U.S. Hostage Tom Fox Killed in Iraq

[rsmith6621]

By JUAN-CARLOS RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - An American who was among four Christian activists kidnapped last year in
Iraq has been killed, a State Department spokesman said Friday.The FBI verified that a body found in Iraq Friday morning was that of Tom Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Va., spokesman Noel Clay said. He said he had no information on the other three hostages.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060311/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/hostage_killed

[annabanana]

1. that's sad...

I understand that this group was doing their best to promote understanding. The violence is not respective of motive.

[patrice]

6. We are the issue to at least half of Iraq. This is SO horrible.

Many Americans HATE Bush's War. DAILY DEATHS. Show me one thing that is better because of it, except Haliburton and Endron.

Bush's war has killed as many of the Iraqi people as Saddam Hussein probably, with more in the forseeable future. Bush's War is an Abomination. Bush's War is a Hate-full Violent Murdering Monster!

End the War!

[Charlie Brown]

2. horrible

This man made the ultimate sacrifice for what he believed. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.

[yellowcanine]

3. This is really sad. Tom Fox was a great human being and was a

tireless worker for peace. What anyone hoped to accomplish by kidnapping and killing him is beyond me.

[mike_c]

5. making his countrymen stop kidnapping and killing by the thousands...

...for a start. His murderers are in Washington.

[Charlie Brown]

10. No, he was killed by vile people

who rejected the path of non-violence. They may be no worse than our politicans and our military, but this act of violence was theirs. There is no excuse for murdering a pacifist, and the blame must not be shifted from where it rightfully belongs.

[patrice]

15. Right - There is no excuse. This is another abomination.

[saigon68]

48. He was killed by the CIA

To whip up the masses

They have a great disdain for types like Fox

The same way Negroponte killed the NUNS in Latin America

By beheading and disemboweling them with machetes.

[BeHereNow]

57. That was my first thought Saigon-

When I heard it on the news this morning.
The so called "insurgents" would gain nothing
by this, however I think we can figure out
who DOES gain by the continued chaos
and violence...
Time to watch "The Quiet American" again everyone.
Do not forget the "videos" of Nick Berg etc...

BHN

[PsychoDad]

59. I see...

I'm not the only one with my suspicions as to who really killed this poor man.

This administration has more to gain with the death of Journalists and peace workers than any resistance group.

Surely he would have been of best use to the "insurgency" had they, after kidnapping him, had shown him the reality and carnage of "liberation and democracy", then released him to take the story home.

A story and truth this administration doesn't want shared.

Peace.

[agincourt]

75. And if I recall he answered to Ronald Reagen,

Whom damn sure should have not gotten a state funeral.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

17. The insurgency tends to look at ALL Americans as the enemy....

...with no business being in Iraq during this illegal occupation.

Any American visiting Iraq is putting their lives at risk.

The blame for all of this...the illegal invasion and the illegal occupation...rests squarely on the heads of the NeoCon Junta and their fellow travelers.

To attempt to shift the blame toward those that are defending their country against brutal, heavily-armed invaders is beyond my ability to comprehend.

[yellowcanine]

25. How is killing a pacifist "defending their country"? They knew who this

person was. They knew he had no connection with the Bush crowd in fact was actively working against the Bush crowd. Who he and the other CPTers were was well advertised from the day they were kidnapped. Even Hamas called for their release. So did many Iraqis. Yes Tom put his life at risk but for a rightous cause. Killing him does not advance the cause of Iraqi defenders. How do you even know these thugs were Iraqis defending their country? There is no evidence of that. They could be anybody.

[patrice]

32. You're right. This is an Abomination.

This is Just like the death of an innocent child.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

76. They don't know anything of the sort, and are suspicious of....

...all Americans in their country. As far as they know, people doing Tom's work are working for American intelligence using CPT as a cover. It would not be the first time that U. S. intelligence has used innocent-seeming groups to gather intelligence.

