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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Aug-04
France stunned, Arabs embarassed by terrorist kidnapping of French journalists in Iraq

Web Log - August, 2004

France stunned, Arabs embarassed by terrorist kidnapping of French journalists in Iraq

The "nice guys" aren't immune to terrorism either, as the French found out on Friday when two French journalists were kidnapped and held hostage. The kidnappers appear to be the same group, "the Islamic Army in Iraq," that murdered a kidnapped Italian journalist on Friday.

This is apparently the same terrorist group that scored an impressive victory in July by threatening to behead a Filipino hostage. The hostage was released after the Philippines capitulated to its demands and withdrew 50 troops from Iraq a few weeks earlier than had been scheduled.

The group had threatened to murder the Italian hostage unless Italy agreed to withdraw all troops from Iraq. Italy refused to comply, leading to journalist's gruesome murder on Friday.

The terrorists are now threatening to murder the French journalists unless France rescinds a new law that bans Muslim head scarves in schools. The law takes effect on Thursday, when school resumes following the summer vacation.

The controversial law is not directed only at Muslims. It forbids public school students from wearing "conspicuous" signs showing their religious affiliation, including Jewish skullcaps and large Christian crosses. However, the law appears to be mainly aimed at removing Muslim headscarves from schoolgirls.

The French, who have used every diplomatic means possible to oppose and embarass America over the war in Iraq, felt that they were more or less immune to the kinds of terrorist acts directed against America, Italy, and other countries.

Arab leaders, even those who have opposed the headscarf ban, are calling for the release of French journalists.

French diplomats have announced that the headscarf ban will not be rescinded, but have been working channels all weekend to get the hostages freed.

The terrorists have boxed themselves into a corner.

If they release the hostages without getting the headscarf ban rescinded in return, then they'll lose credibility among their bloodthirsty pals in the international Islamic terrorist world.

If they murder the hostages, which the logic of terrorism almost forces them to do unless they get something in return, then they'll further embarass the "nice guys" in France, and their Arab supporters.

Which group do the terrorists care about more? We'll see.

The terrorists have set a deadline of later today. (30-Aug-04) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Aug-04 France stunned, Arabs embarassed by terrorist kidnapping of French journalists in Iraq

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 30-Aug-04
France stunned, Arabs embarassed by terrorist kidnapping of French journalists in Iraq