18 Jul 2017: "Two Canadians captured in Mosul: reports"

[The Bread Guy]

This from the Toronto Star:

Canada is investigating reports that two Canadians are among 20 women and girls captured by Iraqi forces hunting for Daesh militants in Mosul, according to a government spokesperson.

As families of Canadian foreign fighters desperately await news of their loved ones, government officials are also searching for facts and truth in the fog of a brutal war days after the Iraqi government declared victory over the terror group.

On Tuesday morning, those families awoke to reports that a group of about 20 female militants loyal to Daesh had been captured while hiding out in a secret tunnel in Mosul’s Quleiat neighbourhood.

A report citing an Iraqi counterterrorism official said that there were five Germans, three Russians, three Turks, two Canadians, a Chechen and six others from Libya and Syria who had been detained.

That information could not be independently verified by the Star. Global Affairs Canada said in a statement that it is trying to confirm details of the report with the Iraqi government.

“We are aware of these media reports. Canadian officials are contacting local authorities and gathering additional information,” said Jocelyn Sweet ...

From Turkish media ...

Iraqi counterterrorism units reported on July 15 that they had detained 20 female Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants, including three Turkish citizens, captured in a secret tunnel discovered under the Old City neighborhood of Quleiat in Mosul.

The neighborhood has witnessed sporadic clashes since last week, despite the official announcement of the “complete liberation” of the city.

“The women had weapons and explosive belts meant for attacking Iraqi troops” counter-terrorism official Haidar al-Araji said.

The group of women, who were arrested on July 13, included five citizens of Germany, three citizens of Russia, three citizens of Turkey, two citizens of Canada, one Chechn and six from Libya and Syria, according to al-Araji ...

... and Kurdish media:

Three Turkish citizens among 17 other female Islamic State (IS) militants were detained by Iraqi counterterrorism units late last week.

The female IS members were captured in a secret tunnel in the Quleiat neighborhood of Mosul’s Old City, Iraqi officials reported on July 15.

Iraqi counterterrorism official Haider al-Araji said the extremists were preparing to attack security forces in the area.

“The women had weapons and explosive belts meant to attack Iraqi troops,” he said.

Despite an official announcement by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi regarding the liberation of Mosul, clashes continue in the area.

According to Araji, the 20 women were arrested on July 13.

The group included five German citizens, three Russian nationals, three Turks, two from Canada, one Chechen, and six from Libya and Syria, the Iraqi official added.

Araji suggested the women were working for IS’ police arm and had been hiding in a system of tunnels built by the extremist group.

It remains unclear whether the women will face trial in Iraq or be extradited to their home countries ...

 

[Underway]

Oh good.  Just what we need.  A new situation where Canadians are trying to kill our allies.

 

[Rifleman62]

= $21Million.

 

[Infanteer]

= $21Million.

:rofl:

 

[tomahawk6]

The IA has been executing captured IS especially foreign fighters. No country wants these jihadists so if they disappear its to everyone's liking. IS was brutal in their treatment of captured Iraqi soldiers and security personnel.Now the shoe is on the other foot.

 

[OldSolduer]

Oh good.  Just what we need.  A new situation where Canadians are trying to kill our allies.

I got a good idea. Let's send them to an allied country, deprive them of sleep, interrogate them......


Too soon? I do have a sick sense of humour....

 

[jollyjacktar]

The IA has been executing captured IS especially foreign fighters. No country wants these jihadists so if they disappear its to everyone's liking. IS was brutal in their treatment of captured Iraqi soldiers and security personnel.Now the shoe is on the other foot.

Wouldn't bother me in the least.  Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  And saves JT MILLIONS too boot.

 

[Rifleman62]

And saves JT Cdn taxpayers MILLIONS too boot.

Cdn taxpayers also gave $20 Million to the Clinton Foundation recently. Should have used that for Crown vs  Khadr legal costs.

 

[gryphonv]

Wouldn't bother me in the least.  Ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  And saves JT MILLIONS too boot.

Never mind pay 10.5m now to save 10m later. Its more like pay $.25x2 now and save 21m later.

 

[The Bread Guy]

I got a good idea. Let's send them to an allied country, deprive them of sleep, interrogate them......

Too soon? ...

Not all all too soon - actually, pretty well timed. 

We don't have enough info right now to be certain it's an apples-to-apples comparison (either the situation of the Canadians in question, or the state of Iraq's legal justice system), but we do have a pretty recent example of what happens when Canadian nationals associated with terrorist groups get dealt with through torture and a less-than-ideal judicial system in another country (instead of trying them in our own courts under our own terrorism laws).

Based on how unhappy folks seem to be about the results in that case, if the situations are similar enough, maybe a different approach would lead to a different result?

Then again, there's always the option of doing the same thing again and hoping for a different result ...

 

[gryphonv]

The IA has been executing captured IS especially foreign fighters. No country wants these jihadists so if they disappear its to everyone's liking. IS was brutal in their treatment of captured Iraqi soldiers and security personnel.Now the shoe is on the other foot.

From a lot of media reports, the Iraqi Military are brutal in dealing with IS fighters. Recently was a video of them throwing a captured insurgent off a cliff.

Even though it is illegal, it's hard to blame them, the state of fear they had to live in for so long.

I honestly believe if a true World War happened, even imagine some foreign entity occupying parts of Canada, war crimes would be the last thing on our minds.

 

[gryphonv]

Not all all too soon - actually, pretty well timed. 

We don't have enough info right now to be certain it's an apples-to-apples comparison, but we do have a pretty recent example of what happens when Canadian nationals associated with terrorist groups get dealt with through torture and a less-than-ideal judicial system in another country (instead of trying them in our own courts under our own terrorism laws).

Based on how unhappy folks seem to be about the results in that case, if the situations are similar enough, maybe a different approach would lead to a different result?

Then again, there's always the option of doing the same thing again and hoping for a different result ...

I can see the news now, two Canadian women with 'oppressive' husbands forced to join ISIL/ISIS against their will.

 

[daftandbarmy]

From a lot of media reports, the Iraqi Military are brutal in dealing with IS fighters. Recently was a video of them throwing a captured insurgent off a cliff.

Even though it is illegal, it's hard to blame them, the state of fear they had to live in for so long.

I honestly believe if a true World War happened, even imagine some foreign entity occupying parts of Canada, war crimes would be the last thing on our minds.

Why kill them when you can 'turn' them and use them for undercover operations?

 

[The Bread Guy]

I can see the news now, two Canadian women with 'oppressive' husbands forced to join ISIL/ISIS against their will.

One man's "joined ISIS/ISIL against their will" could be considered another man's human trafficking.  #TwoSidesSameCoin

 

[gryphonv]

Why kill them when you can 'turn' them and use them for undercover operations?

I guess they gotta kill some to keep up the image for the guys who are currently undercover.

 

[gryphonv]

One man's "joined ISIS/ISIL against their will" could be considered another man's human trafficking.  #TwoSidesSameCoin

True, I just see this as an easy angle for the media to exploit to pull on the heartstrings of the public.

 

[Old Sweat]

Perfect opportunity for the Canadian government to apply the 10.5-million solution twice.

 

[jollyjacktar]

It's obviously a cure for terrorist symptoms and sympathies.    :nod:

 

[The Bread Guy]

Perfect opportunity for the Canadian government to apply the 10.5-million solution twice.

Assuming the government makes the same mistakes previous governments have made ...