Don’t be daft, says anti-war group

-27/03/06

Lindsey German, national convenor of the


Don’t be daft, says anti-war group

-27/03/06

Lindsey German, national convenor of the Stop the War Coalition in the UK – which brough 2 million people out onto the streets before the 2003 invasion of Iraq – has responded with incredulity to the attacks on Christian Peacemaker Teams activist Norman Kember, freed from captivity with two Canadian colleagues last week. She writes:

“Could you make it up? Norman Kember, released after four months in captivity after being kidnapped in Iraq, is now facing a barrage of attacks from the military and the press. His crime? Having been in Iraq in the first place and showing insufficient gratitude for his rescue.

ìThe phrase pots and kettles comes to mind. The troops are the people who shouldn’t be there, and while there is no sign that Iraqis have done anything but welcome Norman and his fellow campaigners that can’t be said of the troops. Demonstrations regularly call for them to go and the highest votes in last year’s election went to anti-occupation candidates.

ìAs for the claim that costs of Norman’s rescue ran into millions and that soldiers risked their lives rescuing him, the facts seem rather different. There appears to have been an uncontested handover of the hostages, the kidnappers having fled. It seems hard to understand how this could have cost millions, unless he was flown back in a private jet. But no, he was on a BA scheduled flight from Kuwait.

ìThis claim about costs looks a little thin in the light of the billions already spent and the fact that we the British taxpayers pay for mercenaries to run private security in Iraq.

ìNorman and Christian Peacemakers surely have a right to be in Iraq, since they see this as the way to bring peace to the Middle East. Even if you disagree with that way of campaigning (and personally I think our most effective campaigns are those carried out in solidarity with Iraqis here) you should accept that they have gone there to try to help. If only all of the westerners who had gone there in recent years had the same aim.

She concluded: ìMeanwhile I’m waiting for government calls for Halliburton, the oil companies and the ‘private security’ firms to quit.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Briefing on media accusations against Christian Peacemaker Teams (27/03/06); General background briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams (2005/6); Press briefing on the released Christian peace activists (23/03/06); news updates and comment on CPT on FaithInSociety; Contending the logic of violence (24/03/06) – Simon Barrow says that true Christian peacemaking cannot afford naivete; Leading church aid agency defends Norman Kember’s integrity (27/03/06); Statement by released Christian peacemaker James Loney 26/03/06 Norman Kember returns home to cheers and also smears (25/03/06); Think tank questions ‘ungrateful peacemakers’ media allegations (24/03/06); Churches urged to consider more radical peacemaking following Iraq hostage release (24/03/06); Questions asked about intelligence that preceded Christian peacemaker’s release (24/03/06); Nonviolent release for Christian peacemakers (23/03/06); Press briefing on released Christian Peacemakers (23/03/06); Christians defend Iraq non-violence tactics against critics (23/03/06); Christians urge love of enemies in face of hostage crisis (23/03/06); Joy as Christian Peacemakers are freed in Iraq (23/03/06). Step back George, Step up people of faith, by Ron Kraybill of Eastern Mennonite University; Exploring Christianity and violence – meeting in London on 30 March 2006]


Don’t be daft, says anti-war group

-27/03/06

Lindsey German, national convenor of the Stop the War Coalition in the UK – which brough 2 million people out onto the streets before the 2003 invasion of Iraq – has responded with incredulity to the attacks on Christian Peacemaker Teams activist Norman Kember, freed from captivity with two Canadian colleagues last week. She writes:

“Could you make it up? Norman Kember, released after four months in captivity after being kidnapped in Iraq, is now facing a barrage of attacks from the military and the press. His crime? Having been in Iraq in the first place and showing insufficient gratitude for his rescue.

ìThe phrase pots and kettles comes to mind. The troops are the people who shouldn’t be there, and while there is no sign that Iraqis have done anything but welcome Norman and his fellow campaigners that can’t be said of the troops. Demonstrations regularly call for them to go and the highest votes in last year’s election went to anti-occupation candidates.

ìAs for the claim that costs of Norman’s rescue ran into millions and that soldiers risked their lives rescuing him, the facts seem rather different. There appears to have been an uncontested handover of the hostages, the kidnappers having fled. It seems hard to understand how this could have cost millions, unless he was flown back in a private jet. But no, he was on a BA scheduled flight from Kuwait.

ìThis claim about costs looks a little thin in the light of the billions already spent and the fact that we the British taxpayers pay for mercenaries to run private security in Iraq.

ìNorman and Christian Peacemakers surely have a right to be in Iraq, since they see this as the way to bring peace to the Middle East. Even if you disagree with that way of campaigning (and personally I think our most effective campaigns are those carried out in solidarity with Iraqis here) you should accept that they have gone there to try to help. If only all of the westerners who had gone there in recent years had the same aim.

She concluded: ìMeanwhile I’m waiting for government calls for Halliburton, the oil companies and the ‘private security’ firms to quit.î

[Also on Ekklesia: Briefing on media accusations against Christian Peacemaker Teams (27/03/06); General background briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams (2005/6); Press briefing on the released Christian peace activists (23/03/06); news updates and comment on CPT on FaithInSociety; Contending the logic of violence (24/03/06) – Simon Barrow says that true Christian peacemaking cannot afford naivete; Leading church aid agency defends Norman Kember’s integrity (27/03/06); Statement by released Christian peacemaker James Loney 26/03/06 Norman Kember returns home to cheers and also smears (25/03/06); Think tank questions ‘ungrateful peacemakers’ media allegations (24/03/06); Churches urged to consider more radical peacemaking following Iraq hostage release (24/03/06); Questions asked about intelligence that preceded Christian peacemaker’s release (24/03/06); Nonviolent release for Christian peacemakers (23/03/06); Press briefing on released Christian Peacemakers (23/03/06); Christians defend Iraq non-violence tactics against critics (23/03/06); Christians urge love of enemies in face of hostage crisis (23/03/06); Joy as Christian Peacemakers are freed in Iraq (23/03/06). Step back George, Step up people of faith, by Ron Kraybill of Eastern Mennonite University; Exploring Christianity and violence – meeting in London on 30 March 2006]