CDN Hostage James Loney Rescued by SAS in Iraq

[The Bread Guy]

Presented in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 21, of the Copyright Act, http://www.cb-cda.gc.ca/info/act-e.html#rid-33409

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060324.wxhostagesottawa24_art_2230_3/BNStory/National/home

The hostages are rescued Free, with help from Canada
Covert ops team worked for months on ground in Iraq

JEFF SALLOT With a report from Michael Den Tandt OTTAWA The work of a secret team of Canadian soldiers, police officers, spies and diplomats in Baghdad came to a successful conclusion yesterday in a raid that rescued two Canadians and one Briton who had been held hostage for almost four months, federal officials say.

Mounties and members of a Canadian special forces unit joined British and U.S. troops, who led in the rescue.

The entire Canadian team, numbering at times more than 20, has been on the ground in Baghdad, working quietly since shortly after the kidnappings on Nov. 26.

In addition to members of the RCMP and the military's special forces, the team included diplomats and intelligence officers, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said.

"We were there with our very best," Mr. MacKay said in an interview.

"We had everyone fully engaged in this operation from Day 1." The extraordinary effort, he said, sends a message: "Canada should not [be], and is not passive when it comes to its own citizens and the protection of their lives." British troops led the final phase of the delicate operation that unfolded yesterday morning in a neighbourhood in Baghdad.

The international team found Canadians James Loney, 41, Harmeet Singh Sooden, 33, and Briton Norman Kember, 74, in a building. They were bound. Their captors were not around.

Mr. MacKay said joy at the rescue was tempered by the fact that the operation came too late to save the life of one of the hostages, American Tom Fox. His body was found two weeks ago.

All four men came to Baghdad last year to work for a pacifist organization, the Christian Peacemakers Team. They were taken hostage by a group demanding the release of Iraqi prisoners held by U.S.  forces.

Mr. MacKay said yesterday's rescue involved close co-operation between the governments of Britain, the United States and Iraq.

The final raid was led by the British.

Canadian intelligence officers involved at various times included specialists from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Communications Security Establishment, a secretive branch of the Defence Department that intercepts international telecommunications.

The Foreign Affairs Department combed its ranks to find staff who had experience with these types of situations, The Canadian Press reported. They dispatched a team in early December that included foreign officers, workers from the Jordanian embassy and some RCMP officers.

That team stayed in Baghdad through Christmas and into this year.

Liberal MP Dan McTeague, a former parliamentary secretary responsible for Canadians abroad, said the group discreetly made inquiries around Baghdad about the disappearance.

They also communicated again and again that the hostages were Canadian, they were humanitarian workers and that Canada was not party to the war.

"This was a remarkable international effort involving our allies, the Americans, the British and the Iraqis," Mr. MacKay said. "This is certainly a great day for Canadians." But the new Conservative government is keeping a tight lid on operational details on the advice of federal security experts. They warn that talk of Canadian military activity in Iraq can make Canadians targets for terrorists.

The security experts also say that they want to keep techniques secret that might be needed again if another rescue operation ever has to be mounted.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper hinted broadly at Canadian military involvement at a news conference earlier in the day. "I'm not free to say more than that because of national security." He also denied a suggestion that any ransom had been paid. "Not that I'm aware of." Now that the hostages are free, the Canadians will pack up and leave the Iraqi capital, he said.

(...)

 

[KevinB]

Now that the hostages are free, the Canadians will pack up and leave the Iraqi capital, he said.

(...)

Notice he did not say leave IRAQ... 

 

[George Wallace]

Presented in accordance with the "fair dealing" provisions, Section 21, of the Copyright Act
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/03/mil-060323-usia01.htm

Coalition Forces Rescue Three Kidnapped Peace Activists in Iraq
23 March 2006

Operation based on intelligence from insurgent detainee, says U.S. general

By David I. McKeeby
Washington File Staff Writer



Washington -- Coalition forces successfully freed three kidnapped Western aid workers who had been held by Iraqi insurgents for four months, U.S. Major General Rick Lynch announced March 23.

“I am happy to report that all three are in good condition; they have had a medical screening and are anxious to reunite with their families,” Lynch said during a press briefing in Baghdad.

