Pattern

Disappearing webloggers/close friends of webloggers. Still no news re Simona Pari, Simona Torretta, Ra'ad Ali Abdul Azziz and Mahnoaz Bassam, the four aid workers who were kidnapped 11 days ago from the Un Ponte Per office in Baghdad. Regular updates here.

Following the abduction and execution of Italian journalist Enzo Baldini three weeks ago, the kidnapping of aid workers has uncomfortable implications. Let us look at the consistencies; Enzo Baldini weblogged from Iraq. At least two of the aid workers are connected closely with people who weblog from Iraq. All have been openly outspoken against the war and ensuing occupation in Iraq. All are/were located in Iraq. One of the kidnapped aid workers has a first name surprisingly similar to that of a well known and controversial weblogger who also has been openly outspoken, online, in weblogs, about current events in Iraq. Hostage takers in both kidnapping cases have threatened to kill their hostages if Italy does not withdraw military support, within 36 hours in the case of the aid workers. Berlusconi is unlikely to withdraw support, much less likely within 36 hours.

If only some webloggers paid as much attention to that which disappears as they do to that which is forged.

No, it is not funny.