[I Have A Dream]

33. Damn straight, Charlie Brown!

:thumbsup:

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

39. but is our own Govt on the path of NON-Violence? I BLAME this ADMIN

for invading these (as you call them) "vile people"

murder is wrong!!
This guy should be alive right now!
-
Can definitely Blame this Adminstration for illegally invading and killing around 200 thousand Iraqis-
Can definitely Blame those who murder as a response to the murders commited by the invaders.
But ultimately no one would be dying if this country had not invaded a soveriegn nation that posed no threat to anyone.

Sad when everyone's getting killed!
Sadder when we don't change it!

We could shut down this country!
We could demand and end to the violence.
Ghandi did it!
We as a people have a responsibility to stop the killing.

[Charlie Brown]

42. The people who murdered Fox are vile people

as is anyone who would take the life of a pacifist. I am certain Ghandi, Dr. King and everyone else who followed that path would agree. Blame the Administration for the war, as it's their doing, but not for this man's death. He was attacked by violent thugs, and they are no different than the brutal arm of the Administration.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

44. whom do you Lynch in your mind over this? Who killed him? Do you know?

How could you say that MLK or Ghandi would agree with you?
On what basis? Their actions during their lives indicate otherwise.

who REALLY killed Tom Fox?
Would MLK or Ghandi blame ?
I think not-
They would take up the responsibility to catalize a change
-a change to STOP the BLAMING-to stop the EYE FOR AN EYEing-
-Ghandi said: "eye for an eye and the whole goes world's blind."

do you know Who killed this peace activist?
Were any of us there?
How can we place blame?

--------Remember Berg-
-------- released by "our guys' the day before he was captured and then "beheaded"-
---------Questionable ambiguity isn't it-

Who really killed this particular peace activist?
We will never know for sure- so how do we know whom to label as vile?
For all we know it could have been a solitairy criminal sicko...
or a resistance group--
or,
on the other hand it could even have been our own secret death squads- ever heard of Negraponte?
after all ,
someone on "our team" does hate peace activists and journalists.

So the only thing for sure that we know as fact is that this Adminsitration sent Americans into Iraq in the first place-
..and they are some vile repulsive selfish greedy bastards -

And we can stop them-before more die-

.
Ask me how

[Charlie Brown]

45. Then I guess you think we should all stop blaming Bush

"Would MLK or Ghandi blame ?
I think not-
They would take up the responsibility to catalize a change
-a change to STOP the BLAMING-to stop the EYE FOR AN EYEing-
-Ghandi said: "eye for an eye and the whole goes world's blind."

Should everyone on this board cease criticizing the criminals and soldiers who commit attrocities? I think not. Nor should we withhold denunciations for the criminals in Iraq who bomb Mosques and kill civilians. All are vile acts perpetrated by vile people, and Fox knew that. Fox knew the dangers he faced and recognized the gangs of kidnappers as a threat to peace. It was the kidnappers who got him. No conspiracy theories, no secret assassinations. It was insurgent kidnappers. He posed no threat to them nor was he a collaborator with the occupiers. Fox was completely innocent. The thugs who did this are murderers, and they are vile. I will pray that they recognize the error of their ways, but never condone what they did.

From Fox's essay "Fight or Flight"

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/10/fox.killed/index.html

"But if Jesus and Gandhi are right, then I am not to give in to either," he wrote. "I am to stand firm against the kidnapper as I am to stand firm against the soldier. Does that mean I walk into a raging battle to confront the soldiers? Does that mean I walk the streets of Baghdad with a sign saying 'American for the Taking?' No to both counts."

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

50. Hee HAW- ya busted me ! Ghandi/MLK DID believe in an EYE for an EYE-

sarcasm off!

JEEZ!
ANSWER the questions:
Who are you blaming?
Who are these kidnappers?
tha "terra ists"?
And who are they?
Who is this "Vile" person?
Do you know who killed this man?
Were you there?
Who do you fantasise about getting even with?
Do you have a clue?
Did you hear about the Brits getting caught planting bombs dressed a Arabs?
The British Secret service busted them out of jail with a tank before they could talk-
-Remember? wasn't very long ago-
You do not have a clue about who is responsible for this "kidnapping" and if you believe everything this Corporate Media spews then you are more of a fool than anyone on D.U.
'
no one said give in!

