Reply #19: I don't buy the CIA angle, Jara... [View All]

[Ecumenist]

I know that in many Muslim countries, there are, despite what many believe, people of influence who can control the actions of the zealots who take people hostage. Most of the people in that country and the region on a larger scale, decent, kind and compassionate people.
In the mid 70's, I had a family member who was kidnapped in Beirut with an eye to grabbing some influence in the media by his captors. This predated the Iranian situation. He WAS a mid level diplomatic attache. He was released unharmed after a month, as he was working to help people. Apparently, someone within the group who kidnapped him felt it was against Islam to hurt an innocent person, a Christian besides. According to the Quran, Christians, Jews and Muslims are "people of the book". So, sometimes, as the saying goes, an apple is sometimes just an apple.:hi:

PS: It probably didn't hurt that he was black, sad to say.