Germany Negotiates with Terrorists

VelociMorte · 12-21-2005, 08:00

US 'seeks justice' for hijacker
The US has said it will try to bring to trial a Lebanese hijacker freed last week by Germany after being in jail since 1989.
Mohammed Ali Hammadi, 41, flew back to Beirut last week.

He was jailed for his part in killing a US Navy diver during the seizure of a TWA passenger jet in Beirut in 1985.

A State Department spokesman said the US was talking to Lebanese authorities about Mr Hammadi's extradition, but had no treaty with Lebanon.

"We have demonstrated over the years that when we believe an individual is responsible for the murder of innocent American civilians, that we will track them down and that we will bring them to justice in the United States," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

'Served his time'

A spokeswoman for the German Justice Ministry told reporters that he had "served his time".

She said that the ministry had never received an extradition request from the US.

The brother of the murdered diver, Robert Dean Stethem, called Mr Hammadi's parole "absolutely disturbing".

His mother Patricia said of Mr Hammadi: "We'll be after him. We won't let it rest."

TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Rome was hijacked on 14 June 1985, forced to land in Beirut. The plane's passengers were kept as hostages for 17 days as the aircraft flew between Beirut and Algeria twice.

The hijackers demanded the release of 17 members of Hezbollah and the Iraqi Islamic Daawa Party detained in Kuwait for attacks that killed six people in 1983.

During the incident, the hijackers killed US Navy diver Mr Stethem and dumped his body on to the runway apron at Beirut Airport.

Mr Hammadi was arrested at Frankfurt Airport in 1987 when he tried to smuggle liquid explosives into Germany.

Mr Hammadi's three accomplices in the hijacking - Hassan Izz-Al-Din, Ali Atwa and Imad Mughniyeh - are still at large.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/h...pe/4547416.stm

VelociMorte · 12-21-2005, 08:04

Anja Kueppers (jen) | www.dw-world.de | © Deutsche Welle.

Germans in Iraq: "Everyone Knows the Risks"
Osthoff's sister and mother pleaded for the kidnapped woman's life
As the family of kidnapped German archeologist Susanne Osthoff pleaded for her life, a German working in Iraq took stock of the situation.

Fears for the safety of German archeologist Susanne Osthoff, who was taken hostage in Iraq last Friday, are growing. German authorities are working around the clock to secure her release. But Chancellor Angela Merkel said the federal government still doesn't know the motives or background behind the kidnapping.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Chancellor Merkel giving a public statement on the kidnapping

On Thursday night, Osthoff's mother and sister broadcast a plea for the kidnappers to spare Osthoff's life, reminding them that their captive is a Muslim convert with a young child. The message was shown on Germany's ZDF television, and is also to be carried on Al-Jazeera.

Expats take stock.

The number of German citizens currently working in Iraq is relatively small. One of these is Alexander Christoph, who works for Architects for People in Need, a non-governmental organisation based in Munich.

"Of course, we all know each other," Christoph said. "There aren't many Germans here in Iraq, but we do often run into one another."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Osthoff's activities won her a prize for civil courage

According to Christoph, the initial shock of Osthoff's abduction, seven days ago, has passed. Now he and his colleagues at other NGOs have to assess how the kidnapping will affect their work.

"There are always consequences, because the donors, the governments, the EU or the UN only provide funding if we can prove our project will be successful," he said. "One of the key criteria is the safety and security of staff members, so I expect we're going to have a hard time getting funding for next year. That could be disastrous for our projects, which aim to help the nation rebuild."

Planned political act?

According to Christoph, the abduction of Susanne Osthoff can be interpreted as a planned political act -- regardless of whether the kidnapper's demand that Germany should cut ties with the Iraqi government is real, or if it is just a front for a ransom demand.

"Clearly, a strategy has been developed," he said. "The method of the kidnapping, the way the video tape was forwarded to German television so quickly ... Everything points to a well planned operation. When it comes to kidnappings in Iraq, I don't believe in coincidences."

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: In 2003, Osthoff sent aid packages to Iraq from Germany

While Osthoff's kidnapping may work as a deterrent to some German citizens who want to work in Iraq, Alexander Christoph said his mind is made up. He won't allow fear prevent him from continuing his work.

"Everyone who works in Iraq knows the risks," he said. "Everyone has to decide whether or not they're prepared to accept them, because we all know that Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in the world. If you really want to see things change in Iraq, then foreigners have to be on the ground. That means Germans too."

Anja Kueppers (jen)

VelociMorte · 12-21-2005, 08:09

Family of Freed German Hostage Overjoyed By GEIR MOULSON, Associated Press Writer
Sun Dec 18, 6:23 PM ET

A German aid worker and archaeologist kidnapped in Iraq with her driver has been freed after three weeks in captivity, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced Sunday night.

