WAR: IRAQ: Egyptian Diplomat Kidnapped

Another point of escalation in the Iraq kidnaping saga has put an Egyptian diplomat in harm's way. An insurgent group is claiming to have captured the man and is currently holding him hostage. First reported by Al-Jazerra, this diplomat may have been in Iraq to help clear the path for Egyptian security forces to help the interim government.



When will this escalation result in the alienation of all Iraq's allies? Where does it stop? How does it stop?

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[edit on 23-7-2004 by Banshee]

I hope I am right in saying this but I believe it was a mistake to kidnape an Egyptian especially a diplomat. Let's compare this to the Mafia and how families of this organization control the empire. One rule of the Mafia is that you don not kidnap other family members. By doing so you have condemmend yourself and other members of your immediate family to death. I look at the Middle Eastern Nations as one big Mafia family. Iraq during the rein of Saddim Huessain was a family member. Now we see Iraq without a family orginization and all the other families want to take over. The U.S. by its presense stops this takeover. Egypt is extending its hand in friendship and how does Iraq respond? It slaps it hand by kinapping one of its family members, not a wise move.

Let me guess, they too want Egypt to withdraw their troops???


PS (the joke of course, being that they have none there....as in the last group taken...)

Yup, their reaction is:

Egypt's foreign minister Ahmad Abulghait said Friday in an official ?��
?statement that his country ruled out sending any troops to Iraq.?��

I think it was a set up, I think this was pre-planed.

www.kuna.net.kw...

Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi discussed possible Egyptian training of Iraqi forces during a visit to Cairo that ended on Friday.

The kidnapping of a well-protected diplomat as he left a Baghdad mosque marks a new departure for the militants.


Rebekka


[edit on 24-7-2004 by Riwka]

Iraqi Interior Ministry says Gunmen kidnapped Ra'ad Adnan, the head of an Iraqi government-owned construction company Al-Mansour Contracting Co. in Baghdad.


Rebekka

[edit on 24-7-2004 by Riwka]

This is not a game I would want to play with the Egyptians. Their operators are not as forgiving as ours, and running afoul of them is extremely hazardous to not only the health of the offenders, but their families, friends and distant relations.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I have a strong suspicion that challenging the Egyptians in this way will prove to be a major miscalculation on the part of the "Lions of Allah Brigade".

Further...
Iraq construction group chief seized in Baghdad
The director of a state-owned Iraqi construction company has been kidnapped in Baghdad on his way to work, an interior ministry spokesman said.

The kidnapping comes as Egypt tries to secure the release of a senior diplomat abducted on Friday, and as the Indian and Kenyan governments try to negotiate the release of six nationals held by insurgents.

"He was kidnapped on his way to work this morning," Sabah Kadhim told AFP, naming the captive as Raad Adnan, head of the Al-Mansour Contracting Co.
www.abc.net.au...

Sanc'.

Iraq's Prime Minster Iyad Allawi urged Egypt on Saturday not to give in to kidnappers who have taken an Egyptian diplomat hostage in Baghdad.

"The only way to deal with terrorists is to bring them to justice and to close ranks and we hope that Egypt and the Egyptian government would act accordingly," Allawi told a news conference in the Syrian capital.

Reuters: Iraq Tells Egypt Not to Give in to Kidnappers


Rebekka

[edit on 24-7-2004 by Riwka]

UPDATE:::


news just reporting that he has been freed and taken to an Airport.

news.com.au...

S.

AN Egyptian diplomat issued thanks for his freedom after being released by kidnappers in Iraq today.

Mohammed Mamdouh Helmi Qutb, the third highest ranking diplomat at the Egyptian mission in Baghdad, spoke to reporters by phone this morning.
news.com.au...

Mr Qutb reportedly told the Reuters news agency: "No deals were made."

I bet he did,
Sanc'.

I can bet that the details of what exactly led the "Lions" to change their minds would make for some interesting reading.

Chalk up another victory to Egyptian "diplomacy".