The Kookmin Ilbo (Korean), citing a report in the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), reports that the Taliban is set to free the remaining 19 Korean hostages being held in Afghanistan.
The AIP report says that the Korean government and Taliban, with Saudi Arabia acting as a mediator, have come to an agreement freeing the hostages.
The report said the Korean and Saudi governments plan to announce the agreement in Afghan’s Gazni Province, where the hostages are believed to be held.
About the report, a high-ranking Korean government official told the Kookmin Ilbo that nothing has been officially agreed upon. He said direct contacts with the Taliban were continuing, and that that he expected no real change in the situation today.
UPDATE: The government is still denying any deal to release the hostages has been made. And to add to it, Taliban spokesman (or so he claims) Yusuf Ahmadi, in a telephone conversation with AFP, also denied an agreement to release the hostages has been made.
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If true, thank goodness. I’m sure the safe return of these hostages is all anyone with half a heart could hope for.
Of course, with the uncomfortable tendency of the netijen hordes of bullying and making social pariahs out of certain ‘undesirables’ (see “Dog Poop Girl”), coupled with the already negative reaction the ‘aid workers’ aroused by their ill-advised travel, it might be a fair question to ask as to whether or not these poor souls might be better of staying with the Taliban. (And why is it that every time I hear the name of that particular organization, it makes me think of Harry Belafonte?)
Daylight come and me wanna go home.
“it might be a fair question to ask as to whether or not these poor souls might be better of staying with the Taliban.” Perhaps a bit too much of hyperbole, considering two people were executed under the Taliban care.
If this is true, then thank God. I don’t think they’ll catch that much flak from the netizen community provided that they issue public apology for “creating “shim-ryuh” for everyone”.
Unfortunately, this might be a false alarm…
http://www.donga.com/fbin/outp.....mp;top20=1
Yeah… it’s a hyperbole — directed at the disturbingly-violent group-think of certain members of the online community more than anything. What the hostages will probably need more than anything following their release is a nice long period of peace and repose… I just don’t think they’re going to end up getting it.
I’m anxious to see them come back because I’m curious as to how the Koreans will deal with this. The two that were released have been sequestered and there has been a tacit agreement not to explore their situation or punishment yet until the others are safely home as well. In the meantime, we’ve had news stories branding at least one of the hostages a hero for selflessly letting those two go home in her stead. So, clearly there will be an attempt to gloss over this. But I would guess that if and when they all come back, the media will take the gloves off and, at the same time, there will be a collective debate about how to punish these idiots. Maybe they’ll just sweep it under the rug and not deal with it at all? Prison doesn’t seem right. Should they pay for the government’s costs to get them out? etc..
Oops. I forgot to say “thank god,” and “Let’s all pray for their safe return.” Etc… Incidentally, I’ll believe it when I see it. I put about as much stock into this report as I did into the ones about the imminent storming of the camp by commandos.
I don’t like seeing reports of Saudi Arabian intercession. Between Republic of Korea and the Saudis, there’s 100% certainty of a very substantial payoff (covert funding, in the Saudis’ case) to the Taliban in the high eight figures range (maybe nine!). That will cause a lot of mayhem in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
I doubt if anyone will want to punish them, especially after hearing what the poor devils have gone through. But they better not arrive at Inchon airport praising Jeebus for having got them home – that will rub a whole lot of people the wrong way.
They won’t be punished, but they won’t be able to lead normal lives either. And they won’t praise you know who after they arrive at the airport, because although they were stupid enough to go to Afghanistan in the first place, their experiences will have driven some sense into them.
“that will rub a whole lot of people the wrong way”
Do you think that they would care? After all, they went to Afghanistan to convert Muslims while knowing all too well that proselytizing is deeply offensive to them.
Don’t be so sure. My mom always prays in times of trouble and thanks Jesus when the desired outcome happens yet simultaneously accepts misfortune to God’s will. If something good happens, God/Jesus gets the credit. If something bad happens, God/Jesus is not to blame. If the notion that hardship, pain, suffering, and loss are God’s will helps monotheists cope with life’s difficulties, then the apparent contradiction is helpful not harmful to believers. If these missionaries are devout Christians, they will in their hearts at least praise Jesus for getting out alive.
“But they better not arrive at Inchon airport praising Jeebus for having got them home”
They won’t be overt but, more problematically, they’ll have introspections, which I’d sketch out accordingly:
-Ordeal in Afghanistan = Getting closer to Jesus.
-Two friends being executed = God’s plan, meeting Jesus, ie, the beauty of Jesus.
-Being rescued from evil = Provisions by Jesus; proof of Jesus.
Needless to say, I hope none of them ever write a #!@%# book about it.
#10 and #11: interesting. I dare say you’re right.
Now someone explain this to me: if they really believe in an omnipotent God, and the wonderful heaven they’re destined for, why do they not put their lives in His hands, instead of appealing to a secular power to get them out?
What?!
You didn’t become a believer when that German Christian lady was saved by the Kabul Police?
What does it take for you atheists?
“My mom always prays in times of trouble and thanks Jesus when the desired outcome happens yet simultaneously accepts misfortune to God’s will. If something good happens, God/Jesus gets the credit. If something bad happens, God/Jesus is not to blame.”
Jesus? That sounds like Voodoo. The Christian position is that God has reason.
Your commenters don’t know sh*t about why a person might go to help people. These ladies were not evangelists but nurses and teachers who went to help because the people in Afghanistan need such help. They went with a church group because that way they could be supported by each other.
They were not there to “convert”: Their work was a witness of the love of Jesus, but like Francis DeSales said: Preach, use words if needed. They didn’t need words.