Maybe some just can't grasp the idea.
Non Violence does not mean NON-Action-

ask me WHY-

Someone once said don't cast your pearls among swine (figurative of course)--
guess it coud apply to lots of things.

[yellowcanine]

19. No that is not a justification. There is none. They work against their

own cause by killing people who are working for peace. Those who killed Tom are murderers. People who kill are responsible for their own actions. The crimes of the United States are no justification for killing an innocent person.

[mike_c]

21. do you really believe that any American is "innocent" any longer...?

I don't.

[QC]

26. Do you include yourself in that statement? n/t

[mike_c]

28. yes, and it's damned frustrating and depressing....

I'm just having outrage fatique I suppose. I don't know what to do. All the evil being done in our names, to preserve our lifestyles, all the blood that flows around the world whenever politicians in Washington play mind games with one another-- it sickens me.

[VegasWolf]

77. Bill Maher said it well, "Americans have 'fuck up fatigue'!" nt

[yellowcanine]

27. You realize you are doing the same thing that many Americans do when

they lump all Muslims together as terrorists? I reject that kind of thinking. Tom Fox was not responsible for Bush invading Iraq. He actively worked against it. He also actively worked against the Israeli occupation of Palestine for years. Hamas even called for his release as did many Iraqis. Your labeling him as guilty of the sins of Bush is wrong - just as wrong as the bogus justifications Bush used for invading Iraq.

[mike_c]

30. I did not "label him as guilty of the sins of Bush...."

I said that no Americans are innocent any longer, including you and I, and I said that the real blame for Tom Fox's murder lies in Washington.

[Tom Joad]

43. See this thread for Tom Fox.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=631920&mesg_id=631920

Kick it for Tom on Saturday. Thanks.

We will also remember that this is the 3rd anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie, another peace/solidarity worker.
http://www.rachelswords.org/

[democrank]

4. Another heartbreak.

Rest in peace, peacemaker.

[readmoreoften]

7. Have Christian activists been killed before?

I really hope the fundies don't use this peaceful man's death to ratchet up the war effort.

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. Margaret Hassan was a charity worker

who had lived in Iraq for 30 years (she was married to an Iraqi, but still retained Irish and British citizenship, in addition to her Iraqi citizenship). She was the director of Care International in Iraq; although it's not a religious charity, she herself would appear to have been Catholic, since they held a requiem mass for her in Westminster Cathedral.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3756552.stm

[readmoreoften]

35. I don't think nominally Catholic would be enough.

It would have to be the assassination of a devout fundie, I think.

[roody]

54. I can't believe that they (BushCo) care about peace activists.

[NoodleyAppendage]

56. No, the Xtians will make him a martyr...like all the other missionaries.

I remember growing up in a fundamental Xtian environment and being indoctrinated with stories about the heroic efforts of Xtian missionaries, who died during the course of their work. Martyr stories filled with parables about selfless devotion to gOD meant to instill a similar feeling in the impressionable youth of the church. Mr. Fox will be added to that list of Xtian martyrs, no doubt.

JB

[renate]

8. oh no....

I don't understand why they would kill someone who was trying to stop the prison abuses. WHY?

He looks so kind and gentle in the picture. This is just so tragic.

[CBHagman]

47. They didn't understand his mission.

I suppose after a while a human being becomes a symbol or a pawn. If the people who abducted Norman Kember, Harmeet Singh Sooden, James Loney, and Tom Fox really understood their mission, they would never have touched them.

That said, I was distraught when I saw the headline this morning (front page of the damnably pro-war Washington Post) and even more convinced the whole world is, for the most part, on the wrong path.

And I will submit some sort of letter of sympathy to the Langley Hill Friends Meeting in McLean, Virginia, where Mr. Fox was a member.

