Australian taken hostage in Iraq/update/Response team to Iraq

[cal04]

AN emergency response team is preparing to fly to Iraq to attempt to secure the release of Australian hostage Douglas Wood. Iraqi insurgents released a video overnight of Mr Wood - an Australian citizen living in California - pleading for his life at gunpoint and calling for the withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the hostage team would include Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) staff, Australian Federal Police and defence personnel. "That will be getting going as quickly as is humanly possibly to go to Iraq to reinforce the efforts that our embassy is making on the ground there," Mr Downer said on ABC.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister John Howard said he would do whatever he could to secure Mr Wood's release. He also said while he accepted responsibility for the fate of Mr Wood, he stood by his commitment to the coalition effort in Iraq. "I can understand the anguish people are going through and I feel for them very deeply because this really is the tough end of any kind of difficult and controversial decision," Mr Howard said.

"I feel total responsibility for any harm that comes to anybody as a result of the decisions that the Government has taken. "If you imagine for a moment that I don't feel a great sense of personal involvement and responsibility, you'd be wrong."

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15150622%255E12377,00.html

I hope we don't repeat what happened with Italy

[foreigncorrespondent]

1. What do you guys...

...think will happen here in Oz if this guy ends up getting killed?

I reckon little Johnnie shithead is going to cop a lot of flack for it.

[Matilda]

2. I'd like to think he'd get the blame,

but he'll probably turn it around by saying this is the kind of
thing we have been fighting against all along. Not true, of course,
but the whole Iraq affair has taught me that Australians don't really
give a shit unless their wallet is affected.

Things have gone from bad to worse in Iraq for two years now, but
it hasn't hurt Howard a bit. It really sucks.

[oscarmitre]

3. Nope

The vox pop is that he was over there earning heaps of money, knew the risks, is a Yank anyway (which I don't think is true). This won't hurt Khaki Johnny.

[Djinn]

4. I don't think it'll hurt Howard

if he was an Australian soldier, maybe. Most people understand that if you take a job in Iraq right now you're taking your chances, there's a reason why you can earn a six figure salary driving a truck for a few months.

[Matilda]

5. If he was a humanitarian worker, I'd feel for him and his family,

but as it is, I just figure he gambled and lost.

[foreigncorrespondent]

6. Has ayone heard...

...anything more about him? I know his time ran out on Tuesday morning, but since that time, I have not heard if they managed to secure his release, or if has met his maker.

[Catamount]

7. I was wondering this too!

I gather that this story is not getting much coverage in Oz?

[foreigncorrespondent]

8. Not that I am aware of.

I work such weird, long hours that don't get to see much news at all. And lately I just haven't had the tme to read any of the Aussie newspapers online.