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David Miliband accused of ‘not giving a damn' over British hostages
Peter Dominiczak and Ben Bailey28 May 2009
The Foreign Secretary was under pressure today over the future of five British hostages held in Iraq for nearly two years.
The men, all civilian contractors, were seized by dozens of gunmen at the Iraqi foreign ministry in Baghdad on 29 May 2007. The abduction was thought to be retaliation for the killing by British forces of the militia Mahdi Army's commander in Basra a week earlier.
In a statement released before the two-year anniversary of their abduction tomorrow, David Miliband spoke of the “anguish” suffered by the hostages' families.
He said: “We call on those holding all hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally
and return them safely to their families where they belong.”
But Mr Miliband's comments were overshadowed by criticism from the father of one of the hostages, who said the Government had failed his son.
The hostages, who have not been officially named, are IT consultant Peter Moore and four security guards. Peter's father Graeme Moore, 59, of Leicester, said: “The Foreign Office and
the government don't give a damn.”
In a separate attack, Iraq's national security adviser added to the pressure on Mr Miliband by saying Britain should do more to secure the release of the five men, who have been seen only in videos released following their capture.
In an email to The Times, Mowaffak al-Rubaie said: “The families of the hostages should work on the Western governments to be much more
proactive in their approach to this.”
The last video sighting of the men, in March, showed Mr Moore saying they were being treated well. He urged the Government to secure their release.
Last February, also in a video, Mr Moore asked Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the group's release. In a previous video, broadcast by Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television in
December 2007, the kidnappers threatened to kill the men unless British troops were pulled out of Iraq within 10 days.
Mr Miliband said: “I don't think any of us can imagine their ordeal, nor the anguish that their families and friends have had to suffer during this dreadful time. Our thoughts are with them all.”
He added that he was “totally committed” to securing the men's release. “There is a dedicated team from across government, including people on the ground in Baghdad, working tirelessly with the Iraqi authorities and Coalition partners to help bring this about.
“There are signs of progress and reconciliation
as the Iraqi people show their commitment to a democratic and peaceful future. Hostage-taking has no part in that future.”
At the time of the kidnapping, Iraqi officials blamed the Mahdi Army, the militia controlled by the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Al-Sadr's followers have denied responsibility and suspicion has since fallen on splinter groups which the US believes are controlled by Iran.
Criticism: Peter Moore
Reader views (29)
And he doesn't give a damn about the fate of the Translators in Iraq, either. These people have helped and supported our troops in the most appalling circumstances - and they and their kith and kin are under daily threat of death. Miliband and his Civil Servants have deliberately set impossible hurdles and dragged their feet. In the meantime the Translators are killed, threatened, living in fear and having to flee for their lives with their families.
- Chuck Unsworth, London, 28/05/2009 21:32
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Milliband might have a yo-yo for a brain as regards politics etc, but just what is he expected to do? Negotiate with the kidnappers? If he did it would just be practice for the next time, and the time after that ad infinitum. Giving in to kidnappers DOES encourage further kidnappings. This is documented reality. If they could be rescued, doesn't anyone think that would have been done already?
The families aren't worried about possible future victims, only their own family. Understandable - I would too. The government though, no matter how useless they are at the job anyway, has to consider everything.
- Rogan, Irving, 28/05/2009 17:34
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Millipede probably doesn't know where Iraq is.
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France, 28/05/2009 15:24
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QUITE A LOT OF THE FREE LOADERS DONT GIVE A DAMN THEY ARE ALL UP IN ARMS AT THE MOMENT TRYING TO JUSTIFY THEIR ILL GOTTEN GAINS AND TRYING TO APPEASE THE TAXMAN THIS MAN CANT SHAVE PROPERLY HE ALWAYS HAS THAT STUPID LOOKING BUMFLUFF ABOVE HIS MOUTH AND WE ARE MEANT TO LISTEN TO HIM THE MIND BOGGLES HE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND LEARN TO COUNT ALONG WITH THE REST OF HIS MERRY MEN,
- James Fennessey, london, 28/05/2009 14:24
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Milliband is foreign secretary because he has the right connections and as I suspect, follows their policy on Afganistan and Iraq. You cant trust any politician to do the right thing these days.
T H Leeds
- Thomas Hayes, Leeds UK, 28/05/2009 13:39
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Irrespective of my feelings about the majority of MPs - I've been offered a job out in Afghanistan. The money is fantastic all tax free, would I take it? No I wouldn't, because its very dangerous and there is a good chance I would be kidnapped and held to ransom. You pays your money and takes your choice, then cry British Government help me when you get kidnapped!
- Sue, Orpington , Kent, 28/05/2009 13:13
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"accused of ‘not giving a damn'"
We could direct that comment at any member of the cabinet or civil service?
- Ge, Republic of Cornwall, 28/05/2009 12:37
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He is incompetent. I met that Milliband and we talked about Cyprus and he thought the capital was in Turkey?!??
- Steveo, London NW1, 28/05/2009 12:24
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Chris Williams, Cardiff: ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. MP's must surely spend 40 hours every week juggling their obscene expenses claims - and foreign hostages, like everything else, does not barely get a look in.
David Miliband has about as much credibility as a demented toad.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 28/05/2009 11:55
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Why do we have this very limited person to speak for us on Foreign Affairs? He is probably quite a nice chap but I cannot remember a single thing he has said which is of the smallest interest since he was appointed.
Anthony Perry
- Anthony Perry, London N4 2JZ UK, 28/05/2009 11:51
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I am under the impression that most of these "civilian contractors" are mercenaries in all but name, much like their American counterparts of the Blackwater ilk.