[roody]

78. It does not make sense.

What makes sense is that the U.S. had a hand in it to make Iraqis look barbaric.

[pinto]

9. Another sad casualty to note.

[flamingyouth]

11. Oh, this is very sad news

RIP Tom :cry:

[leftchick]

12. omg... I can not express how awful this is

This makes me sick... :puke:

My thoughts and prayers to Tom and his family.


:cry: :cry: :cry:

[patrice]

13. Like that guy the Freepers called one of the 10 most anti-American busines

s man, whose son Nick was killed right after Fallujah, after being held by FBI. He did civilian contracted work on radio towers and a video tape of Nick being beheaded turned up on the internet after the FBI finally released him, when he was just trying to Pennsylvania I think, just get back to the U.S.

[NYC]

16. His name was Berg.

[patrice]

22. Yes. Another Saint.

. . . . an organic saint from the Family of Man in the church without walls, the Beautiful Earth.

My First Husband is a saint and my Sister and my Dad.

[rodeodance]

14. oh no. May his family find peace.

[patrice]

18. "God" or - Whatever - Bless him. We won't forget.

[patrice]

23. God I hate!! this War.

[pretzel4gore]

24. why go to iraq at all....

for some reason, i think that if the christian activists tried to oppose the war in washington where the strings are being pulled, they would be crushed quicker then anything- look at rachel, look how they finessed running over her with a fukking dozer!
the problem in iraq is that the very people who are responsible for the horror in iraq can use the horror to demoralize the anti war movement and blame the mindlessness on the 'crazy iraq insurgents' in connection to 'lily livered liberals' acting like their lives are valuable in and of themselves which is obviously not true in a lawless place like iraq, another win win situation for the fukken fascists

[fed-up]

29. Another tragedy, WAR IS HELL-nothing makes sense n/t

[dogfacedboy]

31. Thanks for "Protecting the American People", Bush !!! n/t

[Blue_Tires]

34. the circle of death continues....

very sad

[CAG]

36. I wonder if Rush will have "a part of (him) that likes this"

Nov 29 transcripts, speaking of christian peace activists kidnapped in Iraq:

LIMBAUGH: "As warped as these people are, you know they're going to blame Bush for this. ... They wouldn't have been kidnapped because they wouldn't have been there in the first place if Bush hadn't gone and caused the war and created all these terrorists. I mean, these people are liberals, they're warped. Well, I mean, that's why there's -- I'm telling you, folks, there's a part of me that likes this. Probably, even with this, though, you know, they're not going to see the light of day. They're not going to --"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200511300010

He later says that people will take him out of context...whatever, read the whole transcript, see what this demon goes on to say.

I wonder which child of God Jesus is more proud of this night, this anal-cyst deferring multi-millionaire thrice-divorced oxycontin-doper family values chickenhawk or the peace activist that was just welcomed into heaven

[Tom Joad]

37. Please read: Statement from Christian Peacemaker Teams.

http://cpt.org/iraq/response/06-10-03statement.htm
All of us who work in solidarity with the people of the Middle East mourn the loss of peaceworker Tom Fox.

Excerpt from statement from Christian Peacemaker Teams (see link above)

"Christian Peacemaker Teams extends our deep and heartfelt condolences to the family and community of Tom Fox, with whom we have traveled so closely in these days of crisis.

We mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone."

We hope for the safe return of the remaining CPT hostages. We pledge to work to end this brutal occupation perpetuated by our own government, and the release of all detainees in Iraq and Guantanamo, and to continue our solidarity with the Palestinian people.

-- Tom

PS This Thursday, March 16th, we will celebrate the life and work of Rachel Corrie, on the third anniversary of her death by an Israeli-operated Caterpillar bulldozer. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, please join us. http://norcalism.org/events.htm

[ClayZ]

38. Blessed are the peacemakers.... Tom Fox.

[roody]

40. Who killed Tom Fox?

We can't rule out that this previously unheard of group has been put together by the americans.

