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Archbishop Kidnapped

By TChris, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Mon Jan 17, 2005 at 01:57:52 PM EST
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by TChris

The Archbishop of Mosul was kidnapped in Iraq today.

Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, 66, was believed to be the highest-ranking Catholic prelate to be abducted in Iraq, where the local church has been the target of a bombing campaign which has rattled the tiny Christian minority.

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    Archbishop Kidnapped | 11 comments (11 topical)
    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#1)
    by john horse on Mon Jan 17, 2005 at 06:05:51 PM EST
    This may have been part of the pattern of persecution and intimidation of Iraqi Christians by Shiite fundamentalists that emerged after the fall of Saddam Hussein. As this Reuters article points out, due to these threats from Islamic fundamentalists, many Iraqi Christians have left Iraq. They are voting with their feet. American soldiers cannot prevent the kidnapping of their archbishop, cannot prevent the bombing of their churches and places of business. In many neighborhoods, it is the Shiite fundamentalists (who Bush is backing) that patrol the streets. Ironically, things were better for Iraqi Christians under Saddam. According to Armenian Archbishop Avak Asadourian "We enjoyed total religious freedom and there was no religious discrimination".

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 17, 2005 at 06:18:32 PM EST
    I don't see this as a Shiite operation. When you're in the plurality, you go after Numbers 2 or 3, not 7. The Shiites have nothing to gain by going after a much smaller minority. This has Sunni or Kurdish fingerprints all over it. I'd go with it being a Kurdish operation since they are hard at work on the minorities in the north, especially the Turkoman in and around Kirkuk. There's a city that should be in the news a helluva lot more than it currently is - Kirkuk. Major oil deposits in its environs; formerly Kurdish-dominated and arabicized under Hussein. The Americans made a side deal with the Kurds, to keep their support, by promising them the return of Kirkuk. Seems the Americans are now reneging on the deal (wow, didn't see THAT coming!). Seems the Kurds are none too happy about it. Kirkuk could very well become the next flashpoint. Also, kudos to the Holy Father for being four-square against this abomination from the very beginning.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Jan 17, 2005 at 06:28:27 PM EST
    They hurt their own people, just because they are not Moslems. Well they are just following the Qur'an.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#4)
    by john horse on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 04:06:45 AM EST
    Lavocat, Until we have more information about who kidnapped the archbishop, your guess is as good as mine (he could have even been kidnapped for the ransom). I agree that the situation with the Kurds is important and underreported. BurgerBoy, A major contributing factor in why Iraqi Christians are being mistreated is because a predominately Christian nation has invaded and occupied their country. Is it right to take it out on the Christians? No. Is it understandable? Definitely.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 05:06:35 AM EST
    He's been released. Link BurgerBoy, care to comment?

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 06:26:02 AM EST
    Matt W - I will comment. The kidnapping was a demonstration and threat. It was an attempt to intimidate. It was despicable and just proves, one more time. These peoplea are terrorists.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 09:20:44 AM EST
    Indeed, PPJ. I'm just waiting for more generic Islam-bashing from BurgerBoy.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 02:32:51 PM EST
    Has anyone taken "credit" for this yet? I think it would be interesting to find out who is crazy enough to go after archbishops. Ya gotta wonder who they'll go after next.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 03:42:55 PM EST
    Lavocat writes - "Has anyone taken "credit" for this yet?" Naw. But there is little doubt but that it is the White Aryan Brotherhood. Duhhhhh.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Jan 18, 2005 at 06:58:00 PM EST
    PPJ: I am in earnest. Has anyone taken credit or is there any attribution? Doesn't anyone find it odd to begin with? I wouldn't put it past CIA to pull a stunt like this. CIA has been in Mosul quite a bit throughout this messy little affair. It is where they liase with the two major Kurdish parties. Hmmmm.

    Re: Archbishop Kidnapped (none / 0) (#12)
    by pigwiggle on Wed Jan 19, 2005 at 05:28:22 AM EST
    “But it has to be 'terrorists'! That what they do, kidnap people and then release them later, unharmed.............” It has happened several times to journalists, private contractors, and (if you believe Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun) even marines. Not all these folks are Abu Musab al Zar Qawi.

    Archbishop Kidnapped | 11 comments (11 topical)