Real History and Bush’s War in Iraq The Index to the Traditional Enemies of Free Speech Alphabetical index (text) IslamMemo , 8:10pm Mecca time Italy paid $4 million ransom to Green Brigade for release of Italian hostages, contrary to Rome’s claims.

Eric Mueller comments: HERE’s an item from an Islamist website which has a correspondent on the ground in al-Fallujah, who has produced personal reports of the fighting in that area from the Resistance perspective — including reports indicating that he was in the firing line itself. He is obviously on good terms with the Resistance and therefore privy to some inside information. Arabist Eric Mueller is this website’s expert on Middle Eastern affairs.

THE correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam website ( www.islammemo.cc ) reported on Tuesday that Italian reports that Italy secured the release of Italian hostages without bargaining with the Resistance organization holding the four Italian prisoners are false. Mafkarat al-Islam has learned that the Italian authorities in Rome sent a delegation to Iraq to offer a sizable ransom to the Resistance. The Resistance organization, however, initially rejected the offer of money.

After that rejection, a delegation was dispatched by the Vatican that negotiated with a number of the Resistance fighters of al-Fallujah who played the role of go-betweens in arrangements with the organization holding the Italians hostage. According to sources in al-Fallujah, two of the Italian hostages were Italian Jews working with the Zionist Mossad , one of them with the rank of Colonel.

Prior to coming to Iraq, he had been sent by the Mossad to numerous places around the world where Islamic rebellions were being suppressed, including the Philippines, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. The other Italian Zionist agent reportedly held the rank of major, and his experience was largely in repressing the Palestinian Intifadah in the territories occupied by the Zionists in 1967.

Apparently the Vatican delegation was able to convince the kidnappers to accept a ransom of US$4 million on condition that the three hostages never