Based on intelligence received from a detainee captured the night before, coalition forces raided a rural home west of Baghdad, where they found the hostages bound and abandoned by their kidnappers, Lynch reported.

“The key point is that [the rescue] was intelligence-led and it was information provided by a detainee,” he said, adding that an important aspect of coalition detention operations is obtaining actionable intelligence.

On November 26, 2005, a group of kidnappers calling itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigades abducted four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams, a Chicago-based international organization of peace activists.

The freed men, Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Sooden, and Briton Norman Kember, were seen on several videotapes produced by the kidnappers and broadcast widely in the international media in recent months.

On March 10, the body of the fourth kidnapped member of the group, American Tom Fox of Virginia, was discovered in a rail yard in western Baghdad.

During the briefing, Lynch also reported that insurgents detonated two car bombs that killed 21 people and wounded more than 50.  The first exploded near a police facility as part of a series of attacks on Iraqi security forces.  The second exploded outside a Shi’a mosque in southwest Baghdad.

For more information, see Iraq Update. [Link available on this site: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/03/mil-060323-usia01.htm ]


(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

 

[zipperhead_cop]

I would be very interested in knowing what the time frame was between the hostages being "abandoned" and the raid being executed.  If these crap rags were holding the hostages in a remote area, and all of a sudden there is a wing of attack and troop helo's inbound, I would think the common sense thing would be to get the hell out. 

Now lets sit back in morbid fascination and wait for the hostages to say that they are going back to Iraq to finish the important work they had started.  :threat:

 

[vonGarvin]

If these crap rags were holding the hostages in a remote area, and all of a sudden there is a wing of attack and troop helo's inbound, I would think the common sense thing would be to get the hell out. 

According to a thing I saw on TV, their location was in "western Baghdad".  Don't know if that's accurate or not, but I'm fairly certain that their approach would have been a bit more stealthy.

 

[hardcorewannabe]

its amazing that all the christians for peace thanked God and their prayers for the "release"  of the hostages, rather than the well trained, well armed soldiers for thier "rescue".

How ironic that those condemning militaries and the use of force were eventually saved by it.

 

[CSA]

It is sad that these folks and their organization condemn the military and their involvement in their rescue,
and all of us, civvies, military and ex-military can sound off on those "ungrateful hippy-tree hugging, love your fellow man, yadda-yadda" christian peacemakers not giving credit and thanks where it is due - but then again those special ops personnel involved in their rescue didn't do it to "make the news" or to be given a parade or medals or for hero worship-they did it to help people who have the right to believe in what they believe in regardless of what we all think. they helped these hostages who could not help themselves in gaining that precious commodity known as freedom.

It reminds me of a paragraph from a poem written by a special operator years ago that I have hanging in my office, it goes;

"I seek neither fame nor glory.
I seek neither medals nor praise
I seek only the acknowledgement of my Brother Operators
For they alone can judge me
And to be counted amongst them is my greatest honor."


Well done lads!
 

 

[William Webb Ellis]

"Harmeet, Jim and Norman and Tom were in Iraq to learn of the struggles facing the people in that country. They went, motivated by a passion for justice and peace to live out a nonviolent alternative in a nation wracked by armed conflict. They knew that their only protection was in the power of the love of God and of their Iraqi and international co-workers. We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq. The occupation must end."

http://www.cpt.org/iraq/response/06-23-03statement.htm

I wonder if they were "moved" to add this

"Addenda
23 March 2006, 9 p.m. ET
We have been so overwhelmed and overjoyed to have Jim, Harmeet and Norman freed, that we have not adequately thanked the people involved with freeing them, nor remembered those still in captivity. So we offer these paragraphs as the first of several addenda:

We are grateful to the soldiers who risked their lives to free Jim, Norman and Harmeet. As peacemakers who hold firm to our commitment to nonviolence, we are also deeply grateful that they fired no shots to free our colleagues. We are thankful to all the people who gave of themselves sacrificially to free Jim, Norman, Harmeet and Tom over the last four months, and those supporters who prayed and wept for our brothers in captivity, for their loved ones and for us, their co-workers."

 

[Cliff]

How ironic that those condemning militaries and the use of force were eventually saved by it.

