Gunmen kidnap 50, including Iraqi Olympic chief

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1537772.htm

Gunmen kidnap 50, including Iraqi Olympic chief

BAGHDAD, July 15 (Reuters) - Gunmen kidnapped dozens of Iraqi sports officials, including the head of the national Olympic committee, as they met in Baghdad on Saturday, just hours after parliament voted to extend a state of emergency.

The attack came despite a continued crackdown by Iraqi security forces in Baghdad. Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki's government is struggling to get a grip on worsening violence in the capital, particularly communal bloodshed.

Police and Interior Ministry sources said the gunmen, wearing blue camouflage Interior Ministry uniforms, stormed a meeting hall in central Baghdad, at about 2 p.m. (1100 GMT) and killed a bodyguard of Olympic Committee chief Ahmed al-Hadjiya.

Hadjiya and about 20 bodyguards, along with at least eight committee officials and the hall's guards, were then bundled into a convoy of vehicles and driven off, police sources said.

[cali]

1. This is what a civil war looks like n/t

[VegasWolf]

5. Shh, HOMELAND SECURITY will arrest you for using the term civil war. nt

[rodeodance]

2. "wearing blue camouflage Interior Ministry uniforms"--more of the same.

[Recursion]

7. The biggest M$M lie

"Personnel wearing police uniforms"...

How about calling them what they are: the police. The death squads we trained and continue to fund.

Once upon a time, back in the ancient days, wars were cancelled for the Olympics. People called off violence for 1 season every 4 years on the principle that human excellence deserves a venue even in times of strife.

Today, we cancel the Olympics for wars, and atheletes who in theory are doing nothing but representing the triumph of the human spirit over adversity are used as pawns and even hostages for political gain.

1972. 2006. Olympic teams taken hostage and murdered simply for believing there is a better way, and believing that human beings are capable of better than this.

[Eugene]

3. Together Forward...

The security forces issued new uniforms at the start of the crackdown
to help distingish real police from the "insurgents" and militias.
Obviously, if militiamen have infiltrated the police and army,
that wasn't going to work.

[Amonester]

6. Methinks somebody has to pay for all those new, new, new...

(an on, and on...) uniforms, and obviously, it ain't workin' (again, and again, and on, and on...)

When will this crazy madness end (and why did it have to begin in the first place?)?

I know, I know... (sadly, my hopes are 'low' for these poor innocent people. Did 'Saddam' ever do such *crimes* before? I mean, beside Iraqis being *forced* not to look at his palaces... they were allowed to play many 'games' for fun, no?)

[Barrett808]

4. But what about all the Iraqi sports officials who *weren't* kidnapped

There must be dozens of them.

[chookie]

8. RIGHT! The liberal press ignores all the good news

Dozens of Iraqis were NOT kidnapped or killed today -- but you never hear about it. And the number of American soldiers killed today is no worse than civilian deaths in Pittsburgh today. We are making such progress in Iraq. God bless George Bush. BTW -- the liberal media fails to report how many grateful Iraqis named their newborn children "George" today -- but lazy latte-sucking America-hating secret-revealing "journalists" never move their sorry asses out of the green zone to document this.

The filter distorts continuously, only publicizing unsubstantiated rumors with the sole purpose of demoralizing our soldiers and handing victory to the terrorists.

Glad that you see it too. Sometimes I feel so alone. :sarcasm:

[Eugene]

9. AP: Hostage Released Unharmed in Baghdad

Hostage Released Unharmed in Baghdad


Sunday July 16, 2006 11:46 AM

AP Photo BAG101

By RYAN LENZ

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - One of more than 30 people seized during an Iraqi Olympic
Committee meeting was released blindfolded in Baghdad on Sunday, while British
soldier was killed during a raid in southern Iraq.

Nashat Mahir al-Salman, 75, a former member of Iraq's Olympic committee, was left
unharmed in the capital's Baladiyat neighborhood, Iraq's Sport Journalist Union said.
There was no word on the other hostages, including Ahmed al-Hijiya, chairman of the
Olympic National Committee.

The victims were seized Saturday in a brazen daylight attack in the heart of Baghdad.
Gunmen in about dozen vehicles pulled up outside the meeting and entered the conference
center. They blindfolded and handcuffed participants and bodyguards, hustled them
into the vehicles, and sped away. The bodies of two of the bodyguards were found later,
dumped along a street.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5954349,00.html