Getting the Good Guys and the Bad Guys Straight

The following is from the press release issued by the Christian Peacemaker Teams after three of its members were rescued early this morning after being held hostage in Iraq since November.

Our hearts are filled with joy today as we heard that Harmeet Singh Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember have been safely released in Baghdad.

Notice the term used: released. Is it just me, or does the word released imply being allowed to go free? That just seems like a strange word to used after these three were rescued by a multinational military force which, acting on a tip from a detainee, stormed a house in Baghdad and found the three bound inside.

The press release continues.

We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq.

Not one word of thanks for the members of that multinational force who rescued these three; instead, they blame the multinational force for the kidnappings, pain, and suffering. That would include, I suppose, the pain and suffering endured by a fourth member of this group, Tom Fox, whose body was found in Baghdad on March 9th. According to police, Fox had been tortured, handcuffed and shot.

Even though they didn't see fit to thank their rescuers, the press release did manage to make this acknowledgement:

We have been especially moved by the gracious outpouring of support from Muslim brothers and sisters in the Middle East, Europe, and North America.

Wait a minute; wasn't it Muslim brothers and sisters who kidnapped these people and who murdered Tom Fox? I must be confused; however, as I read more of the press release, I am reminded of who the real bad guys are.

We pray that Christians throughout the world will, in the same spirit, call for justice and for respect for the human rights of the thousands of Iraqis who are being detained illegally by the U.S. and British forces occupying Iraq.

I wonder if it was one of these innocent Iraqis who was being detained illegally who tipped the multinational military force to the location of these three peacemakers. Maybe, out of respect for his human rights, he should have been allowed to go free. Never mind the fact that he had information regarding this kidnapping. He is just an innocent Muslim brother. It's the U.S. and British forces occupying Iraq who are the bad guys.