Female Prisoners Key in Iraq Hostage Drama

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060121/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_women_prisoners_1

BAGHDAD, Iraq - In a conservative Islamic tribal society where women are closely guarded, nine female prisoners are being used as bargaining chips in the hostage drama of American journalist Jill Carroll.

Kidnappers had threatened to kill the 28-year-old freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor unless all female inmates in Iraq were released by Friday night. The deadline passed without word of Carroll's fate or the prisoners' release.

The U.S. military confirmed this week that it was holding eight women. However, Deputy Justice Minister Busho Ibrahim Ali said a ninth woman was arrested Jan. 6 — one day before Carroll was abducted.

Little is known about these women, except that they are between 20 and 30 years old and face terrorism-related charges. Human rights activists believe many are detained to pressure wanted male relatives to turn themselves in.




A female prisoner waits to see a delegation of official visitors at the Abu Ghraib Prison on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq Tuesday, May 11, 2004. Nine female prisoners are being used as a bargaining chip in the hostage drama of American journalist Jill Carroll, whose captors are threatening to kill her if Iraqi women prisoners are not freed. (AP Photo/John Moore)

[spinbaby]

1. What I think is going on

The U.S. is holding the women to get their relatives to turn themselves in. The women's relatives are holding the young American to get the women released. What a clusterf#¢#!

[leftchick]

2. I think you are exactly right.

clusterfuck indeed. :(

[Kagemusha]

3. I don' think that's going on. I know it - it's been reported many times

Just not in mainstream American news reports.

[rman]

6. that's what the article says

[spinbaby]

14. Not entirely

It's not clear that the kidnappers are related to the women being held. We're only guessing that they are.

[HuffleClaw]

13. they HAVE been holding the relatives of 'insurgents' hostage

it was exposed a long while back as a direct violation of geneva convention.

[PATRICK]

4. The news doesn't know how to handle it

so it raises no obvious questions at all such as how many women are prisoners and WHY they are being held. Somnetimes it mentions eight prisoners sometimes suggests six are being released. The whole concentration is on Carrolll and those pleading for her release. Embarassed mumbles greet the question of our mysterious prisoners or even how they are being treated.

Another grotesque shame for our news media.

[rman]

8. That's how the media know to handle those things

Either don't report or don't ask the critical questions, and spin as required.
They have experience in these matters.

[rman]

5. "getting at your family" is a mafia tactic

* has already reserved the right to torture kids to get their daddy to talk.
Now imprisoning women to get their husband to turn himself in.

Where does this admin get those ideas?

[daleo]

7. Torture the kids, now rape the wife?

Has it sunk that low?

[rman]

9. Apparently so. In many ways the government is like organized crime.

Not all govt officials are involved - but those are a minority.

[MrPrax]

10. Ahhh...

so the US/UK DO technically negotiate with terrorists.

But in the reverse way, by playing the role of a terrorist themselves--if you turn yourself in, then we will release your women. Is this not a form of negotiation?

I guess suggesting that this is a gross violation of international law, human decency, etc etc. is sorta, at this point, like fining someone for littering after they just emptied their glock on crowd outside a nightclub.

[rodeodance]

11. the US put the clamp on ==after Iraqi 'officials" said that 6 would be re=

leased. guess the us is in charge.

[LisaL]

12. Arresting a family member to pressure another family member-

what exactly can one call that?
It's sick.

[Disturbed]

15. The Neo Fascist Regime of Amerika...

is modeled after the Musollini Regime. Amerika is quickly morphing into a Corporatist Police State. Democracy is dying.

[LynnTheDem]

16. AMERICA VIOLATES THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS.

Every day. Every fucking day.

WHO is the "good guy"?

Ain't America.

[leftchick]

17. AmeriKKKans ARE the terrorists!

I better start listening for clicks on my phone, eh?

:hi: