Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : The Hot Button Questions:- Money, Banks, & the Economy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: maceng2 who wrote (606)	4/11/2004 9:58:31 AM
From: maceng2	Respond to of 1417

Hoon: Kidnappings won't sway us ananova.com Britain and the US will not be intimidated by Iraqi insurgents kidnapping civilians, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has insisted. Despite conceding that recent kidnappings were a "disturbing development", Mr Hoon warned the coalition would not be intimidated by the "fanatics" and "men of violence". The Defence Secretary also said he saw no reason to delay the hand over of power to Iraq - due to happen on June 30, despite spiralling violence. And he admitted there was no pull-out in sight for British troops, insisting they would stay in Iraq for as long as was necessary. But there was no need to send more troops out, he said. Mr Hoon spoke as confusion mounted over the expected release today of Japanese civilians taken hostage in Iraq last week. Kidnappers have also threatened to kill US citizen Thomas Hamill if US troops do not end their siege of Fallujah. The Defence Secretary told Sky News: "We have got to work towards the safety and security of those people. We want to ensure they are free. At the same time we will not be intimidated by the extremists, by the fanatics, by the men of violence. It is important that we go on working to rebuild Iraq." The insurgents were supporters of Saddam Hussein, foreign fanatics and al Qaida backers, he claimed. "We can't afford to allow these extremists, these fanatics to continue to kill, to capture innocent people who are working for the reconstruction of Iraq. We can't simply hand over the country to the very people who are trying to undermine all that Iraqis themselves want." He said he saw "no reason at this stage" to delay the hand over date. But it was vital to deal with the threats to security in the run-up to June 30. Britain had sufficient troops in the areas it was responsible for. The area around Basra remained calm, he said, but the situation would be monitored. Asked if there was an end in sight for British troops, he said: "No there isn't."