He did not disclose any details about Susanne Osthoff's release.

"I am glad to be able to announce to you ... that Mrs. Susanne Osthoff is no longer in the hands of the kidnappers," Steinmeier said at a hastily arranged news conference. "As of today, she is safely in the care of the German Embassy in Baghdad."

He added that "our impression after talking to her is that she is in good physical condition."

It was not immediately clear if Osthoff's driver also was freed. Steinmeier left the news conference without taking questions.

The woman's brother, Robert Osthoff, told The Associated Press that German police informed him of his sister's release just a few minutes before Steinmeier's announcement.

"We'll light candles, pray, and then perhaps we'll get our peace and quiet back," he said. "I'm happy, I'm overjoyed, that's all I can say."

He said officials did not tell him how his sister was freed.

The 43-year-old Osthoff and her driver disappeared Nov. 25 in northern Iraq. Days later, the two were shown in a videotape blindfolded and sitting on a floor, with militants — one armed with a rocket-propelled grenade — standing beside them.

The captors threatened to kill the hostages unless Germany stopped dealing with the Iraqi government. German Chancellor Angela Merkel responded that her country would not be "blackmailed."

The previous chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, strongly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and refused to send troops — a stance that Merkel, who took office Nov. 22, has said will not change. Germany does, however, train Iraqi soldiers and police outside their country.

Osthoff, a humanitarian worker who had studied archaeology, was working on the renovation of historic buildings in Mosul when she was taken hostage, local officials said.

German authorities have not identified her captors, although the weekly Der Spiegel said the kidnappers used the name Saraya al-Zilzal, or Brigades of the Earthquake.

Steinmeier said the government was "very happy" about the end of the drama, which posed the first major crisis for Merkel's government just days after it took office.

Osthoff's family, German Muslim leaders and prominent figures, including Schroeder, had made public appeals for her release.

In the Bavarian town of Glonn, where Osthoff lived for several years, the mayor hung a sign reading "Thank you!" outside the town hall next to a photo of the former captive.

Separately, the son of one of two Moroccan Embassy employees kidnapped in Iraq nearly two months ago went on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera network on Sunday to plead for their release.

The driver, Abderrahim Boualam, and the employee Abdelkrim el Mouhafidi, disappeared Oct. 20 while driving to Baghdad from the Jordanian border. Al-Qaida in Iraq, the insurgent group led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and responsible for numerous kidnappings of foreigners, said it abducted the men.

The son, who was not identified in Sunday's broadcast, said his father and his colleagues had no political role at their embassy.

"My father is just a simple worker who makes tea and the other is a simple driver," Boualam son said. "They worked for more than 25 years in Iraq and lived with Iraqi people through all tough conditions, and they are married to two Iraqi Muslim women."

VelociMorte · 01-09-2006, 10:22

January 09, 2006, 8:03 a.m.
“Justice Will Be Done”
Remembering Robert Dean Stethem.

This is a letter from Kenneth Stethem to President George W. Bush. Ken is a former U.S. special-forces operator and the brother of Robert Dean Stethem, the Navy diver who was brutally tortured and murdered by Hezbollah 20 years ago. Robert's murderer was just released by the German government (and fled to Lebanon) in an apparent exchange for a German hostage in Iraq.

The administration has falsely claimed (according to my sources) that we did not know in advance about the release and the administration has not acted to compel the Lebanese government to arrest Stethem's killer, Muhammad Ali Hammadi, and turn him over to face American justice. That is why Ken Stethem, on behalf of the rest of his family (including his and Robert's parents), has written this powerful letter. Let's hope the president is as moved by the letter as I am.

Date: January 8, 2006 4:15:57 PM PST

To: president@whitehouse.gov

Cc: vicepresident@whitehouse.gov

Subject: ROBERT DEAN STETHEM

Mr. President,

I would like to provide you with an explanation as to why Muhammed Ali Hammadi's recent release by Germany, and your Administration's lack of any attempt to prevent it, is so upsetting to our family and to Americans everywhere. I am not writing you out of grief or anger but out of a hope that his example will inspire you to follow act on your own words and the dictates of your conscious in this War on Terror.

Robert Dean Stethem was singled out, beaten beyond recognition and tortured in order to make him scream into a transmitter (so that the tower would send a fuel truck). Not a cry was heard to come from him, despite the brutal beating he endured. Instead he chose to remain silent and endure the beatings because he knew that the only way a rescue attempt could be conducted by U.S. forces was if the aircraft remained on the ground.

