23 Mar Pacifist Hostages Rescued in Iraq
The CPT’s response? No mention of the efforts by the U.S. and British troops to free their colleagues. No word of thanks to the soldiers who risked their lives to rescue them. No thanks to officers who discovered the information that identified their whereabouts. Only criticism of the United States. Indeed, if you read only the CPT press release, you would think the kidnappers simply let them walk free.
“Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad…. Harmeet, Jim and Norman and Tom were in Iraq to learn of the struggles facing the people in that country. They went, motivated by a passion for justice and peace to live out a nonviolent alternative in a nation wracked by armed conflict. They knew that their only protection was in the power of the love of God and of their Iraqi and international co-workers. We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq. The occupation must end.”
So according to the CPT, the United States is responsible for the CPT workers’ captivity, but apparently not their freedom.
UPDATE: I was not alone in my criticism of CPT’s ingratitude. As noted in the comments, on March 24 the CPT issued another press release, stating that CPT is “grateful to all those who worked nonviolently and who prayed fervently for their release – religious leaders and soldiers, team-mates and government officials, partner organizations, friends, family, children, women and men all over the world. We are particularly grateful that no one was injured in this rescue operation.” Good for them for a quick recovery.
Related links:
Love Thy Enemy, But Not the Enemy of Thy Enemy
When Pacifists Become Hostages
To CPT’s credit, they inserted an addenda to the press release later that evening, thanking the soldiers for rescuing them.