[ECH1969]

41. Or Mossad or the Dutch Secret Police

[Comadreja]

49. Appears that those trying to help are main targets

Even an Iraqi peace activist (forgot her name) was kidnapped. Seems more of these are being abducted and killed than mercenaries or others helping the occupation. To me this has "false flag" written all over it. The climate of total chaos makes it impossible to say, but it helps discourage others who may want to go and see what is really happening in Iraq.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

51. ---- ------ -----BEST POINT EVER !!

wonder why those whose public position is AGAINST U.S. Aggression
are supposedly kidnapped and tortured by the "victims" of U.S. Aggression?

Make sense to anyone?

[BeHereNow]

58. Of course it doesn't make sense.

That IS the point.
Who benefits?
Answer that and we know who is responsible.
Scary to ponder, eh?
BHN

[Marie26]

62. War doesn't make sense

The insurgents killed Tom Fox, who was working to help Iraqis, because of what the Bush Adm. has done. The US tortures Iraqi shopkeepers at Abu Ghraib because of what Saudi terrorists have done. None of it makes any sense at all.

[sg_]

46. Apparantly tortured before death...

US hostage in Iraq was tortured then shot - police

"His hands were tied behind him and he had gunshot wounds. There were signs of torture," a police source told Reuters.

"The FBI has identified the body of Tom Fox," said U.S. State Department spokesman Noel Clay in Washington. "The family has been notified and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family.

There was no word on Saturday on the fate of the three, who looked well in the video and did not appear distressed.

http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/article.aspx?as=adimarticle&f=uk_-_olgbtopnews&t=4023&id=2515680&d=20060311&do=http://newsbox.msn.co.uk&i=http://newsbox.msn.co.uk/mediaexportlive&ks=0&mc=5&ml=ma&lc=en&ae=windows-1252

[DeaconBlues]

52. we have one set of enemies in this world

the sorry bastards who killed this innocent man and the sorry bastards in America who killed thousands of innocents in Iraq by starting this war - all the same. It is the same type of mentality that we are fighting against, a mentality that worships violence, authority, and irrational beliefs.

Those who say we are in a culture war are right. It is a fight against those who live by the values of the Enlightenment, and those who want to drag us back to the Dark Ages. We shouldn't be fooled by the fact that the fanatics spend so much time killing one another (and innocents who get in the way), they are really on the same page.

[MaryBear]

53. Thank you, rsmith6621, for posting this

and including the link. He was a hero.

[NoodleyAppendage]

55. Man goes to war zone and tells enemy that their religion is wrong.

Hmmm...and people wonder why this poor, misguided gentleman was killed?? Yes, of course, his death is a horrible tragedy, but VERY predictable tragedy.

Xtian missionaries have no business being in Iraq telling people of that region that their religion is false. People typically don't shine to the prospect of being told that their religious beliefs are a fraud. Doing so is VERY dangerous. I suspect Mr. Fox knew this risk, yet still he went to Iraq.

I guess the Xtians need their marytrs too in this modern day crusade.

JB

[Marie26]

60. Guess he deserved it, huh?

Tom Fox was a member of the "Christian Peacemakers Team", NOT an evangelical organization. This was a non-profit org. that was devoted to reducing violence & protecting human rights. In Iraq, they were actually working on exposing the abuses against the Iraqi people in Abu Ghraib and elsewhere. Tom Fox was doing more to help the Iraqis than probably anyone at DU. I would think that anyone who cares about ending this war & human rights violations should be praising the work Fox was doing. But I guess you can believe what you want to believe.

http://www.cpt.org/

[NoodleyAppendage]

79. What part of "Xtian" Peacemakers Team do you not understand??

Even being a member of an organization called, "Xtian Peacemakers Team," is provocation enough for individuals who feel that their religion is under assault from the West. If Tom Fox's function and organization were NOT religious is nature, then please explain why they won't divest themselves of the moniker "Xtian"?