After Robert was beaten and tortured and bleeding from puncture wounds all over his body, he was placed next to a 16-year old Australian girl. As bad as Robert was beaten, he had the courage and strength to comfort and console her. He told her that, "She would be okay and that she would get out of here alive." When she tried to return the comfort, he said, "No, I don't think so. I am the only one in my group that is not married and some of the guys have children, too." Some time later, Robert was again taken up to the cockpit and tortured in order to get the fuel. But it didn't work, he would not give in to them.

One of the hijackers, Muhammed Ali Hammadi, was so enraged that he dragged Robert to the door, pulled a trigger and shot Robert in the head. Then he dumped Robert's body onto the tarmac. While Robert was being dragged to the door, he knew that all he had to do in order to live was to cry into that transmitter, but he wouldn't do it. He would not give in to the demands of the terrorists. He would not allow the honor and dignity of America to be intimidated by the fear and pain that Hammadi and terrorists everywhere represent. Robert sacrificed his life in order to protect our liberty and defend our way of life.

You have rightly said, "Whether we bring our enemies to justice, or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done." You have truly said that "We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them." Robert lived by them. Robert also died by them. The motto of the USS SSTETHEM (DDG-63), named in Robert's honor, is "Steadfast and Courageous." I hope that his example, and the example of other heroes like him can inspire you to understand why allowing Germany to release Hammadi was a wrong. Justice was not done, Robert was not honored and Americans are not safer by allowing Hammadi to return to Lebanon and Hezbollah.

You know this, we know this and the American people know this.

The Stethem family

— Michael Ledeen, an NRO contributing editor, is most recently the author of The War Against the Terror Masters. He is resident scholar in the Freedom Chair at the American Enterprise Institute

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.nationalreview.com/ledeen...0601090803.asp

VelociMorte · 01-10-2006, 08:06

Corridors of Power: The lady was a spy
By ROLAND FLAMINI
UPI Chief International Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Susanne Osthoff, the German archeologist kidnapped by Iraqi gunmen on Nov. 25 and released before Christmas was connected with her country's intelligence service, the BND, and had helped arrange a meeting with a top member of the terrorist organization al-Qaida, possibly Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi himself, according to well informed German sources Sunday.

The sources confirmed German press reports that the 43-year-old woman had worked for the BND in Iraq on a freelance basis, and had for some time even stayed in a German intelligence safe house in Baghdad.

A convert to Islam and a fluent Arabic speaker, Osthoff had lived in Iraq for over a decade, and was at one time married to an Iraqi. Archeology is a classic intelligence cover: T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) posed as an archeologist in the Middle East in the early part of the last century. But archeology is Osthoff's real profession. One Washington-based German source said Osthoff had been working on arranging a rendezvous with an al-Qaida member on behalf of a German intelligence agent in Iraq. Whether the meeting ever took place has not been revealed, but another source in Berlin, reached by telephone, said experts believed that the kidnapping may have been the work of a rival group, possibly within the same organization.

A day after Osthoff's release, the Germans had quietly freed and sent home to his native Lebanon Mohammed Ali Hamadi, a Hezbollah militant serving a sentence for killing a U.S. Navy diver in a hijacked TWA jetliner in 1985. Berlin officials denied any connection between Osthoff's release and Hamadi's after serving only 19 years of a life sentence. They said Hamadi had qualified for parole and the decision to free him had been taken by the state government in North Rhine Westphalia, where he was being held, not the Federal government. He was captured in Frankfurt in 1987 for his part in hijacking the TWA jetliner and killing the American navy diver, who was a passenger on the plane. The United States requested Hamadi's extradition, but the Germans refused, and instead tried and convicted him.

But both German sources said the real deal involving Osthoff's release had been the payment of a ransom to her terrorist captors by the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel. The ransom and Hamadi's release could well constitute a double embarrassment for Merkel on her scheduled "maiden" visit to Washington next week. Washington has always opposed pay ransom money on the grounds that it encourages more kidnapping.

Although Merkel has carried on her socialist predecessor Gerhard Schroeder's policy of staying out of Iraq, German intelligence is operating in the area, cooperating with U.S. counterparts both on the ground and in Washington, the sources said.

Contacts with homegrown Iraqi insurgent groups are now openly admitted by the U.S. authorities, according to news reports received over the weekend. One objective in talking to Sunni fighters loyal to former dictator Saddam Hussein, or other Sunni militant groups is to exploit growing differences with the "foreign fighters," in other words, al-Qaida, the reports said. Zarqawi's wholesale terrorist attacks on Iraqis as collaborators with the United States have bred growing resentment against al-Qaida, and the weekend reports spoke of clashes between foreign fighters and Sunni insurgents in various parts of the country.

