Kidnap, beheading threats working
Experts: Iraq coalition weakening
Published: Connecticut Post July 22, 2004
The escalating kidnapping of foreign civilians in Iraq and the threat of their
beheading unless their countries pull out troops or businesses is weakening the
coalition and further turning world opinion against the United States, according
to several political science experts.
“If we want to wage war against the evildoers it has to be a collective
effort,” said Ghasan El-Eid, who teaches courses on international terrorism
at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. “The more countries
that withdraw, the weaker the coalition becomes and the stronger the opposition
appears.”
El-Eid, a native of Lebanon who is writing a book on international terrorism,
believes if terrorists continue to obtain their goals of forcing countries to
leave Iraq, the number of acts could increase.
A group claiming to be “The Holders of the Black Banners” Wednesday
announced it had kidnapped six truck drivers – three from India, two from
Kenya and one from Egypt. It announced it would begin beheading one every 72
hours until their countries pulled all business interests out of Iraq.
None of those countries has deployed troops in Iraq.
But the warning came only a day after Angelo de la Cruz, a Filipino, was saved
from beheading when his country announced their 51 troops would leave Iraq.
“Anybody viewed as collaborating with the central governing council or
the coalition is fair game,” said El-Eid. The professor believes that the
Filipino withdrawal has sent a message that intimidation and kidnapping works.
As a result, many believe these acts will increase.
They also believe that could make the war even more unpopular both worldwide
and in the United States.
“It’s becoming a more unpopular war,” said Donald Greenberg,
an associate professor of political science at Fairfield University.
He said the continued attacks on civilians, government officials and the U.S.
military is “serving a very valuable purpose” to the insurgents by
showing they can’t be prevented.
“They are isolating Great Britain and the U.S. from the rest of the coalition,” Greenberg
said. “I’m not even sure if there is much of an effective coalition
left beyond the U.S. and Great Britain.”
Greenberg said most Iraqis believe the United States is still in control of their
country.
“The only way to bring the temperature down is for the U. S. to get out,” he
said.
Once that’s done, he said, the United Nations forces should take control
of peacekeeping and the Iraqis can take control of their country.
“But, I don’t see that happening under the current administration,” Greenberg
said.
Anthony Ball, the chairman of Bridgeport’s Housatonic Community College’s
Behavioral and Social Sciences department, believes the kidnapping are having
an effect on private companies’ ability to recruit workers despite high
wages.
“I’m not sure it will have much effect on the larger private companies
feeling pressure to withdraw lock, stock, and barrel,” said Ball, who is
also a professor of political science and history.
“You have to look at what the vested interest is and what the political
fallout is,” Ball said.
Unfortunately, Ball pointed out, the targets are people involved in Iraq’s
reconstruction – companies involved in building schools, hospitals, and
an infrastructure.”
“The main contingency of the coalition – U.S., Great Britain, Australia – they’re
in for the long haul,” Ball said.
He believes the “car bombings and attacks on members of the central governing
council are more detrimental.”
Ball said the latter presents “a greater cause of concern because it indicates
that they can’t build a stable government.”