Not sure what you mean, but I don't that those that were saved were against the military.The main problem is that most missionary types have minimal training in targeted violence or threat accessment, so they often become easy targets.



[EDIT for Code Problem with Quote.]

 

[tomahawk6]

CTV article.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060323/canadian_aid_hostages_060323/20060323?hub=World

I think JTF2 and SAS led the op because their citizen's were being held. Mission accomplished.

 

[Patrolman]

In regards to who kicked the door. It is a known fact that the JTF work hand in hand with both the SAS and Delta force in Afghanistan in military actions. Thy did this by attaching members to SAS and DELTA assault teams for various operations,so why not in Iraq where the situation involved Canadian citizens.
Also if every thinks back to the capture of the two supposed SAS members in Basra last year there was a lot of controversy on whether or not they were JTF personnel and not SAS. They carried C-7  rifle variants and if you remember seeing the photos they were wearing MEC pants. A local judge said since they were carrying Canadian weapons and to him did not seem to be British or American was going to try them as spies had they not been rescued. So who is to say Canada is not in Iraq!

 

[vonGarvin]

"We believe that the illegal occupation of Iraq by Multinational Forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and suffering in Iraq. The occupation must end."

They can believe whatever they wish; however, don't blame the "Multinational Forces" as the cause of both their kidnapping and release, IMHO.  They went over, of their own free will, into a den of savages who lop off heads without batting an eye, and they condemn those who are trying to keep the world safe from such savages *sigh*
To each their own, I suppose.

 

[tomahawk6]

The people making the anti-military comments were NOT the freed hostages. Let's see if they follow the party line or say something different.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1143154016563&call_pageid=970599119419

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Patrolman would happen to have these pictures?

 

[Weinie]

Also if every thinks back to the capture of the two supposed SAS members in Basra last year there was a lot of controversy on whether or not they were JTF personnel and not SAS. They carried C-7  rifle variants and if you remember seeing the photos they were wearing MEC pants. A local judge said since they were carrying Canadian weapons and to him did not seem to be British or American was going to try them as spies had they not been rescued. So who is to say Canada is not in Iraq!


Before you go down the road of having Canada in Iraq based on what you wrote above, remember that Diemaco sells weapons all over the world, including the British. There is no "grassy knoll" here.

 

[bboyintown]

Congratulation to the men and women involved in the rescue of three hostages in Iraq.  On a related note, the Christian Peacekeepers that speak out against the war in Iraq succeed in not only raising the ire of those who are fighting on the ground, they also challenge every Canadian to get involved.  Get informed and stand behind your Canadian Forces around the world as they go in harms way.  They go willingly because they believe in the obvious good they do on the ground with ordinary Afghans or Iraqis, or any other innocent civilian.

 

[Bobbyoreo]

"Also if every thinks back to the capture of the two supposed SAS members in Basra last year there was a lot of controversy on whether or not they were JTF personnel and not SAS. They carried C-7  rifle variants and if you remember seeing the photos they were wearing MEC pants. A local judge said since they were carrying Canadian weapons and to him did not seem to be British or American was going to try them as spies had they not been rescued. So who is to say Canada is not in Iraq!"


SAS uses m16,c7,c8,c9,c6...all those and more. So I would't go off that but none the less...I bet a few Double Doubles that JTF are out there as their are Canadian troops in American units out there and Im sure Canada would like to have a few of its SOF out there in these units as well....just if needed!!!

I really dont know what the big deal is about who got them.....the point is they are heading home with their heads!!!

Good work to all involved!!!

 

[GO!!!]

4 or 5 times I've seen Canadian soldiers in Iraq. I believe they are on exchange.

I've heard the number 22 batted around, mostly exchange officers. One (LCol Mills) was on the National a few months back.

 

[Britney Spears]

CFL: I kept the ones with the weapons, dunno about the MEC pants though, never noticed that on the first go around.

In any case it is well know that the Brit L1192 or whatever they call it is a C8 with fancy sights and stuff so it just proves that they are Brits.

 

[monika]

I've heard the number 22 batted around, mostly exchange officers. One (LCol Mills) was on the National a few months back.

Thanks gentleman. Nice to know I wasn't having some weird dream from falling asleep and hearing Coast to Coast after the game!