Comments on: Missing Britons in Iraq http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/ Everyone has a right to my opinions Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:14:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Robert Sharp » Blog Archive » Five British Hostages http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-106364 Robert Sharp » Blog Archive » Five British Hostages Thu, 25 Oct 2007 21:05:09 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-106364 [...] I repeat: Who are they and why is there so little government and media interest in getting them back? [...] [...] I repeat: Who are they and why is there so little government and media interest in getting them back? [...]

]]> By: A Jay http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95075 A Jay Mon, 20 Aug 2007 16:18:33 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95075 Having been in Iraq on and off for ther last 4 years I am aware that there are two very distinct types of kidnapping, both of which are very popular these days in Iraq. They are either for cash or political mileage. If you are kidnapped for cash, you've got a 99% chance of surviving. A Westerner is a highly prized commodity and potentially worth big bucks. These guys don't sqander their assets, they fully exploit them. Anyone kidnapped for non-commercial reasons has a low chance of surviving. Both teams have well trained, well equiped snatch squads on constant standby, just in case a $10m note or an infidel happens to float by. It is my guess that the 5 were snatched for money, hence no personal details are in circulation. The official line is always no ransom - no way. The UK government does appear to stick to this line but many other governments don't and most commercial companies don't, although it is very rare for anyone to ever admit that a ransom has been paid. Most ransom payments are covered by insurance, and insurance companies want to discourage more payments by insisting "no publicity". It is very interesting that the 5 were taken by people in police uniforms, in police cars and lifted from the Finance Ministry in Bagdad. What does that tell you? Having been in Iraq on and off for ther last 4 years I am aware that there are two very distinct types of kidnapping, both of which are very popular these days in Iraq. They are either for cash or political mileage. If you are kidnapped for cash, you’ve got a 99% chance of surviving. A Westerner is a highly prized commodity and potentially worth big bucks. These guys don’t sqander their assets, they fully exploit them. Anyone kidnapped for non-commercial reasons has a low chance of surviving. Both teams have well trained, well equiped snatch squads on constant standby, just in case a $10m note or an infidel happens to float by.

It is my guess that the 5 were snatched for money, hence no personal details are in circulation. The official line is always no ransom - no way. The UK government does appear to stick to this line but many other governments don’t and most commercial companies don’t, although it is very rare for anyone to ever admit that a ransom has been paid. Most ransom payments are covered by insurance, and insurance companies want to discourage more payments by insisting “no publicity”.

It is very interesting that the 5 were taken by people in police uniforms, in police cars and lifted from the Finance Ministry in Bagdad. What does that tell you?

]]> By: Robert http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95072 Robert Mon, 20 Aug 2007 15:41:38 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95072 But what about when those <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4264614.stm" rel="nofollow">two SAS dudes were caught lurking in Basra</a>, and had to be forcibly removed from an Iraqi police station? We at least had some updates on their fate, even if the exact nature of their mission was obscured. Also, the details we <em>do</em> have about the GuardaWorld Five do not necessarily point to a cover-up. Chatting to some contacts of my own who have worked out in Iraq, pretty much everyone employs a close protection team nowadays. Even if these men were not working for some kind of humanitarian project, their presence in Baghdad was not suspicious, nothing to be ashamed of, perfectly necessary, and legal. Why is our government ignoring them? Either way, you're right Matt, it's another possible explanation. It would certainly account for <em>government</em> silence, but not media silence. Unless the media have been specifically asked not the report the story. But what about when those two SAS dudes were caught lurking in Basra, and had to be forcibly removed from an Iraqi police station? We at least had some updates on their fate, even if the exact nature of their mission was obscured.

Also, the details we do have about the GuardaWorld Five do not necessarily point to a cover-up. Chatting to some contacts of my own who have worked out in Iraq, pretty much everyone employs a close protection team nowadays. Even if these men were not working for some kind of humanitarian project, their presence in Baghdad was not suspicious, nothing to be ashamed of, perfectly necessary, and legal. Why is our government ignoring them?

Either way, you’re right Matt, it’s another possible explanation. It would certainly account for government silence, but not media silence. Unless the media have been specifically asked not the report the story.

]]> By: Matt Munro http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95060 Matt Munro Mon, 20 Aug 2007 11:45:38 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95060 Er surely it's obvious they aren't the sort of people the govt wants any publicity about ? I mean "security consultants" covers all manner of sins - anyone remember "journalist" john mc carthy kidnapped in lebanon in the 1980s ? Er surely it’s obvious they aren’t the sort of people the govt wants any publicity about ? I mean “security consultants” covers all manner of sins - anyone remember “journalist” john mc carthy kidnapped in lebanon in the 1980s ?

]]> By: Kathy http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95043 Kathy Mon, 20 Aug 2007 07:25:10 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95043 Does Frank Gardner not know anything? Is it because of the nature of the business of Gardaworld's client?? Surely there is a good reason or why are the families not asking for help? Does Frank Gardner not know anything?
Is it because of the nature of the business of Gardaworld’s client??
Surely there is a good reason or why are the families not asking for help?

]]> By: Clarice http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95009 Clarice Sun, 19 Aug 2007 22:43:03 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-95009 <i>Read the reports</i> Can't be bothered. That's what I read you for. Sorry for the bad attitude, but it's been a long weekend. Read the reports

Can’t be bothered. That’s what I read you for. Sorry for the bad attitude, but it’s been a long weekend.

]]> By: Robert http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94997 Robert Sun, 19 Aug 2007 18:34:23 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94997 Read the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6700319.stm" rel="nofollow">reports</a>. Guarda confirmed that five of their guys were kidnapped, but did not release their names. And that's the last we've heaqrd, as far as I can tell. Read the reports. Guarda confirmed that five of their guys were kidnapped, but did not release their names. And that’s the last we’ve heaqrd, as far as I can tell.

]]> By: Clarice http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94996 Clarice Sun, 19 Aug 2007 18:25:28 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94996 Why are there no named victims? How can we know that five men have been kidnapped, without knowing who they are? Why are there no named victims? How can we know that five men have been kidnapped, without knowing who they are?

]]> By: Robert http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94993 Robert Sun, 19 Aug 2007 18:10:37 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94993 That's the thing, its not as if there was a flurry of activity to begin with. Previously, we've seen people get fed up with the parents of Madeline McGann, and even Billy Connoly <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/3717462.stm" rel="nofollow">making jokes</a> about Ken Bigley. But for these guys, zilch. That’s the thing, its not as if there was a flurry of activity to begin with. Previously, we’ve seen people get fed up with the parents of Madeline McGann, and even Billy Connoly making jokes about Ken Bigley.

But for these guys, zilch.

]]> By: jameshigham http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94986 jameshigham Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:34:51 +0000 http://www.robertsharp.co.uk/2007/08/19/missing-britons-in-iraq/#comment-94986 I think some sort of ennui has set in. I think some sort of ennui has set in.

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