tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6772087.post-1082138250105692322004-04-16T18:40:00.000+01:002004-04-16T19:01:28.903+01:00TB and Dubya have just finished their joint press conference, in which GWB referred to the PM as 'a stand-up guy' and they both decided that they 'would not waver' on Iraq. Fair enough. <br /> <br />However, it is not the Coalition's attitude towards their task that catches my eye, but another Iraq story. Two days ago Fabrizio Quattrocchi became the first hostage taken by the Iraqi bandits affectionately known as the Ali Baba to be killed, with the event recorded on video and broadcast to the world. As he was about to be shot he attempted to remove the hood covering his head and said to his captors, "Now I shall show you how an Italian dies." I simply wish to salute this man because, although he died at the hands of idiots for no reason other than he was foreign, he died with honour. <br /> <br />This hostage-taking appears to be the latest thing in Iraq, but it is increasingly apparent that there is very little method behind it. Any foreigner these people find is instantly captured in order to make the demand that their nation's troops be withdrawn, but they are evidently clutching at straws. The Italian presence in Iraq is not large, and not many people would associate them with military operations, so one can only assume they captured him for being from a foreign land and worked out which later on. It is no reason for anyone to remove their troops, and I am glad to see that the Japanese and Italians have been swift to reject the bandits' proposals. <br /> <br /> <br />Oh, and the story emerged this morning that the CRB has been wrongly condemning prospective teachers if they have names similar to those of known criminals - more fuel to the fire started in my post from yesterday.JR Brearleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06215447538382938189noreply@blogger.com