Rescued by the Nothern Alliance!
Ron Gibson
Offended>
Aid worker: 'We were really scared'
November 15, 2001 Posted: 4:22 AM EST (0922 GMT)
Freed German aid worker Georg Taubmann speaks with reporters outside the
German Embassy in Islamabad.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Eight Western aid workers, locked in Afghan
prisons and fearing for their lives, were freed by anti-Taliban fighters
and spirited to safety aboard U.S. helicopters Thursday.
The aid workers -- four Germans, two Americans and two Australians --
were all safely at their respective embassies and were said to be in
good health.
Alistair Adam, an Australian Embassy official, said the workers -- held
for more than three months after being detained by the Taliban on
charges of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity -- were tired and
wanted to wash. "They're very elated to be free at last. They seem
perfectly fine to me. They're rational, and they've coped very well with
this situation."
Relief evident amid laughter The German workers were laughing and
smiling as they stepped from cars outside the German Embassy in
Islamabad. Their relief was evident as Georg Taubmann, head of the aid
group in Afghanistan, told reporters how the Taliban had taken the eight
with them on the retreat from Kabul.
The Taliban "wanted to take us to Kandahar, and we knew if you end up in
Kandahar you would not survive there," Taubmann said, speaking through
an interpreter. He said they had stopped Tuesday and their captors "put
us all in a steel container. It was terribly cold and they wanted to
lock the container and leave us there (until) morning, and we had no
blankets..."
The next morning, he said, the detainees were taken to a jail in Ghazni,
"which was a terrible place. It was the worst place. We have been in
five prisons."
Taubmann said the eight were freed from the prison by anti-Taliban
forces. "The Massood people came, and others from the alliance, and
broke into the prison and just opened the doors ... We were really
scared, and then the alliance people came in ... and we were free and we
got out of prison and we walked through the city and the people came out
of their houses and hugged us and greeted us, and they were all clapping
...
"I think this was one of the biggest days of my life," Taubmann said.
Bernard Barrett, a spokesman for the International Red Cross in
Islamabad, said a local military commander in Ghazni, about 90 miles
southwest of Kabul, contacted Red Cross officials in Afghanistan on
Tuesday to discuss the detainees.
"(He) told them that he had rescued the eight SNI (Shelter Now
International) people and asked for help to arrange for their
transportation," Barrett said, explaining that the IRC facilitated
communications between the governments of the detainees and the local
military commander. SNI is a German relief agency that provided food and
homes to the poor of Afghanistan.
'We're amazed how it worked'
Some of the freed workers are transported in this van to their embassies
in Islamabad. The detainees are Australians Peter Bunch and Diana
Thomas, Americans Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer, and the Germans --
Taubmann, Katrin Jelinek, Margrit Stebner and Silke Durrkopf. The
American and Australian workers appeared healthy as they were driven to
their embassies.
There has been no word on the fate of 16 Afghan Muslims who worked for
the aid agency and were arrested at the same time as the Westerners.
The aid workers were taken out of Afghanistan around 4:40 p.m. ET (2:40
a.m. Thursday in Afghanistan) by three U.S. Special Operations
helicopters.
"It was dramatic up to the last minute," Taubmann said. "We had almost
given up that the Americans would find us. But then they did... We're
amazed how it worked out so well."
"I'm thankful they're safe, and I'm pleased with our military for
conducting this operation," U.S. President George W. Bush said from his
ranch in Texas, where he is meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin.
"I am really proud of our armed forces, and I am also thankful for the
folks in Afghanistan who helped with this rescue," Bush said.
Neighbors, friends celebrate As the news of the rescue spread,
relatives, friends and members of Antioch Community Church in Waco,
Texas -- where the two American aid workers -- Curry, 30, and Mercer,
24, are members -- celebrated by cheering, hugging and crying.
Reached by telephone in Islamabad, Mercer's father, John Mercer, told
CNN he "doesn't know it's true until" he sees his daughter.
John Mercer has been staying in Pakistan, along with Curry's mother,
Nancy Cassell. The parents have not seen the aid workers since September
1 on a visit approved by the Taliban.
Deborah Oddy, Mercer's mother, had just returned to the United States
from Pakistan on Monday.
"I heard reports on the news first and frankly couldn't believe it, but
now I have it confirmed, it's wonderful news," she said in Lewiston, New
York
When asked if her daughter would continue her religious mission work,
Oddy said she probably wouldn't for the near future.
"From letters we've received from Heather, I think she just needs some
down time," she said.
In Nashville, Tennessee, Curry's stepfather, Jim Cassell, said this was
the most exciting day of his life.