Does anyone know otherwise for sure?
I wonder if we really should be shedding a tear for people that were quite happy to be paid to terrorise Iraqi civilians. Chickens coming home to roost?
- Al Green, Bristol, UK, 28/05/2009 11:43
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sadly this so called government and its ship of fools has never helped ANYONE. Only themselves.
- Satnam Singh, corby, 28/05/2009 11:36
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Labour has never given a damm about ordinary people !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 28/05/2009 11:30
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Blimey, Milliband gets something right!
These civilian contractors consciously chose to take the danger money so why should the tax payer and the British army have a responsibility to help them now? If the Government got them out, would they give all their earnings from working in Iraq to charity? I think not.
- St, London, 28/05/2009 11:26
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When has he done anything to help Britain?
- Mike, London England, 28/05/2009 10:51
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Frankly, Chris M is right, it's all very well going for the big bucks as a "security consultant" in a war zone but when it all goes Pete Tong, they always expect the army to come and save them. Does nobody realise that these people are being paid so well because they’re getting danger money? Why should the army have to risk the lives of its soldiers and the taxpayer’s money rescuing people who have put themselves in harm’s way? Why not just simply give them a huge payout not to go to dangerous countries and save money and potentially lives?
- Bob, Cheam, 28/05/2009 10:42
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When you see the minute detail of all the expenses these MPs claim from us taxpayers you will see that it takes up so much time to include everything from dog food to moat restorations, there is probably no real time left to spend on dealing with 'irksome' things like hostage recovery.
In political terms it's called prioritizing.
- Chris Williams, Cardiff, 28/05/2009 10:34
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Miliband is too busy attending to his garden and filing expenses to be concerned with British hostages. He looks totally out of his depth, in one of the most important ministries in government. The PM who appointed him showed a real lack of judgement.
- Darren, london, 28/05/2009 10:24
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The media and government of course highlight the case of that Nigerian drug smuggling pregnant woman who they claim to be British, but innocent British men in Iraq are just forgotten. Shows you that this government does not give a damn about real British people just those who might vote for them.
- Richard K, Nottingham, 28/05/2009 10:17
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John in Benidorm asks if Milliband has ever had a proper job, How could he have had? He's only about 12 now.
- Lezli, London / ENGLAND, 28/05/2009 09:58
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What idiocy the comments here and from relatives of the hostages.What do you expect if you go to work in Iraq for the big bucks ? Did they think their security was guaranteed with the job ? Why do they go to these places ? [http://Yes, I know for money - which is paid for you to put your life on the line.|http://Yes, I know for money - which is paid for you to put your life on the line.]What do they expect Milliband to do , send in the Marines ? Soldiers would never go there if they didn't have to.For sure , UK 2000 , find someone else to blame but yourself. Duh.[Chris M , former [http://Royal] Marine.|http://Royal] Marine.]
- Chris M, morbihan,France, 28/05/2009 09:53
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Milliband is the original champagne socialist, the son of the most shameful champagne communist you ever saw.
He is also ineffectual and just as soppy as he looks - if that's possible!
- David Louis, Hampstead UK, 28/05/2009 09:39
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Seems only thing Labour boys from Crash Gordon know is expenses.
- Georgie, Islington, London, 28/05/2009 09:36
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This puppet has he got any respect from the International Community to call for immediate release of the Iraq hostages? S. Eaton, you are absolutely right.
- Nevil, London, 28/05/2009 09:31
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Whow! I can imagine the hostage takers shaking in their boots at this outburst from the overgrown schoolboy Millibrain. The guy is as much use as a chocolate fireguard
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi, 28/05/2009 09:26
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Give the poor man a break, he's probably exhausted after trying to save Tamil terrorist leaders in Sri Lanka and press war crimes charges against the SL govt (But, oddly, not a word about the human shield in Swat).
Perhaps the families will have more luck if THEY staged an illegal demonstration or tried emotional blackmail - like threatening to jump into the Thames or starve themselves to death. It seems to work!
- D Marks, London, UK, 28/05/2009 09:24
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Why doesn't this disgraceful government get these poor men back. 2 YEARS!!!!! Disgusting!!
- Karenf, London, 28/05/2009 09:22
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He has no time for this, he is too busy feathering his nest.Has he ever had a proper job.
- John, benidorm,spain, 28/05/2009 09:15
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Don't bother with Sillyband, he is not worried about our people, he cares about jaunting around the world preaching to them about their alleged human rights and war crimes, whilst we are complicit in torture. This government does not give a damn about its own citizens, but it cares greatly about all the people who scream about their rights, whilst abusing our generosity. Sillyband and his team also recently went to Sri Lanka to preach to them that they were wrong in taking out a terrorist group and along with the US and the EU attempted in getting a war crimes enquiry opened, they were outnumbered by the smaller countries and it showed that we have absolutely no say in world affairs as we have a clown in charge of the circus. How could we attempt anything like this when our Government joined the USA and killed many Innocent Iraqis? Where are the war crimes on this, we invaded a country, sri lanka didn't they fought in their own back yard. Get this jackass and his team out and put in someone who knows of world history and get the Great back into our wonderful country. At least it will give Sillyband and his friends time to sort their tax affairs whilst they twiddle their thumbs after they have been kicked out. We cave into anyone, whether terrorists or pirates as these ministers have never had any experience in defending a country like men do, put them on the battlefield but make sure they have their nappies as it would be full of dirt due to their cowardice.
- S Eaton, Ealing, London, 28/05/2009 09:04
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