4 Peace Activists Kidnapped in Iraq

This is one of those times where I come dangerously close to throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Born and raised a Mennonite, I have always been taught to respect the rights of others and to pursue peaceful solutions to conflict. I guess that is why I only smacked my sister several times while growing up.

But this just plain pisses me off.

The aid group Christian Peacemaker Teams has confirmed that four of its members were taken hostage Saturday.

CPT says of itself on its own website:

Initiated by Mennonites, Brethren and Quakers with broad ecumenical participation, CPT’s ministry of Biblically-based and spiritually-centered peacemaking emphasizes creative public witness, nonviolent direct action and protection of human rights.

Elsewhere on the CRT site is this little gem on current projects:

Iraq – a Baghdad-based presence since October 2002. Team members accompanied the Iraqi people through the U.S.-led 2003 war and continue during the post-war occupation to expose abusive acts by U.S. Armed Forces and support Iraqis committed to nonviolent resistance.

Palestine – a continuing presence in the Hebron District (West Bank) since June 1995. Team members stand with Palestinians and Israeli peace groups engaged in nonviolent opposition to Israeli military occupation, collective punishment, settler harassment, home demolitions and land confiscation.

The CPT has its ostrich head buried deeply in the sand of the Middle-East. Certainly, any loss of innocent life is a tragedy, but what is the loss of an estimated 500,000 people in Iraq by the hand of the fascists there in the past 25 years? What about the additional 1.5 million people murdered by Saddam's war machine during his rule. I know that the CPT was appalled at this loss of life as well, but to stand in judgment of the people that finally put an end to Saddam's regime because some innocents were killed (many liberal estimates place this number at less than 30,000 since the invasion) is stupid. That is approximately the number of people killed by Saddam's actions every four months during his entire time in power!

Even us Mennonite children in Michigan were taught how to do simple math. So, go on protesting the liberators--just try to remember that had we not invaded there would be another 7,000 dead by Christmas. And 7,000 in January. February is a short month so maybe only 6,500 then. Hmmm. See a pattern developing here?

It also wouldn't hurt the CPT to study a little Mid-Eastern history. It might not change their quest for peace even at the cost of the enslavement of millions. However, it might keep them from publishing incorrect historical revisionism on their website. Is it too late to become Nazarene?

An assist to Drudge Report