"I'm so ecstatic, I don't have the words to say," he said. "The prayer
has really brought her into this situation (the release), and got her
out of the hands and clutches of the Taliban, those evil people over
there."
A day earlier, Bush said the United States was using its full
intelligence capacity to make sure the aid workers "stay out of harm's
way" during the U.S.-led bombing campaign against the Taliban and Osama
bin Laden's al Qaeda terror network.
--
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Home Page: http://home.netcom.com/~rgibson/index.htm
NJ Vike
been tried and murdered.
"Ron Gibson" <rgi...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.165d6f966...@nntp.ix.netcom.com...
Ron Gibson
> I'm so glad that they are alive. I would've thought for sure they would've
> been tried and murdered.
This is one of the real feel good stories in this thing. The Afghans
cheering their release as they fled should send a very strong message.
I've got yet another major update for another post.
--
Email: rgi...@ix.netcom.com
Home Page: http://home.netcom.com/~rgibson/index.htm
The Enigmatic One
NOSPAM...@excite.com says...
>
>
>I'm so glad that they are alive. I would've thought for sure they would've
>been tried and murdered.
To be fair, had they been tried, they would have been executed, not
murdered. (Unless you feel any execution, ever, is murder, which I might be
willing to agree with.)
-Tim
NJ Vike
Should these individuals have been there preaching in the first place?
"The Enigmatic One" <t...@again.spammers> wrote in message
news:b0dJ7.1862$c4.51...@ounews.ou.edu...
Geoff Gass
> Now, another opinion on the matter.
>
> Should these individuals have been there preaching in the first place?
I'm not big on evangelism, so my general thought is no. I'm aware that some
groups basically trade conversion for food and things like that, which I
think is crap.
Ron Gibson
> To be fair, had they been tried, they would have been executed, not
> murdered. (Unless you feel any execution, ever, is murder, which I might be
> willing to agree with.)
You know I have a really weird view of that. IMO, a state execution is
more of a murder than someone that say revenges the murder of his wife.
I don't believe in capital punishment in general anyway and I had a
close friend that was murdered. Life in prison is better. It allows
the falsely convicted some hope and I can't think of anything worse than
rotting in a cell forever.
Not there are a bunch of unsual situations that make that cmplicated. So
don't jump on me...I'm just a simple idealist :)
Ron Gibson
> Now, another opinion on the matter.
> Should these individuals have been there preaching in the first place?
They claim they weren't. However, the death penalty for espousing
another religion is a bit harsh.
Dan Snyder
<eleS4DQ3N6dS-p...@user-33qtshp.dialup.mindspring.com>,
rgi...@ix.netcom.com (Ron Gibson) wrote:
> "NJ Vike" <NOSPAM...@excite.com> stated:
>
> > Now, another opinion on the matter.
>
> > Should these individuals have been there preaching in the first place?
>
> They claim they weren't. However, the death penalty for espousing
> another religion is a bit harsh.
Actually, if they are Christians, then they should be there preaching.
Jesus said to "go into all the world...", and frankly, He didn't say
anything about being asked.
I don't mean to suggest that Christians are supposed to be pushy. To
many are, and too many others ignore the Great Commission. There are
many ways of fulfilling this commandment which do not require the
Christian to be rude. But they are supposed to go everywhere.
Ron Gibson
> > > Should these individuals have been there preaching in the first place?
> > They claim they weren't. However, the death penalty for espousing
> > another religion is a bit harsh.
> Actually, if they are Christians, then they should be there preaching.
> Jesus said to "go into all the world...", and frankly, He didn't say
> anything about being asked.
> I don't mean to suggest that Christians are supposed to be pushy.
The early report had them as had doing nothing at all. But I just saw
their interview and what got them arrested was giving a child a "Who is
Jesus" book, so technically they did do something.
Actually in light of that, they should have known better, not that I
think they should have been executed for that.
NJ Vike
"Dan Snyder" <sn...@tc.umn.edu> wrote in message
news:snyds-8355F0....@laurel.tc.umn.edu...
Dan Snyder
"NJ Vike" <NOSPAM...@excite.com> wrote:
> Didn't John the Baptist meat a similar fate?
Hmmm, I think I missed the part where John the Baptist was rescued by
special forces. Is that according to the NJV ;)
Dan Snyder
rgi...@ix.netcom.com (Ron Gibson) wrote:
I think they were following the Great Commission - they went into the
world, and even in a country where it is considered a crime, they gave
information when asked. As far as "knowing better", it may more have
been a matter of knowing one who is far better and then trusting in the
same.
