Leave, or be burned alive?

[Mike]

Seven South Korean missionaries abducted by Iraqi militants were freed Thursday, but five other foreign nationals remain hostages in the country, according to government and media sources.

Al-Jazeera aired video Thursday showing three kidnapped, blindfolded Japanese citizens in Iraq with knives at their throats, and the channel released the group's statement, which demanded Japan remove troops from Iraq or it would set the hostages on fire.

I just hope that this isn't true - The Japanese feel like they owe a debt to the United States, so they send the biggest fleet of forces since World War II to Iraq, and now look what's going to happen.

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[U-96]

I hope Koizumi doesn't lose an election because of it - he seems to be one of the most progressive and pro-Western Japanese leaders ever, and his policies have helped elevate Japan on the international stage, where they rightfully belong.

I would much rather see Japan allied and acting in concert with other democratic nations than withdrawing again into introspection. Sadly the cost may be the lives of Japanese civilians - I'm sure no effort will be spared by special forces to try to rescue all the hostages.

[Theophylact]

One of a series of dispatches from Iraq by a former reporter for Time (who seems to be fluent in Arabic).

[mad1]

"which demanded Japan remove troops from Iraq or it would set the hostages on fire." Just like the ultimatium that was given to Spain?

" The Japanese feel like they owe a debt to the United States" What debt would that be?

There is only one thing these people understand, violence.Giving into thier demands will only show weakness for which they will try to take hostages again.