Interesting Story

This report from FoxNews has it all: a former Guantanamo Bay detainee was released to Pakistan, and his followers kidnapped some Chinese engineers and demanded to be brought to said detainee.

So many comments, so little time.

First, I hope those engineers make it out alive. As much as I think the Chinese government is basically the spawn of Hell, that feeling does not extend to the citizenry. And the story says Pakistani tribesmen in Waziristan are trying to pressure the kidnappers into giving them up, so it doesn't look like we're in a hopeless situation just yet.

Second, note the comparative reaction by the Pakistanis. I never hear of Iraqis trying to pressure Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi's group into releasing hostages. Is the difference that there is a climate of fear in Iraq that is not present in Pakistan? Are the Pakistanis more afraid of retaliatory efforts? I don't know the answer, but it would be nice to find out.

Third, it's one thing to kidnap a military figure, but these Chinese engineers were in Pakistan to build a dam - thus generating electric power and controlling flooding to preserve Pakistani lives. Kidnapping them is the lowest kind of low.

Fourth, everyone who has griped about the U.S. detaining al-Qaeda figures at Guantanamo Bay ought to think long and hard about this story. By releasing the man, two Chinese and one Pakistani (their bodyguard - apparently not a very good one) may very possibly lose their lives. But hey, the Lefties scored their political points, so who cares, right?

It makes me sick when people make abstract political arguments without considering the probable results. In this case, three innocent lives are on the line because some people oppose President Bush.