Breaking
So it has happened:
The same fate that Nick Berg suffered in Iraq has befallen Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia.
The al-Qaida group that kidnapped Johnson posted a statement on an Islamic Web site saying it has killed him. It’s also displaying photos of what it says is his beheaded body.
Al-Arabiya satellite network first aired word that the American contractor had been killed. U.S. officials have not yet confirmed the report.
I feared as much. Other than that, I’ve run out of words.
How many more of these atrocities before they cease being tragedies, and instead become statistics? Keep an eye on the usual “anti-war” suspects for details.
UPDATE: Looking for the Paul Johnson video? You’ll find this one more informative. It shows how our enemies treat each other. Doesn’t take much imagination to figure out what they’d do to us, given the chance.
NOTE: Lockheed-Martin, Paul Johnson’s employer, also employs my bride and occassional VodkaPundit co-blogger Will Collier.
UPDATE: James Joyner has much more.
But I thought beheading was against the Geneva Conventions. Didn’t Osama sign the Geneva Conventions?
This one’s different. Unlike Pearl and Berg, Johnson does not seem to be Jewish.
Watch for ‘moderate’ clerics to denounce this one.
K
I don’t mean this to blame the victims at all, but there is a pattern of this happening to the people who are and act the most comfortable with and trusting of the Muslim people around them.
Nick Berg: His father said he was there to help the Iraqis and was “the best friend they had.”
Daniel Pearl: clearly trusted the people taking him to the “interview.”
Paul Johnson: described as loving Arab culture, had considered converting to Islam, had lived in Saudi Arabia for more than ten years and did not stay in the secured Western areas of Riyad.
I guess for lack of a better word, they all seem to have been “soft targets.”
It really just makes this all the more horrific and demonstrates in another way that the terrorists do not see good Americans and bad Americans.
Waiting for a statement from Bandar Bush. Is he in Riyadh or vacationing down on the ranch in Crawford? Since it seems to work so well, I guess we will be going after the state that harbors terrorists, right? Are the jets scrambled yet….
Go ‘head. Keep an eye on whoever the hell you want with your misplaced rage. We are mad as hell and we won’t disappoint you.
The savages have struck again. When do we take the gloves off?
More thoughts here.
Paul Johnson has been killed in Saudi Arabia
I’m taking a page from Vodkapundit’s playbook: Looking for the Paul Johnson video? You’ll find this one more informative. It shows how our enemies treat each other. Doesn’t take much imagination to figure out what they’d do to us, given…
Hey, but of course it’s bush’s fault. He did it. Thats the ringing on DU. Photos on drudge. Its time to bust down on these SOB’s
Yep, it’s Bush’s fault. It’s not like the State Department didn’t advise Americans in Saudi Arabia to leave or anything…
Oh, wait…
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,118859,00.html
Steve,
In re statistics, I think Nick Berg was the beheading that jumped the shark. If you think about this, they kind of done the beheadings in reverse order of shockingness.
First go for the small-town guy,
Then go for the taped execution of a committed anti-war sort,
Then wrap up with the execution of a journalist on tape.
The way these have been sequenced is going to make it hard for them to generate shock effect with future beheadings.
BRD
I knew it wouldn’t be long before this happened…
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1804&e=15&u=/washpost/20040618/tc_washpost/a50664_2004jun17
No surprise it came on the heels of Paul Johnson’s brutal killing.
Pisses me off… “Hey! Come work as a DoD contractor in the Middle East! Be kidnapped and then executed! Then we, as your employer, will be shielded from financial liability!” Unbelievable.
Look, Islamists beheading infidels and videotaping it to scare everyone is not new. Look around the web and you’ll find plenty of video of Chechens and Afghan mujahedeen taking the heads off screaming Russian teenage conscripts.
This has been aroudn a long time. What hasn’t been around a long time is a plan to do something about it.
Notice
To bloggers who are posting photos of Paul Johnson’s body: Do not ask me to link to them. Not only will I not link to you, but I am going to say something that will piss a lot of people…
There are no words to adequately describe this horror. To say that I am sickened and enraged is to grossly understate my reaction.
But I must say that I’m curious why a post about this atrocity and subsequent responses have to so quickly attack the supposedly hegemonic “anti-war” crowd. Anti-Iraq-war? Anti-terror-war? So conveniently vague.
There are many who consider themselves conservatives who disagree about tactics to win the war on terror, the same as those who call themselves liberal. Almost all but the most extreme on the left recognize that there is an enemy who must be defeated. Those conservatives who ignore the extremists on your side (the ones who would launch the nukes now to obliterate a billion people) should consider that the other side feels the same way about their extremists.
Rather than lash out, reach out; there’s recognition by most on both sides that this enemy must be defeated in a way that doesn’t destroy every life on earth. We ought to be able to discuss strategies and approaches in a calm, rational manner. If you don’t like being called names (Hitler, etc.), don’t call names (Chamberlain, etc.).
Fight. Don’t ever surrender to them. No other option, really.
Captain America plays the violin….
“Hearts and Flowers”?
BULLETIN: Saudi Militants Behead Hostage Johnson (Joe Gandelman)
(This is a good chunk of the initial story. We will run more updates later in the day.) As expected, American hostage Paul Johnson, Jr….
