One year of captivity for kidnapped contractors.

Thank you Vicki No Veil for reminding us.

(h/t The Jawa Report)

This is an anniversary that should never have been allowed to take place. One year ago today, five employees of Crescent Security were guarding a convoy of trucks taking supplies from Kuwait to Iraq, when they were stopped at a phony checkpoint. The contractors, Americans Paul Reuben, John Young, Jonathan Cote and Josh Munns, and Austrian Bert Nussbaumer, were abducted by men including some believed to be disgruntled former Crescent Security employees. Others have described the kidnappers as being part of Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

Whatever happened to the spirit of "Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead!"?

I agree with the government's policy of not negotiating with terrorists, but that assumes that the hostages aren't just being abandoned to their fate. To me that means searching for and rescuing the hostages and then killing or arresting the abductors. It doesn't mean that families should have to shoulder the responsibility of finding their loved ones and selling t-shirts to raise money for their ransom. I greatly admire the families that have refused to give up and let their husbands and sons be forgotten. But it shouldn't be necessary.

Please continue to pray for the safe release of these and other hostages in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pray that their families will be strengthened and renewed to continue their efforts, and that they will be blessed by a happy reunion with their loved ones.

This is a crying shame. Prayers up, Miss Vicki.