Talks with the Sunni insurgents are also part of the groundwork for the U.N.-organized National Accord Conference, an inclusive forum set for the spring in Baghdad. The conference bringing together all Iraqi political and religious groups is a follow-up of the Arab League summit in Cairo last October. That meeting in the Egyptian capital called for an attempt to establish political dialogue with the insurgents in order to determine what they wanted. The script of the Baghdad conference is also expected to demand the withdrawal of all "foreign forces," which is not only a reference to the U.S.-led coalition, but also to non-Iraqi insurgents -- further widening the gap between Sunni insurgents and al-Qaida.

The Germans' tentative contacts with al-Qaida reflect Berlin's belief in the existence of another split within the Iraqi-based al-Qaida organization itself. While Zarqawi calls for the Americans to leave, their departure must be far from his intentions since it would undermine his terrorist mission. "Assuming the U.S. pullout continues, Zarqawi's days in Iraq are numbered," says a diplomatic source in Washington. This situation is forcing al-Qaida to think strategically about what to do next.

**Team Sergeant** · 01-10-2006, 09:20

germany did not "negotiate" with terrorists they capitulated, gave up, gave in, surrenders etc etc etc. A revolting display of National cowardice, spinlessness.

**Razor** · 01-10-2006, 09:34

As honorable as Robert's sacrifice was, and regardless of Ken's service, he should know better.

VelociMorte · 01-10-2006, 09:43

Personally, I'd like to see us hunt down Muhammad Ali Hammadi and anonymously send his head, packed in dry ice, to Chancellor Merkel.

CoLawman · 01-10-2006, 19:15

Being cynical by nature.........and out of necessity, I smell a rat. I would bet my bottom dollar that Ms. Osthoff was playing the role of Patty Hearst. Not for a minute do I believe her story. This b**ch is just as likely to have worn an explosive vest into a wedding. She was part and parcel to a grand scheme to aid the very terrorists that presumably kidnapped her.

I want to see her mug on a Terrorist List.

blustr18b · 01-11-2006, 02:47

Michael Yon's latest blog refers to the Stethem Family letters.

http://michaelyon.blogspot.com

blustr

Stargazer · 01-12-2006, 10:02

The Stethem Family started a website where letters to the President are posted. Additionally, individuals can send a 'canned' email to show their support.
Patriotism vs. Terrorism Site - click here

**Razor** · 01-12-2006, 10:30

So we're going to assume that a) nothing is being done behind the scenes, b) the USG just watched the release occur freely and without any communication with Germany, and c) the USG has final and absolute power to force foreign governments into compliance with anythig it desires? Just because I don't see something broadcast over the MSM doesn't mean nothing is being done about a certain situation. Given this President's repeated actions since he's taken office (as opposed to mealy-mouthed false promises and staged empathy others provided), I tend to believe he genuinely cares about our servicemen and women, and don't believe he simply turned his back on this situation.

Stargazer · 01-12-2006, 10:58

I can only speak for myself, in which case, I assume nothing.

Based on my observations, I believe President Bush is genuine in his concerns for servicemen/women and committed to fighting terrorism. I am equally confident that if an opportunity arises, those who can, will take action.

VelociMorte · 01-12-2006, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

So we're going to assume that a) nothing is being done behind the scenes, b) the USG just watched the release occur freely and without any communication with Germany, and c) the USG has final and absolute power to force foreign governments into compliance with anythig it desires? Just because I don't see something broadcast over the MSM doesn't mean nothing is being done about a certain situation. Given this President's repeated actions since he's taken office (as opposed to mealy-mouthed false promises and staged empathy others provided), I tend to believe he genuinely cares about our servicemen and women, and don't believe he simply turned his back on this situation.

Razor, I'm certain that there's a lot going on behind the scenes, and that it's only a matter of time before Mr. Hammadi and everyone around him suffers from a very unfortunate and unexplained accidental explosion coincidentally involving the terminal phase of an Israeli Hellfire missile flight, or perhaps a natural gas explosion. Shit happens. I also totally agree with your assessment of our C in C.

CoLawman · 01-13-2006, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Razor

So we're going to assume that a) nothing is being done behind the scenes, b) the USG just watched the release occur freely and without any communication with Germany, and c) the USG has final and absolute power to force foreign governments into compliance with anythig it desires? Just because I don't see something broadcast over the MSM doesn't mean nothing is being done about a certain situation. Given this President's repeated actions since he's taken office (as opposed to mealy-mouthed false promises and staged empathy others provided), I tend to believe he genuinely cares about our servicemen and women, and don't believe he simply turned his back on this situation.

Well said Razor...........but the B**ch (probably from the loins of a Bader-Meinhof dirtbag from the late 60's) needs to be outed!