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July 20, 2004
Kidnapping Pays
Angelo de la Cruz, the Philippine truck driver held hostage by terrorists, has been released.
I am happy for his personal safety.
I fear for the safety of all other foreign workers in Iraq.
The lesson? Terrorism pays. Kidnapping pays. At least that's how the terrorists will view it.
They have already learned that they can influence elections by setting off bombs right before the vote. Not only that but if the country involved is morally weak enough, they'll withdraw their troops from (fill in the blank country) posthaste.
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo doesn't get it, however. "Beaming", she appeared on Philippine television to declare this a "time of trial and a time of triumph." She apparently thinks that the outcome is just fine. And, unsurprisingly, a "palace insider" says that she is praying hard for the electoral victory of Democrat presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry" (this reported in today's edition of the Daily Tribune/Philippines).
The homegrown communist rebels in the Philippines have already learned the lesson well. The "New People's Army" has decided that they will not, after all, release two government soldiers that they have been holding. They've upped the ante, now demanding that the government suspend all action in their area.
And so it goes with Iraq. The terrorist learned that they could influence an election when the new Spanish government decided to pull their troops out of Iraq. They have learned that the can force more troops out of the country by taking hostages.
Michelle Malkin is ashamed of her patents land for their abject capitulation. Her column on this shameful episode is a must-read.
Spain = Philippines. No more, please.
Posted by Tom at July 20, 2004 3:10 PM
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