Ron Gibson
> I think they were following the Great Commission - they went into the
> world, and even in a country where it is considered a crime, they gave
> information when asked. As far as "knowing better", it may more have
> been a matter of knowing one who is far better and then trusting in the
> same.
Seeing how their rescue was straight out of a Hollywood thriller it was
nothing short of a miracle.
Someone was watching over them...
Dan Snyder
<eleS4DQ3N6dS-p...@user-33qts43.dialup.mindspring.com>,
rgi...@ix.netcom.com (Ron Gibson) wrote:
> Dan Snyder <sn...@tc.umn.edu> stated:
>
> > I think they were following the Great Commission - they went into the
> > world, and even in a country where it is considered a crime, they gave
> > information when asked. As far as "knowing better", it may more have
> > been a matter of knowing one who is far better and then trusting in the
> > same.
>
> Seeing how their rescue was straight out of a Hollywood thriller it was
> nothing short of a miracle.
>
> Someone was watching over them...
One of the things that touched me was how the report in the Strib
(yesterday) mentioned their obvious affection for the Afghanis. Greater
love hath no man (or woman) than he (she) is willing to lay down his (or
hers) life for a brother (or sister). I don't have the text available
to my immediate memory (I could look it up, but I am lazy), but I think
it definately applies here. These young women were being something more
that merely obedient.
NJ Vike
Seriously, with the exception of the rescue.
But then one can make the argument that he was "saved"
"Dan Snyder" <sn...@tc.umn.edu> wrote in message
news:snyds-E08ED0....@laurel.tc.umn.edu...
Ron Gibson
> > Seeing how their rescue was straight out of a Hollywood thriller it was
> > nothing short of a miracle.
> > Someone was watching over them...
> One of the things that touched me was how the report in the Strib
> (yesterday) mentioned their obvious affection for the Afghanis. Greater
> love hath no man (or woman) than he (she) is willing to lay down his (or
> hers) life for a brother (or sister). I don't have the text available
> to my immediate memory (I could look it up, but I am lazy), but I think
> it definately applies here. These young women were being something more
> that merely obedient.
I agree and it is very admirable. However, I have to temper those
thoughts with the necessity to take action against our enemies,
unfortunately, at times.
It is very difficult to be altruistic with a bullet in your head.
The Enigmatic One
<eleS4DQ3N6dS-p...@user-33qtshp.dialup.mindspring.com>,
rgi...@ix.netcom.com says...
>
>
>"NJ Vike" <NOSPAM...@excite.com> stated:
>
>> Now, another opinion on the matter.
>
>> Should these individuals have been there preaching in the first place?
>
>They claim they weren't. However, the death penalty for espousing
>another religion is a bit harsh.
The death penalty in general is harsh. But again, we're not
talking, technically, "murder."
-Tim
The Enigmatic One
says...
>
>
>t...@again.spammers (The Enigmatic One) stated:
>
>> To be fair, had they been tried, they would have been executed, not
>> murdered. (Unless you feel any execution, ever, is murder, which I might be
>> willing to agree with.)
>
>You know I have a really weird view of that. IMO, a state execution is
>more of a murder than someone that say revenges the murder of his wife.
>
>I don't believe in capital punishment in general anyway and I had a
>close friend that was murdered. Life in prison is better. It allows
>the falsely convicted some hope and I can't think of anything worse than
>rotting in a cell forever.
>
>Not there are a bunch of unsual situations that make that cmplicated. So
>don't jump on me...I'm just a simple idealist :)
I'll agree with you. I'll just state that calling it murder, by the
US, would be completely wrong and dishonest. (Also to be expected.)
-Tim
Ron Gibson
> >I don't believe in capital punishment in general anyway and I had a
> >close friend that was murdered. Life in prison is better. It allows
> >the falsely convicted some hope and I can't think of anything worse than
> >rotting in a cell forever.
> >Not there are a bunch of unsual situations that make that cmplicated. So
> >don't jump on me...I'm just a simple idealist :)
> I'll agree with you. I'll just state that calling it murder, by the
> US, would be completely wrong and dishonest. (Also to be expected.)
This is such a complicated issue, and I think the worst examples are
with some types of the criminally insane. There are known genetic
disorders that cause uncontrollable rage and violence. Medication often
is ineffective. Often the person themselves hate what they are and I've
seen a few of these cases where they refused an insanity defense and
wanted to be out of their misery.
So in that case it might almost be a act of compassion to euthanize such
an individual.
But I sure as heck wouldn't want to be the one to make the decision. I
could never do jury duty where the death penalty was a possibility.
I can only hope that we evolve as a species to the point where we can
find better solutions to these troubling problems.
Like I said, forever the idealist...