Comments on: Greeting Kidnappings with a Stiff Upper Lip

By: Winds of Change.NET

Winds of Change.NET — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 04:32:34 +0000

Advice for Hostages
Outside the Beltway links to a recent Steyn column with some advice for hostages, and a look at the whole Ken Bigley circus.

By: joe shropshire

joe shropshire — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 05:44:11 +0000

I understand that Iraqi law permits one AK-47 per adult male per household. From the descriptions of Kenneth Bigley I've read I doubt that would have helped much: he sounded like the type who wouldn't have known which end of an AK the bullets come out of. May God rest his soul.

By: Jim Henley

Jim Henley — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 20:58:48 +0000

I didnât give much thought to decapitation when I was mooching round the Sunni Triangle last year, but my one rule was that I was determined not to get into a car with any of the locals and I was willing to shoot anyone who tried to force me. If youâre not, you shouldnât be there.

This was when Steyn was having a time that was "just jolly," right?

By: Attila Girl

Attila Girl — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 16:03:55 +0000

If they aren't allowed, I'm sure it doesn't matter, practically speaking. But I doubt that the embryonic government has de-clawed the average citizen: that would simply be too crazy. (It's crazy enough in some American cities, where it's actually occurred.)

By: paladin

paladin — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 15:35:32 +0000

I've often wondered why more of these civilians aren't packing heat. Are civilians permitted firearms in Iraq? It just seems crazy not to have the means to defend yourself in such a lawless place.

By: McGehee

McGehee — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:59:03 +0000

I keep thinking about how the lions take down a zebra and all of a sudden the zebra stops trying to survive. Predators (of all varieties) prefer the soft target -- how long would zebras stay on the menu if, once running away is no longer an option, they started kicking lions in the throat?

There's a reason the food chain works the way it does, and terrorists are merely predators in human form.

By: The Jawa Report

The Jawa Report — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:34:00 +0000

Too Hot for the UK: Steyn's Censored Column Mark Steyn's publishers at the Telegraph thought that readers in the UK couldn't handle this piece of solidly British advice. Here's a tidbit.Iâd written about Kenneth Bigley, seized with two American colleagues but unlike them not beheaded immediat...

By: Attila Girl

Attila Girl — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 14:10:31 +0000

I've always told my niece that she should never get into a strange man's car. Never, never.

Once you're in the car, they have you.

By: Bithead

Bithead — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 13:16:33 +0000

And isn't that rather the point of the whole deal?
This IS a war... and not a law enforcement matter, as Mr. Kerry would like to deal with it.