Report: U.S. hostage beheaded.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Report: U.S. hostage beheaded.
9
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 2:10pm

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory2/2633589


An al-Qaida group said today it killed American hostage Paul M. Johnson Jr., posting an Internet message that showed photographs of a beheaded body.


The statement, along with three still photos, was posted on a Web site where the group frequently makes announcements. It appeared around the time that a 72-hour deadline set by the kidnappers ended.

"In answer to what we promised ... to kill the hostage Paul Marshall after the period is over ... the infidel got his fair treatment," the statement said.

"Let him taste something from what Muslims tasted who were long reached by Apache helicopter fire and missiles," the statement said.

Johnson, who worked on Apache helicopter systems for Lockheed Martin, was kidnapped last weekend by militants who threatened to kill him by today if the kingdom did not release its al-Qaida prisoners. Saudi security forces launched an all-out search, going door-to-door in some Riyadh neighborhoods, as Johnson's wife went on Al-Arabiya today pleading for his release.

American Nicholas Berg, a businessman, was beheaded last month by his captors in Iraq, and his last moments later appeared on a videotape posted on an al-Qaida-linked Web site. U.S. officials say al-Qaida-linked Muslim militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may have been Berg's killer.


People living in fundamentalist districts being searched in western and southern Riyadh suggested that the kidnappers enjoy popular support, partly because of U.S. policy in Iraq and America's perceived backing for Israel.

"How can we inform on our brothers when we see all these pictures coming from Abu Ghraib and Rafah," Muklas Nawaf, a resident of Dhahar al-Budaih, said as he ate meat grilled on a spit at a restaurant called Jihad, Arabic for holy war.

He was referring to the pictures of Iraqis abused by U.S. soldiers at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad and Israeli military incursions and killings in the Gaza refugee camp of Rafah.

"This is not a little skirmish. It is a war," Nawaf said.

Mizahen al-Etbi, a man shopping in the Sweidi district with his family today, praised the kidnappers as "holy warriors, heroes, who never waver ... All Saudis hate Americans, not only these heroes."

Former Deputy Minister of Interior Ibrahim Alebaji acknowledged the security forces lacked sufficient training.

"Our security apparatus is not well trained in combatting terrorism, but they are learning," he said on Saudi television, calling for more cooperation from the people.

cl-Libraone~

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2004
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 2:16pm
animals.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-20-2003
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 2:24pm
His poor family.

They have my deepest sympathy and condolences.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 2:25pm
Animals are nowhere near that evil.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 2:26pm
It will be interesting to see how "brave" and indignant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is when he is captured in the near future.

I heard on the TV last night that they are closing in on him in Falluja (I think), and recently captured one of his top deputies.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-18-2004
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 4:31pm
This man is from my home town. Very sad. What's more sad is how our government (as well as others, we aren't the only guilty ones here, and Al-Queda as well) is using civilians like pawns for thier own purposes.

Why did we go into Iraq exactly? WMD? Bull. To play the good guys and oust Saddam? Yeah sure, funny how we ignore non-oil rich countries with horrible dictators. More like Oil and the chance for new buisness partners. I'm so sick of all of this. Using Americans, Iraqi's, ect... like pieces in some stupid chess game while the leaders of Al-Quida, the US, or wherever sit comfortably around giving the orders but never really doing anything. If Bush himself had to go to war in Iraq (and actually fight), I bet there would be no war.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2000
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 4:57pm

His poor family.

 


Photobucket&nbs

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 5:15pm
I can't even begin to say how angry this makes me.

I, unfortnately (don't ask me what I was thinking) actually watched the video of the Nicholas Berg beheading, and I still have nighmares about it.

It was the most chilling, evil and coldhearted thing I have ever seen in my life, and I have seen some gruesome events.

I think just punishment for those involved, if captured would be to have them locked in a sound proof room for a few days with the surviving friends and family of the victims they have tortured and killed. If they happened to live through that, then you can execute them (mind you, this is my anger and rage talking now..)

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2003
Fri, 06-18-2004 - 5:44pm
My deepest sympathies go to that family.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2003
Sat, 06-19-2004 - 12:25pm
Just thought you might like to know that the family extends to a small village in Thailand.

Paul Johnson's Thai kins grieve

Agence France-Presse

Nong Kung (Thailand), June 19



A Thai village was plunged into mourning on Saturday as shocked relatives and friends of kidnapped American Paul Johnson awoke to news of his execution in Saudi Arabia at the hands of Al-Qaeda terrorists.

This tiny tight-knit community was struggling to cope with the news emanating from the West Asia, where the American husband of one of their own was brutally murdered and pictures of his beheading were posted on the Internet.

"A friend rang us from Bangkok just after midnight and told us the news and all of us have been up all night just shocked and filled with disbelief," said Saengduan Mainwaring, the cousin of Thanom, Johnson's Thai wife of 10 years.

"A relative in Bangkok spoke with Thanom this morning but (Thanom) just could not speak -- she was so emotional and heartbroken," Saengduan said, adding that Thanom was expected to travel to the US before returning to Thailand in about a fortnight.

Shaken and holding back tears, Saengduan walked along the dirt roads of Thanom's home village of a few hundred people to talk with friends and relatives about the tragedy.

Standing outside the Johnson's simple two-story timber house built in local style, next-door neighbour Cula Chaiwicha shook her head saying: "My mother was crying when she heard the news. It is so shocking."

"We still haven't seen the pictures, but I can't believe this is how he died, the whole village is sad," she said, referring to gruesome images of the decapitated 49-year-old engineer shown on an Islamist website which have triggered worldwide revulsion and condemnation.

Johnson's Thai relatives said they did not know what to do next, as they had been living in the hope he would return alive.

The devastating news broke in the village only hours after a vigil had been held outside the Johnson home during which two men uttered Buddhist chants as about 20 friends and relatives lit small orange candles and prayed the American's life would be spared.

"We still find it too hard to believe and we can't stop thinking about Paul and Thanom," the wife's aunt, Thongsit Carison, said during the vigil.

Meanwhile, in Bangkok, where those who knew Johnson have also held a week-long vigil and tied yellow ribbons around some of the bars where the American liked to unwind, his friends were expected to gather for a final memorial.

The Johnsons lived in Riyadh, but maintained a home in Nong Kung which neighbours said they returned to about three times a year.

Johnson, who worked for US defense contractor Lockheed Martin, was due to retire in one month after which he was expected to return with his wife to live in Thailand. A handful of other Westerners live with their wives in the same village.

Johnson's body was found on Friday in a remote area of Riyadh, Adel al-Jubeir, diplomatic adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdallah bin Abdul Aziz, said in Washington.

Since Johnson's abduction last Saturday -- the same day another US national was killed in the Saudi capital -- Washington and Riyadh had steadfastly insisted they would strike no deal with the hostage-takers.

Saudi officials confirmed that Johnson had been decapitated as a 72-hour deadline for his execution ran out, despite frantic efforts to find him by Saudi forces.

Shortly after news broke of Johnson's death, Saudi security forces reported killing four terrorists, including presumed Al-Qaeda chief in Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz al-Muqrin, whose group they said beheaded Johnson.

Johnson's murder triggered a wave of anger and condemnation in the United States and around the world and a vow from President George W Bush to avenge his death.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_836531,00050004.htm