BLINDNESS

I think that Christian Peacemaker Teams needs to get someone else to write their statements. In recent weeks, it has become clear that the organization has a knack for putting out some shockingly clueless stuff.

When the three CPT activists were RESCUED on Wednesday, a statement on the CPT website offered no thanks to the soldiers responsible for securing their freedom, only bitterness directed at the United States and the "occupation."

The first disgusting statement was slightly retracted later in the day. They didn't want to thank the troops that conducted the RESCUE, but eventually they did so, albeit grudgingly.

The CPTers no doubt realized that it was an incredibly bad PR move to not give thanks to the military members who risked their lives to save the activists. Oh, and it wasn't very Christian of them to behave so selfishly.

Addenda to Statement
23 March 2006, 9 p.m. ET

We have been so overwhelmed and overjoyed to have Jim, Harmeet and Norman freed, that we have not adequately thanked the people involved with freeing them, nor remembered those still in captivity. So we offer these paragraphs as the first of several addenda:

We are grateful to the soldiers who risked their lives to free Jim, Norman and Harmeet. As peacemakers who hold firm to our commitment to nonviolence, we are also deeply grateful that they fired no shots to free our colleagues. We are thankful to all the people who gave of themselves sacrificially to free Jim, Norman, Harmeet and Tom over the last four months, and those supporters who prayed and wept for our brothers in captivity, for their loved ones and for us, their co-workers.

We will continue to lift Jill Carroll up in our prayers for her safe return. In addition, we will continue to advocate for the human rights of Iraqi detainees and assert their right to due process in a just legal system.

How lame!

They were so overwhelmed with joy that they wrote a treatise on the evil "occupiers" but somehow forgot to thank them for RESCUING the activists.

It must have been tough for the CPTers to attach the "first of several addenda," to actually express some gratitude and acknowledge that the military RESCUED the activists.

Last night, another statement appeared on the CPT website, addressing the treatment of the RESCUED hostages and the "rumors" that Tom Fox was tortured.

(Excerpts)

On Mar. 23 and 24, 2006, the Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) in Baghdad met with colleagues Norman Kember, Jim Loney, and Harmeet Sooden who had just been freed after four months in captivity. The team found the men to be well, alert and in good spirits. The men asked many questions about their families, friends and colleagues at home and in Iraq. They have also begun to tell some parts of the story of their captivity – of efforts to stay physically fit, of periodic separations and reunions, of receiving a Christmas cake.

Isn't that nice? They received a Christmas cake while they were held hostage and threatened with death! How thoughtful of the captors!

I guess Swords of Righteousness Brigades are really good guys, not like those awful American and coalition "occupiers."

...We are particularly grateful that no one was injured in this rescue operation.

In order not to cause Tom Fox's family further pain, and for the sake of accuracy, CPT urges that the media and everyone concerned refrain from repeating the rumour that Tom Fox was tortured.. Two CPTers, Rev. Carol Rose and Rich Meyer, viewed Tom's body and did not see signs of torture. We also have reports from two additional independent sources who examined the body more thoroughly. They also did not find evidence of torture. Until the final autopsy report is released, we ask everyone to withhold their judgement.

No evidence of torture.

Tom Fox's body showed no evidence of torture.

WHAT WERE THE GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO HIS HEAD AND CHEST?

Nooooo. No signs of torture there.

Yes, please withhold judgment on the people who murdered Fox.

What will the final autopsy report reveal? That Fox was treated humanely???

HE WAS KILLED. HIS BODY WAS DUMPED LIKE GARBAGE.

BUT, please, please, please don't repeat those nasty rumors that Fox was tortured by his captors.