Murder of Hassan blow to relief efforts in Iraq
Killing raises more concern about politicization of aid.
Officials of the European Union in Brussels say the murder of Margaret Hassan, the head of the relief group CARE's operations in Iraq
will set back efforts to bring much-needed relief to the country.
The Australian reports that Poul Nielson, the EU's departing development commissioner condemned the execution of Mrs. Hassan, and says that, "This kind of savagery makes it almost impossible for relief agencies to continue their crucial work in Iraq."
Hassan's family confirms what CARE and British officials believed: that
a videotape sent to Al Jazeera, the Arabic-language TV network, shows Hassan being executed. If so, that would make her the first Western woman hostage executed since the wave of kidnappings began earlier this year. Hassan had lived in Iraq for 30 years, had married an Iraqi, and had been an outspoken opponent of US sanctions against Iraq.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw expressed his "deepest sympathy and condolences" to Hassan's family, and strongly
condemned the killing.
"To kidnap and kill anyone is inexcusable. But it is repugnant to commit such a crime against a woman who has spent most of her life working for the good of the people of Iraq."
The
BBC reports
widespread condemnation in Iraq of Hassan's murder. And
The Washington Post reports that some Iraqis also saw the murder of Hassan as
a meaningless act.
"Did they win? Is it something great for these men to kill an old woman?" said Sawsen Bayati, 35, who heard the news in a Baghdad kebab shop. "They cannot do anything to the American Army – that's why they go after those innocent people. Oh, how I miss safety."
The Guardian reports that Felicity Arbuthnot, a friend of Hassan who has been involved in negotiating the release of other hostages in Iraq, faults British Prime Minister Tony Blair
for calling Hassan British.. She thinks Mr. Blair should have announced that Hassan was Ireland-born, rather than announcing she had a British passport.
'Basically, Tony Blair leapt in, said she was British but he also made this incredibly unhelpful statement – just like he did over Ken Bigley – we've got people on the ground looking, security services ... that was the kiss of death,' she said. Other aid workers echo Mr. Neilson's comments about the impact of Hassan's murder on aid efforts. The
BBC reports that Sir Harold Walker, former British ambassador to Iraq and former chairman of the board of CARE said that aid workers would be unwise to continue in Iraq for the time being.
'I don't think it will have an impact around the world, there are so many good, dedicated people working for aid agencies like CARE, they will carry on in very dangerous circumstances, but they would be very unwise and they won't carry on in Iraq at this time.'
The Scotsman reports that other humanitarian experts believe that the murder of Hassan "confirmed warnings" of the politicization of aid by the US government in Iraq. Politicization of aid has become
an issue of increasing concern among aid groups, for several years. Under this scenario, aid groups move from "mere charity" to "righting wrongs rather than alleviating them," which some aid experts have warned makes it easier for governments to "hijack" humanitarian groups for the government's own aims.
Medicines Sans Frontiere talks of the danger of "voluntary organizations
integrating ever more closely with governments," says that "Situations may easily arise in which motives are unclear and the allocation of functions can be questioned."
Dominic Nutt, spokesman for UK-based Christian Aid, said that aid groups work hard to maintain a sense of neutrality, which is key to their being able to do their work. Mr. Nutt says that
neutrality is being compromised by actions taken by the US.
"This crime provides more evidence of what we have most feared and consistently warned against – that the intentional politicization of aid by the US-led coalition in Iraq and beyond, in the post 9/11 world, has destroyed this neutrality. This neutrality used to be the best guarantor of our safety and allowed us to work with all people in need – irrespective of their creed, race or political background. As Margaret's death suggests, we are all now targets ... It will almost certainly have effects elsewhere where US troops are operating, notably Afghanistan where there is an ensuing hostage crisis." Meanwhile,
MSNBC reports that French President Jacques Chirac said the US-led invasion of Iraq, and the ousting of Saddam Hussein, has made
the world more dangerous. Mr. Chirac's comments came on the eve of Blair's visit to Washington, where one of his key goals was to repair frayed US-European ties damaged by the war.
In another interview Tuesday, Chirac also questioned
Blair's unstinting support of US President George W. Bush. Chirac said he had urged Britain to press the US to restart the Middle East peace process in return for British support in the war.
"Well, Britain gave its support but I did not see much in return," Chirac was quoted as saying in the Times of London. "I am not sure that it is in the nature of our American friends at the moment to return favors systematically ... I am not sure, with America as it is these days, that it would be easy for someone, even the British, to be an honest broker."
A poll in the
Independent newspaper also shows that Britons believe that it is more important for Britain to have good relations
with other European countries than it is for it to have a strong relationship with the US. Sixty-four percent of Britains polled supported stronger British-EU ties, while only 25 percent were in favor of better British-US relations.
Also...
•
Iraq is not Bush's Vietnam. But it is becoming Blair's (
Guardian)
•
Insurgents continue attacks in Mosul (
CNN
•
Analysis: Iraqi police aiding militants in Mosul insurgency (
Radio Free Europe)
•
Iraq murder charge for US soldier (
BBC)
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Tom Regan
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