As for going into harm’s way: Hate to tell you it’s risky a lot of places. I worked as a doc in two “Safe” African countries that blew up while I was working, putting me into danger. These girls were working in safe areas, not in the Taliban area.
The main disgusting thing is that the Korean government refused to let Afghan special forces get them. As a result, they are still being held, but the German lady kidnapped after the Koreas was successfully rescued by Afghan and Norwegian special forces.
I’m not sure what you’re reading in the Philippines, but claims on the part of the church that they were there as “nurses and teachers” are taken here in Korea with a fair amount of skepticism. And for good reason.
There’s a lot that’s disgusting about this incident, from the irresponsibility of the church that sent them to the feckless behavior of the Korean government. Not to mention, of course, the kidnapping itself.
And you don’t know diddly about this hostage situation, apparently. There is enough evidence that these people are A/ missionaries B/ not nurses. They went there to do proselytism, and got caught in the cogs of a wheel way too big for them.
Nope, not voodoo. God’s will means that there were reasons why the supplicant’s prayers were not answered in the way that he or she wanted.
are you familiar with shin-nae-rim? Jum Jang ee’s? Gut?
I suppose you western atheists give them more powers and credit.
Christians, but not all, also believe in supernatural interventions, such as in being filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesizing, speaking in tongues, etc.
Sanshin’s human vehicles would often ask for monetary comepensations and sometimes human sacrifices as in your daughter being a Moo-dang in order to avert disaster. Or buy a boo-juk costing 20000 won, 200000 won, etc.
to be fair, the Christian God’s vehicle may indirectly ask you to tithe regularly like their book says to do from the get-go, the Old Testament, but not necessarily to avoid a specific disaster.
If the Christians were truly about making money, they would have added an additional tax in the New Testament. They never did.
all Koreans know that marrying a moo-dang is the worst thing they could do. There is distinct fear of being a slave to that particular san shin for generations.
No Korean seriously thinks their family line is chained to the Christian God for you marrying into a Pastor or your son or daughter being a Priest or a Nun. Leave as you please. Free will. Free will is part of the common doctrine in western society as well.
I would avoid a san shin religion. But, that’s just me.
Sounds sort of like the medieval Catholic practice of selling indulgences. People who were too busy to go to church or too immoral to follow the rules could pay the local priest for a piece of paper saying that their sins were forgiven. More potent indulgences (for bigger sins) would of course require more money and be signed by someone higher-up in the Catholic pecking order — up to the Pope himself. Of course, the big joke is that lots of indulgence-sellers got busted for selling ‘fake’ indulgences (where things like signatures and seals were forged). Of course, the disaster to be averted here wasn’t a temporal one like your house falling down or anything… But many people would consider being consigned to Hell as a pretty major disaster.
They didn’t have to… For centuries, the largest and best buildings in any community (except maybe for major cities) was the local church. Look at any of the major churches of the world (from Notre Dame to the “Crystal Cathedral” to Mormon Temples) and see if you can keep a straight face when you tell people that it’s really not about the money at all. I’m sure religions might start off with good intentions, but once the people in charge realize that they can basically do anything they like and then claim that an infallible, inscrutable being told them to, well… Let’s just say that it doesn’t take long for them to go from that realization to corruption. After all, it sure must be nice to act as a parasite upon society and not only have people willingly give you money, but praise you for it.
zonath, if you believe in hell or don’t, that’s fine.
there is free will.
can’t say so for the Middle East.
free will is important and honorable.
A church building now is by far no means a bank or an investment. St. John’s near Columbia University in New York City has been pretty much empty empty and so have others been for quite a while thanks to white flight out of upper Manhatten for decades.
I’m sure in the past in Europe, bigger churches meant Kings and dukes and earls coming by, and thus equaling more church revenue.
what about a church building these days?
it’s common practice for Jewish synagogues to rent space for Christians on Sundays.
I’ve seen a Christian church that lost its Pastor and flock due to the Pastor’s early death, bought by Muslims and turned into a mosque. And not a single drop of blood shed. Ah, it took place in the United States !
when that best selling author Pastor dies, can you guaranttee the flow of people? Profit aside, but just for basic maintenance of the building, including A/C, heat, and cleaning snow ? Probably not.
they’ll look for a new guy with a more catchy best selling book.
I’ve seen too many Korean church buildings with huge ceilings that can’t foot the bill for A/C and heat even during church service times!
Of course the ceiling was a waste of empty air space! I could have told them that !
I agree that in the modern times, people should refrain from building huge churches unless they can justify it substantially.
On the side of the Shin Han bank building at Namdaemun is a huge sign that reads something like…
We pray for all the Korean hostages and their safe return.
If Shin Han bank could find it within themselves to pray for other hostages around the world I might keep my millions of Won in their bank, but since they couldn’t I have withdrawn all my money from my Shin Han bank account.
So because they are not praying for the release of every hostages everywhere in the world, you are taking your MILLIONS of wons out of your bank account?
You, sir, are a noble man. I think I’ll follow your example. I’m going to take my money out of my bank account because I’m pretty sure my bank has no big sign anywhere that prays for world peace. Also, I’m changing my dentist because that fucker doesn’t have a big sign anywhere that he prays for all the starving children in the world. Then, I’m going to phone the local branch of the Salvation Army and swear at them until they return the 10 year old t-shirts I donated last winter. They certainly don’t deserve them when they don’t have a big sign saying that they want child abuse to disappear. Fucking Nazis.
I sincerely hope this was tongue in cheek…
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