisant croire que je trouve ça nul… Rien de tel pour parler à de jeunes ados révoltés.

Voici une opé aussi orgueilleuse que futée. On gage que les nouvelles fringues d’Ann Sofie Back trouveront leur public au sein de la galerie de 1000 mètres carrés louée à Stockholm.

Des terroristes qui font du shopping… On nage en pleine hyperréalité…

Source : NY Times

The Philippine government has vowed revenge against the Abu Sayyaf Group today after the head of hostage Gabriel Canizares was found in a bag on the island of Jolo. Militants had abducted the teacher three weeks ago and demanded a ransom for his return, which his family and authorities refused to pay. A spokesperson for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the government would take tough action against the rebels: “We shall make them pay for the enormity of this savagery.”

Knee-jerk reactions to a small increase in asylum-seekers in boats do nothing to solve the long-term problem, writes Mike Steketee… From The Australian. Full story

This site may contain information about: aluminum fishing boats. The blog is also related to: sailboat.

And to this day, we still haven’t properly thanked Iran for this act of war.

Every year on the anniversary of the Iranian seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, where 53 Americans were held hostage for 444 days, the Iranian regime sponsors mass rallies to mark the event, with bused in pro-regime crowds burning U.S. flags and chanting “death to America” for the cameras. This year, something different happened, anti-regime protesters risked their lives to take to the streets and shout “death to the dictators’, while trying to stay one step ahead of the regime police, military, and paramilitary security forces using everything up to and including reports of live ammunition to try and stop them.

Iran protesters take to streets as regime marks 30th anniversary of US Embassy seizure

Iranian security forces used clubs, teargas and paintball guns to disperse thousands of antigovernment protesters in Tehran on Wednesday who took to the streets as thousands of regime loyalists marked the 30th anniversary of the US Embassy takeover in 1979.

While a pro-government crowd chanted anti-American slogans and burned US flags at the walls of the former embassy compound — still often called the “den of spies” – antigovernment demonstrators were caught in sometimes vicious confrontations at other locations in central Tehran in the first mass protests for six weeks.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the embassy takeover anniversary has been an important event for rallying regime support, so the scale and boldness of the opposition turnout – after weeks of warnings from security officials that any attempt to gather would be harshly confronted—was seen as a test of opposition strength.

“Greens [won] by far. They proved that no longer can the government assemble people without any incident, and [the regime] has based everything since the beginning on [large] public assemblies,” said one witness who, like others quoted in this story, asked not be named for security reasons. “Also, if you bring out [security] guards in such numbers, you know you are in deep trouble. The government as expected was scared.”

And while the Islamic Republic revitalizes the anti-American pillar of its revolution with a celebration, many of the radical students who took control of the embassy have since become reformist critics.

And the pro-democracy protesters had a message for Obama.

Opposition demonstrators, meanwhile, chanted “Obama, Obama, are you with us, or against us?” Many opposition activists have been critical of Mr. Obama for negotiating with the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whom they say was re-elected in June as a result of fraud and vote-rigging.

So, it’s the 30th anniversary of one of the most humiliating episodes in American history, an act of war that Iran still hasn’t paid any price for, and Obama decides to issue a statement to mark the event. Does he lend U.S. support to the brave pro-democracy factions, risking their lives to bring freedom to the Iranian people? Hell no, he “reaches out” again to the belligerent Iranian regime that consistently spurns U.S. diplomatic overtures on a weekly basis.

Obama calls for new relationship with Iran on anniversay of embassy takeover

President Obama today called for a new relationship with Iran in a statement that marked the 30th anniversary of the takeover by Iranian militants of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

The seizure of the embassy by radical students marked the beginning of Iran’s turn to hard-line policies. Fifty-two Americans were held hostage for 444 days.

“This event helped set the United States and Iran on a path of sustained suspicion, mistrust and confrontation,” Obama said in his statement. “I have made it clear that the United States of America wants to move beyond this past, and seeks a relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran based upon mutual interests and mutual respect.”

Of course, Obama’s endless all carrot, no stick apologies have become something of a running joke in international circles, his weakness is palpable. Like clockwork, the Iranians rebuked Obama’s groveling with the same response they’ve used ever since Obama took office.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Rejects Engagement With U.S.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday rejected any direct engagement with the United States, stressing that the Islamic Republic will not be deceived by Washington’s “apparent re-conciliatory behavior.”

“We do not want any negotiations whose results are predefined by the U.S.,” Khamenei said Tuesday. “Iran will not be deceived by Washington’s apparent re-conciliatory behavior.”

Oh, and if Obama somehow thinks the Iranian regime is kidding when they keep telling him in no uncertain words that they have no intention of cooperating with the United States or the West, all he has to do is take a look at what Israel found today.

Israel: Commandos seize huge Iranian arms shipment

Open crates from a cargo ship seized Wednesday by Israel revealed dark green missiles inside. Containers from the vessel bore writing in English that said “I.R. Iranian Shipping Lines Group.”

Israel alleged that the shipment of hundreds of tons of rockets, missiles, mortars, grenades and anti-tank weapons — the largest it ever seized — was headed for Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

Israel stopped the ship, named the Francop, off the coast of Cyprus and towed it to the port of Ashdod. It carried orange, red, white and blue containers piled three deep on its deck.

Rows of crates from the vessel were displayed on the dock, and inside were rockets, hand grenades, mortars and ammunition. At least 3,000 missiles were on board, the Israeli military said.

The seizure spotlighted the dangerous tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel considers Iran a strategic threat because of its nuclear program and long-range missile development, dismissing Iranian denials that it is building nuclear weapons.

Among the weaponry displayed were Katyusha rockets. One of the long skinny missiles sat atop a pile of storage boxes the military had labeled in Hebrew “rocket 122 mm.” The 122 mm Katyusha was the main weapon used against Israel by Hezbollah in a monthlong war in 2006. During that war, about 1,200 people were killed in Lebanon, most of them civilians, and about 160 people were killed in Israel.

See also:
Iran Protests Against U.S. and Regime on Hostage Anniversary
Iran protesters hijack 30th anniversary of US embassy seizure
Protests erupt on 30th anniversary of U.S. embassy seizure
Iranian opposition and police in fresh clashes
Iranians hold anti-U.S. rallies to mark 30th anniversary of embassy takeover
Iranians Mark 30th Anniversary Of U.S. Embassy Siege, Anti-Government Protesters Dispersed
Clashes in Iran on Embassy Takeover Anniversary
Relationship With Iran Should Be Based On Mutual Interests: Obama
Obama calls for new relationship with Iran
Obama: Iran must decide what its focus is
The President Snubs Iran’s Democrats
Iran’s Courageous Dissidents Need Our Support
‘Obama Are You with Iran or with Us?’
Dialogue with Obama a trick, says Khamenei
Supreme Leader Ridicules Obama, Condemns U.S.
Iran warns US against influencing talks
Strong oil prices give confidence to Iran amid sea of troubles
Iran Boosts Output of Uranium Mine, Satellite Images Show
Israel says seized ship contained Iranian arms
Analysis: Seized arms evidence of Iran’s investment of Israel’s borders
Israel Seizes Ship Loaded With Weapons
Former Embassy Hostages Recall Anniversary of Iran Takeover
Iran hostage crisis
The Hostage Crisis in Iran
Iran Hostage Crisis
30 Years Later: Iran Hostage Crisis

/how many time does the Iranian regime have to kick Obama in the nuts before he feels the pain and humiliation, man’s up to the in your face hostility, and fights back in defense of the United States’ honor and national security?