Twisted Savages
The savages have struck again, and beheaded another American - Paul Johnson. My sympathies to Mr. Johnson's family, as to those of Nick Berg, and Daniel Pearl. The savages claim this is in retribution for the abuse at Abu Ghraib - they see…
But I must say that I’m curious why a post about this atrocity and subsequent responses have to so quickly attack the supposedly hegemonic “anti-war” crowd. Anti-Iraq-war? Anti-terror-war? So conveniently vague.
All you have to do is listen to them. A reader quickly commented on my site that there would be fewer of these deaths if we weren’t in Iraq. While that’s objectively true, it’s also true that the anti-war crowd reflexively blames the US in these cases.
The fact that they beheaded him speaks volumes about the depraved nature of their twisted religion. As civilized Christians, at least we have the decency to beat them to death during interrogation.
Just a bit of advice, as an ex-Boeing employee, I’d recommend you remove that bit about Melissa forwarding memos to you….
Captain, you obviously haven’t read the Quran; I recommend you do. Then you can make the decision on whether or not to fight back and win in full knowledge of what Islam has in store for you if you don’t: conversion, enslavement, or death.
“it’s also true that the anti-war crowd reflexively blames the US in these cases.”
True enough–for some, Matt. It’s also true that some on the other side find a way to blindly defend the administration no matter what it does. But I think there are plenty of others on both sides who would like to engage in dialogue if only the rhetoric could be calmed down. Reserve the harsh rhetoric for these maniacs, not the loyal opposition.
What Sekimori said.
There would be fewer beheadings if we weren’t in Iraq, Matt, but not deaths.
1973 – our ambassador who Mr. Palestine thug gave the OK to,
79 – 83, 85, 93, 95 (attempted airlines) 96 98 2000 01.
However, beheadings are common in SA.
There’s a pic of a beheading platform floating around out there somewhere.
Another Beheading Video
Steven Taylor reports that MSNBC and CNN are saying Paul Johnson has been beheaded, per al Arabiya. UPDATE: Fox News also reports that Johnson has been killed (via The Command Post.) James Joyner has more. Northeast Intelligence Network reports they…
Lockheed-Martin, Paul Johnson’s employer, also employs my bride and occassional VodkaPundit co-blogger Will Collier.
And me. Johnson worked in the same building as I did, for a while. I didn’t know him, but I had passed him in the hall a few times.
Paul Johnson beheaded
I just found official confirmation that American civilian Paul Johnson has been beheaded in Saudi Arabia. If you scroll below to my earlier post, you can read more about this sickening story, with links. Unfortunately, there are people who do…
Paul Johnson Beheading
UPDATE: Some other bloggers on this atrocity: WizBang, Dean’s World, Vodka Pundit, A Small Victory, Spot On, IMAO – while the Commissar at Politburo Diktat rails us all for giving free air time to the terrorists over this whole incident. ORIGINAL POST:…
I say eye for an eye.They wanted their prisoners released.They should have……………IN BODY BAGS. Burn them all, let THEM suffer.Civilians aren’t a part of war.Cowards cover their faces.Hope these S.O.B.s rot in hell
Awaiting twisted liberal logic as to why the Johnson’s assassination again means that Rumsfeld should resign.
Moon, actually I thought splodydopes w/their mouths taped shut.
On a bridge, like spy swaps.
Or implant trackers in them.
….what Sekimori said. I’m serious.
TO: Captain America
RE: Strategy & Tactics
“There are many who consider themselves conservatives who disagree about tactics to win the war on terror, the same as those who call themselves liberal.
.
.
.
We ought to be able to discuss strategies and approaches in a calm, rational manner.” — Captain America
We can discuss all the things you want. But first off, I’d recommend you recognize the fact that most so-called ‘liberals’, as found in the so-called major media, don’t support the fight in the first place.
Besides, the S&T of the matter is not for us to decide. It’s for the National Command Authority (NCA). They will decide for us. It is up to US, you and me, to put the proper people in place at the NCA level in order to properly prosecute the war.
Or, if you are of the proper age, ENLIST. Then you can have a direct impact on the tactics. And if you’re really good at it, later, the strategy.
Personally, I’d give a lot to be back in ‘harness’. Give me bust down to staff sergeant and a squad in 1-22 IN(M) or 1-508 IN(ABN).
In the meantime, I’ll just keep on doing what I can here. And that is to prevent some bozo like Kerry to get to the NCA level.
Regards,
Chuck(le)
I’m sick of this, sick and tired of it. I’m sick of upstanding American Citizens being beheaded by Muslims for the crime of helping Muslims in other countries build better lives, I’m sick of having to dodge terrorists because I eat pork, let my women where what they want and don’t pray to Mecca three times a day. I”m sick of of liberal journalists burying the atrocities of the terrorists to the point of saying they’re no better or worse than the soldiers who defend the reporter’s right to report. I’m sick of all of this. I want a sniper bullet in the head of every Mullah heading a Madrassa who ever said “death to America. I want craters where Damascus, Tehran, and yes, Medina used to be, and a statement that if this happens again, Mecca’s next. I want them to feel a taste of what they would do to us if the power were reversed.
Heh…I just looked up Melissa and Will in my Address Book. Dang…sometimes I forget I can do that. I’m Missiles and Fire Control, BTW.
OK, so we’re not princesses….
The latest “threat” is starting to look old…. Is there some sort of misunderstanding going on? I’m having some trouble at the theoretical level, and I think I need to back up. Way up…. First of all, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi…
Captain America,
You’re not missed at the Motif site!