I, too, support more dog toy control laws.

Errr, wrong thread.

We'd be better off if you didn't make so many generalizations. Do you get the feeling that the Iraqi insurgency is tightly organized and that every action comes from some strategic genius hidden in a bunker somewhere? Or that everybody who's taken up arms against the American occupation is ideologically identical, a blood-thirsty savage with no respect for their life or anyone else's?

Because I'm pretty sure you'd be wrong if you think those things. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, some dumb 22 year old Iraqi insurgents who wanted to make a name for themselves managed to get their hands on an easy (but strategically terrible) target? Is it possible that when some of these things happen, even the leaders of the insurgency smack their heads and go "why did they do this!"? Is it possible that there are factions within the insurgency, some of which try to play by guerilla warfare rules, some of which try to win at all costs, and some who just don't get it and act like idiots?

Because God knows those kinds of people all come together in groups everywhere else. Rather than making it out so that everybody is represented by the idiots, thereby preventing us from reaching a common ground with the most sensible and least violent insurgents, let's try to be a little less general, okay?

Andrew, I doubt that there is a centralized terrorist control system but I absolutely think her kidnapping is the work of the same people who have been kidnapping and beheading Westerners for the past few months. I have no idea what could lead you to believe otherwise.

I think it's all basic thuggery. No great ideals, clearly no morals, no anger at the US or anyone else, just base thuggery.

In this particular case given Hassan's attitudes and behaviour yes.

However the "insurgents" as those who resist Coalition occupation are a very diverse and most likely include Iraqis who genuinely don't trust US and UK, foreign mercenaries who want to fight the great satan and it's poodle and those who just want to kill.

Why anyone would want to kill Hassan given her credentials is astounding but the world doesn't make sense most of the time.

"Iraqis who genuinely don't trust US and UK" ... well, as long as they're genuine...

"given her credentials" ...now, someone who supported the war, that would be understandable.

?!

What i meant by her credentials was someone who did not support the war, married an iraqi and lived there for 30 plus years and has done extensive charity work in iraq under both saddam and coalition occupation. in other words she is someone who should not be your terrorists usual target.

Andrew

Why do you care about their ideals and intentions? They kidnapped an innocent woman with the intent to kill her. That is all I need to know. This whole "If we just knew our enemy better" is a load of crap. These terrorists, have no respect for life. They strategicly attack civilian targets and behead them or blow them up with a car bomb. Do you really want to open up negotiations with individual groups? That is a recipe for disaster.