For CENTURIES, Xtian missionaries have moved into areas with the outward intention of "helping and converting" the natives by doing good deeds (e.g., building infrastructure, medical assistance, etc.). But, those good deeds ALWAYS come at the price of aculturation from the natives' old beliefs to those of their beneficient missionary helpers.

Tom Fox didn't deserve to die, but he shares some responsibility for putting himself in harm's way. Fox perceived his actions as purposeful and selfless, but those he was ultimately trying to convert saw him as part of the West...who heretofore has decimated their country; killed their women and children; and denegrated their relgion.

J

[Marie26]

82. If they didn't have "Xtian" in the name,

it would've made no difference at all. Fox wasn't a missionary, he was a peace activist. Many peace activists have been killed in Iraq, most w/no connection to religion. Margaret Hassan, for example, was the head of Care International, a non-religious aid organization. These people weren't kidnapped because of their religion, they were kidnapped because they are Westerners, pure & simple. I understand you don't like much of the Christian church, but this is one time where the anger seems misplaced to me. Everything about this man's work shows a devotion to non-violence, religious tolerance & human rights. He wasn't about converting people, he was about helping them. It just doesn't seem fair to lump this org. in w/fundamentalist org. like the "Foucs on the Family" or whatever. It isn't the same thing at all.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

61. I don't think conversion was his mission- it was PEACE & HELPING

edited heading
this is why it's so weird-
someone who is publicly FOR peace
and is FOR exposing ABUSES of the Iraqi people,
who is AGAINST U.S. aggression
----> is kidnapped and tortured by victims OF U.S. aggression-
?

Now go figure--
makes no sense-
who benefits from his shutting up?
Could it possibly be those who are the aggressors?
Seems a lot of peace proponents and "helpers" are being killed-
By whom? by those that are being helped?

Not even.

[Marie26]

74. He was an easy target

That's all. The military is protected within the "Green Zone", or they come out in tanks w/guns. Peace activists are out in the population, talking to Iraqis, usually unarmed. If Tom Fox was investigating human rights abuses in Iraq, he was probably talking to different Iraqis, interviewing people, interacting w/the community. Some insurgents heard about the work he was doing & thought he would make an easy target for a kidnapping. And he was, precisely because he wasn't opertating with military protection. That's why, IMO, we see so many peace activists or independent journalists being kidnapped.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

83. how naive can you be?

look deeper

[Marie26]

85. OK

Do you have proof that this was the work of the American military? Not suspicions, proof?

[NoodleyAppendage]

80. There are PLENTY of non-religious NGOs that he could have joined.

Xtian missionaries do good works as a means to opening the hearts and minds of those they are ultimately trying to convert. Don't kid yourself. If Tom Fox really wanted to help without any other ulterior purpose, he could have joined any number of the non-religious NGOs doing similar "good deeds" in Iraq.

Xtian missionaries HAVE NO BUSINESS in Iraq. Their presence is taken as a provocation against Islam, which is only inflaming the passions of the Islamic fundamentalists.

It's enough of a problem that we now have two factions of Islam fighting each other. The LAST THING we need to do is to have those two Islamic factions (Sunni and Shite) joining forces to fight Iraqi Xtians.

J

[rodeodance]

63. AP Tom Fox Is 5th U.S. Hostage Killed in Iraq (At least 2,306 US troops)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060311/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&printer=1;_ylt=AluZ8ynH6HNIw2lkri6W6WIUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Tom Fox Is 5th U.S. Hostage Killed in Iraq

By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 5 minutes ago

The body of the only American among four Christian peace activists kidnapped late last year was found in west Baghdad with gunshots to his head and chest, Iraqi police said Saturday.

Tom Fox, 54, from Clear Brook, Va., was the fifth American hostage killed in Iraq. There was no immediate word on his fellow hostages, a Briton and two Canadians.
.......

Word of Fox's killing came as four people — including an Iraqi journalist and a human rights activist — died in drive-by shootings Saturday, police said.
.......

At least 2,306 members of the U.S. military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The figure includes seven military civilians.

