You probably already know that one British, one American, and two Canadian peace activists - from Christian Peacemaker Teams, a Quaker-Mennonite outfit in Iraq to monitor U.S. treatment of war prisoners - were kidnapped in November by a group believed to be either a criminal gang or tied to anti-U.S. "insurgents." You may also know the American's dead body turned up earlier this month. Yesterday, the other three peace activists, snatched away by the very sort of Iraqi thugs who helped Saddam "disappear" somewhere between 300,000 and 1 million Iraqis, were rescued. The rescuers of the peace activists were British, American and Canadian soldiers. Most were already in Iraq to help pro-liberty Iraqis secure their new government and a new constitution over the opposition of ex-Saddamites and freelance jihadists.

The whole thing is obviously a come-uppance for the "peace activists" rescued by imperialist warmongers. And so we get one of those priceless quotes which affirms the exact opposite of what is stated.

In Amman, Jordan, where he is currently based, Justin Alexander, a British member of Christian Peacemaker Teams who has worked extensively in Iraq, told The Chronicle, "Any argument that this justifies the presence of foreign troops in Iraq must be refuted strongly. The reason they were in danger in the first place is because of the military occupation."

No, the reason they were in danger is because they were rank amateurs on a feel-good mission gone bad. And they should have known better. "Christian Peacemaker Teams." What hubris in calling themselves, Western pacifists cluelessly seeking self-affirmation, "peacemakers." As if.

Kidnappings by insurgents and criminal gangs have plagued Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion three years ago to topple Saddam Hussein. At least 425 foreigners, including at least 40 U.S. citizens, have been taken hostage, and seven are still being held, including Jill Carroll, an American freelance writer for the Christian Science Monitor, who was abducted Jan. 7.

The kidnappings are like playing the "Hitler" card in public debate. It's what you do when you realize your side cannot prevail on its merits. Much in the same way Saddam could never have stayed in power without employing force, coercion and bribery. Whether or not to bend to intimidation now is a defining question.

TECHNORATI TAGS: IRAQ, KIDNAPPINGS, KIDNAP VICTIMS, RESCUE, CHRISTIAN PEACEMAKER TEAMS, SWORDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS BRIGADE, JACK STRAW, RICK LYNCH, STEHPEN HARPER