How will the Archbishop crises end?

[mrstick]

Possible Scenario:

They hold him hostage, tell the Americans not to hold the election.

Now Bush is faced between: A: Holding his elections and killing an archbishop or B: submitting to terrorists.

[B. P. R. D.]

1. Stopping Election Over Terrorist Threats.

Sounds like the martial law some predicted for Election 2004.

[Mitt Chovick]

6. He'll be beheaded

I've seen enough of how they handle hostages to know this won't end well.

[theboss]

2. How is this different than any other hostage situation?

Even if I don't agree with a foreign policy, I would hope that one hostage would not dictate what an entire nation does. I mean, if a terrorist kidnaps Paul McCartney and demands we shut down the Super Bowl, do we do it?

[saltpoint]

3. Not real sure on this, but didn't the Vatican make --

-- several attempts to privately and publicly urge Bush to reconsider his attack on Iraq?

I thought the Church in this case stood firmly against the attack and tried to persuade Bush to chill out.

Set me proper on this if I'm off track, but if the Pope opposed the U.S.-led invasion, then I hope that can be used as a mitigating factor to negotiate this guy's release.

[theboss]

4. I'm not quite that his kidnappers would care

I have a feeling that when the inevitable video comes out, the word "Crusades" are going to be used about 40 times.

[saltpoint]

9. Hmm. You may be right on that.

I hadn't gone that route with this news.

It could be a dark finish.

[AngryOldDem]

8. The Church did speak out against the war...

...the Pope quite eloquently. But, Bush ignored all of that and invaded anyway, and is facing the very problems Rome warned against nearly three years ago.

It's doubtful that the Vatican's position on the war will make much difference to whoever kidnapped this archbishop. Every noncombatant is a pawn in the game now. We know the insurgents don't give a damn, but it should deeply trouble us all that Bush doesn't seem to give much of a damn, either.

He's bound and determined to bring democracy to Iraq, even if that means killing everyone in the country to do so, apparently. To save the country, you have to destroy it. Where have we heard that before?

[saltpoint]

10. I think your third paragraph sums it up as well or better --

-- than I've ever heard it.

I wish for a different outcome, as I have no quarrel with any Iraqi. But I fear that you are right.

[jazzjunkysue]

5. Red on red.

They won't think twice about spilling a christian's blood, after what we've done to their own religous leaders. Death begets death. It's in the bible, ya know. "Thou shalt not.......lie, steal, kill, covet, swear, geez: I don't think Bush missed any of them!

[alcuno]

7. My guess? Insurgents will play politics and let the archbishop go.

Classic scenario that makes them look human while nodding to the RC Church.

[Lefty48197]

11. Poland will send troops back to Iraq

and they'll unlease a little hellfire on the transplanted terrorists.