[pberq]

64. Washington Post article

Back in November it was revealed that the group Tom Fox was a part of was looking into the human rights violations of Iraqi detainees by the U.S. military.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/10/AR2006031001935.html

<snip>
Fox, a Quaker, lived in Northern Virginia for more than 30 years before moving to Clear Brook, near Winchester. He was the father of two college-age children and was an assistant manager at a Whole Foods supermarket in Springfield before quitting to join Christian Peacemaker Teams. He had been going to Iraq since September 2004.

Fox was for years a member of Langley Hill Friends Meeting in McLean, which has been holding weekly vigils for his release. Paul Slattery, a member of the meeting, said that he had been in touch with Fox's family and that they wanted to take the lead on any response.

Marge Epstein, a friend of Fox's who attends the meeting, told WRC-TV (Channel 4): "We are absolutely grief-stricken."

Janet Schirch, a friend who had taught Fox at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., said he "knew this might happen when he went to Iraq." She said that like the troops who gave their lives for the security of Iraq, "Tom did that, too. Many, many soldiers have given their lives in Iraq for security, and it's important for Americans to recognize that Tom did that, too."

(more. . .)

[rodeodance]

65. i would think he would be a 'good guy" IF looking into abuse of

detainees. His death makes no sense-IF this is true (of course this assumes that the 'bad guys" killed him).

....Back in November it was revealed that the group Tom Fox was a part of was looking into the human rights violations of Iraqi detainees by the U.S. military.

[Peace Patriot]

71. Yes, this struck me, too: "...looking into the human rights violations of

Iraqi detainees by the U.S. military."

Why would he be a threat to anyone in Iraq--other than to the U.S.-installed gov't, U.S./Iraqi death squads and the U.S. military?

No threat to the Iraqi people. No threat to the rebels. Who does his death benefit?

I think we've have to get a lot smarter about events like this, and not accept any assertions about it from the war profiteering corporate news monopolies.

The beheading of Nicholas Berg in May '04 was a similar event, in regard to who benefits, and also, most of the truth being invisible (with just a few little tips of the iceberg sticking up). (For instance: Nicholas Berg's email address and account password turning up in Zacharias Moussaoui's computer--the one Colleen Rowley couldn't get access to, prior to 9/11. Yes, the same Nicholas Berg who, four years later, was beheaded on video by masked assassins, in Iraq, after 10 days in U.S. custody--in the midst of the pre-election Abu Ghraib torture revelations.)

My heart goes out to Tom's family and friends. Whatever the truth is about his death, I know he was working for the good--and his life and his courage give me hope that the good will prevail.

[president4aday]

66. He was just a left -wing

peace activist. So my local rag buried him on page 3.

Dead right wing hostages like Daniel Pearl (NYT reporter) will always make the front page.

[CottonBear]

67. Pearl was not a RW hostage. He was a journalist doing a dangerous job.

He was a victim just like this peace activist hostage who was killed and the huge number of other jouranlists who have been killed during the course of this insane war on terror.

[0007]

73. I bet the freepers will be throwing stones and their scummy hatred

because Fox was a left winger.

[PassingFair]

68. Quakers.

If I HAD to choose a religion, this
would be it.
These people REALLY "put their money
where their mouths are."

RIP

[LynnTheDem]

72. Quakers; "terrorists" according to bush. He only illegally spies on

terrorists, he lies. So he illegally spied on the Quakers.

Hmmmm.

[Why Syzygy]

69. Related thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x631920

[me b zola]

70. His friends did a lovely tribute to him on cnn this morning

They read some of his personal convictions, he sounded as though he was really quite a wonderful person who devoted his life to peace and justice.


One of us is a friend to this man's wife, I don't remember the DUer's name, but I am sending healing thoughts to them as well as Mr. Fox's family.

[The_Casual_Observer]

81. "Let freedom reign!"

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

84. is it ring or reign

if it's ring-
ring your kneck?

or reign - like hard reign gonna fall?