Qaeda-led group executes Russian hostages in Iraq (new video)

[Barrett808]

Qaeda-led group executes Russian hostages in Iraq
by Habib Trabelsi

PARIS (AFP) - An insurgent coalition led by Al-Qaeda said Sunday it had killed four Russian diplomats held hostage in Iraq and released a gruesome Internet video purportedly showing two of the men being executed.

"We present the implementation of Allah's rule against the Russian diplomats to comfort the believers," said the statement posted by the Mujahedeen Shura (consultative) Council in Iraq.

"It is also in revenge for our brothers and sisters and what they suffer of torture, killing and displacement by the infidel Russian government," it added.

The videotape linked to the statement showed the four hostages speaking in separate messages dated June 13, before two of them were shown being killed and another after his murder.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060625/wl_afp/iraqunrestkidnap

[Mythsaje]

1. God, I despise these fuckers...

Yes, the war was wrong, but what they're doing is at least as evil as BushCo's war.

I hope they all get some nasty disease and rot from the inside out.

[adriennui]

2. let's hope the russians release the hounds of hell

on these cowardly, sissified muslims. notice it's rare they use their suicide belts. they'd rather murder innocents.

russians have a ruthless reputation (until afghanistan) i hope they get it back.

[Journeyman]

3. What is it that you're calling for, adriennui?. . .

Wholesale slaughter of the "other" by a Chekist-inspired reinvigoration of the FSB? Is this approach the best in the situation, or even desirable?

[adriennui]

4. i hate to admit, but nothing is stopping the bloodshed perpetrated by

the insurgents/muslims/ etc. can't go around beheading people without any repecussians. the russians have been know to be relentless. it might be a good idea.

[Journeyman]

5. "Blood begets blood . . ."

sayeth the Witches in Macbeth.

"Violence does even justice unjustly." ~ Thomas Carlyle

[Vogon_Glory]

11. The al Qaeda Goons Should Have Thought of That Beforehand...

Blood does indeed beget blood. The al Qaeda goons should have thought of that beforehand. Kidnapping and killing Russians was not only brutal but incredibly stupid. The Russians would happily see the US get out of Iraq and al Qeda would have done better in the short run not to annoy the Bear.

If the al Qaeda goons had shown one smidgen of strategic sense, they would have let the Russians go and look for Americans or NATO allies to kidnap instead. Now they'll have Pootie's boys looking for them.

Good! I hope the goons responsible die hard, miserable deaths.

[Henny Penny]

14. "Sissified Muslims"????

That sounds pretty offensive on a number of grounds....

And I guess they don't use their suicide belts because the CIA would start finding it difficult to recruit replacements.

And wouldn't it just be great if the Russians could be suckered in to the whole sorry mess...

:sarcasm:

[daleo]

6. Funny that they filmed the Russian killings, but not the U.S. soldiers

Not that I want to see either, or wanted either to happen. But it makes you wonder why one and not the other?

[Igel]

7. We can wonder, and

we can make some reasonable guesses.

Lack of time, transportation, and opportunity. They may have believed their own PR--a common failing among idiots--and figured they'd have the ability to move them to a location more amenable for videoing. After the capture the Americans stayed to search instead of beating a quick retreat.

Ot it may be that the loss of the other quasi-leader that day put a crimp in their plans. He was somehow wrapped up in the ideological side of the group, and that frequently entails Madison Avenue sort of thinking.

It's also possible that the group that did the beheading of the Russians purchased their 'sheep' from thugs that didn't quite know what to do with the non-Americans. The kidnappers were awfully quiet until a day or so after an obvious resurrecting of the anti-Russian Islamist cause took place.

[daleo]

8. I was surprised by Russians being in Iraq at all

I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise, but there hadn't been much reported about Russian since the early days of the invasion.

Video equipment is so cheap and ubiquitous (e.g. cell phones can be used for short clips), it would be surprising that kidnappers couldn't get their hands on something on short notice. It needn't have been very professional - in fact, the less professional, the more likely it would be believed.

I have heard the things done to captured Russian soldiers in 1980's Afghanistan were pretty horrible, and that these were sometimes filmed and sent to the Russians.

But who knows what is real and what is propaganda.

[HuffleClaw]

9. who's to say they DIDN'T ??

and its lying around waiting for the right moment to be 'found'.

[HuffleClaw]

10. hmmmm, i wonder if these bad guys are CIAl Qaeda ?

bush would LOVE for the russians to get involved in iraq.

[AngryAmish]

12. Would not want to be the Mujahedeen Shura (consultative) Council in Iraq

In 85 some PLO guys thought it was a good idea to kidnap some Soviet officials. The PLO guys were sent back in pieces. The kidnappings stopped.

[magellan]

13. I'm confused by many of the replies on this thread

The ones that support the Russians handing an equally violent end to the terrorists who did this.

All well and good if they manage to corner the guilty terrorists and there's no question of their identities...but doesn't this sort of thing usually end up in a tit-for-tat reprisal, with innocent lives lost in the pursuit of justice?