Release

Last night brought relief and a bright moment into what otherwise has been one of the more challenging and sorrowful of weeks. On Thursday, as reported in major media, GOI (Government of Iraq) spokesman Tahseen Sheikhly was abducted from his home by a crew of militia fighters. Tahseen, the epitome of the 'public spokesman,' was good friends with many of us in the Embassy and I see him at least twice a week at meetings between US and GOI officials working on Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (Arabic for 'rule of law'), the Baghdad security plan. I can personally vouch for his dedication to the Iraqi nation and his efforts to see his government overcome political differences and forge a new future. His kidnapping brought a high degree of shock, anger and concern to a week already made difficult by the threat of mortar and rocket barrage into the IZ, and the casualties that included several of our colleagues. We were in touch with Tahseen's family throughout the ordeal, and a breakthrough came last night with the announcement that he would be released. He reunited with his family in the IZ late last night; he gave me a huge bear hug as he jumped out of the sedan that carried him from the IZ checkpoint to the location where he was welcomed by a small group of us from various Embassy offices and members of his family. Looking slightly unshaven and a bit disheveled, Tahseen seemed pretty much like his usual exuberant self; we had a brief reunion and then he was brought to see his mother, who, for fear of something going wrong during the release, was not yet informed of Tahseen's safety. It was good to see our friend returned safely to his family.