THE BEHEADINGS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. DON'T LET THE GOVERNMENT FOOL YOU.

THE KUHNS REPORT

LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?

Another person was beheaded in the Iraq/Syrian conflict. Alan Henning, a British citizen, the fourth such killing by ISIS is now a  footnote in history. Mr. Henning's statement before he was killed was: " Because our parliament's decision to attack the Islamic State, I, as a member of the British public, will now pay the price for that decision."

Then a male voice says: "The blood of David Haines (another Brit)  who was beheaded was on your hands, Cameron, in reference to Britain's prime minister, David Cameron. " Alan Henning will also be slaughtered, but his blood is on the hands if the British parliament."

Following that the black-clan man later introduces another hostage he identifies as American Peter Edward Kassig , an aid worker, who delivered food and medical supplies to Syrian refugees. He said Kassig is the next person scheduled for execution. U.S. officials confirmed an American  with that name was being held by militants and  had no doubt the video titled: "Another Message to America and its Allies" was authentic.

The statement Alan Henning made  before he died was denounced by British and U.S. officials as propaganda  saying it was a forced statement as were all other statements from prior beheaded victims. They don't know that. That's political spin on their part. I say, what if those statements by these hero's were in  fact the truth? Why is it when an American, Brit or any captive pleads for their life and/or gives a reason for their oncoming, eminent death the governments official line is  the " statements were coerced." The U.S. has  their own propaganda machine.  It is the State Department's office for counter-terrorism propaganda  which is currently headed up by Alberto Fernandez. It is their job to spin, mask, manipulate and cover statements to make them fit the administrations point of view. Thus, when a captive pleads for their life and/or gives  statement before execution - - what is the truth? In many cases in the past where captives  asked for rescue and help saying they felt let down by the U.S. government, I have no doubt they sincerely meant it.

When the first Brit was beheaded prime minister Cameron went before the news people and said:
The beheaded man was a "hero" for dying. That's nice words, but it's all lip service. I agree that  the beheaded man was a hero for his good works around the world but what prime minister Cameron didn't say was that the man was also a "VICTIM,"  a result of the stubborn prime minister.  Many Muslim groups across Britain, including some organizations that blame Western interference for stoking the fires of war in Iraq and Syria, had been calling for Alan Henning's release but their pleas fell on deaf ears. I submit Cameron should have negotiated with ISIS and paid a ransom and the Brits should have agreed to ceased air strikes. But instead, Cameron stands up before the nation and plays "macho" saying the beheading is a  "terrorist  act." He said it was disgusting but he and Britain will continue to attack Iraq ans Syria. It wasn't a terrorist act. It was retribution and retaliation for the Brits air strikes, nothing more.

The Islamic State made it very clear that the only reason for the beheading of British and American citizens was because of the air strikes in Iraq and Syria. They told the world that if the air strikes stopped, the beheading would stop. But because the USA and British officials don't want to lose face, they keep spouting the old line "we do not negotiate with terrorists."

Should we negotiate the release of hostages. You bet! Why? Because other countries do it. Lets look at American hostage freelance journalist Michael Foley, who was beheaded. The kidnappers and people holding Foley had only one thing in mind ...  that was ransom, MONEY. They sent an email to the Foley's. Foley's parents John and Diane, turned the email over to the FBI people assigned to the case. The agent told the Foley's  it was a crime for American citizens to pay off terrorists.  They stopped the Foley's in their tracks, threatening them with prison time. Then the FBI left the Foley's hang out to dry. They were on their own. But believe it or not, the FBI DID NOT  tell the Foley's that other hostages from Europe being held along with their son have negotiated ransoms for their release. The United States hands -off policy was very different from the position taken by European countries that "quickly" negotiated the release of their citizens in exchange for  CASH.

The FBI was no help at all to the Foley's. The government made it  very clear that no ransom would be paid. The United States and  Britain are the only  two countries that hold to the zero- concession, negotiation policy.

The Europeans set up a task force which included foreign ministries  of France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy. They waited for the kidnappers to reach out, and when they did, intelligence services of one of the countries took over and negotiated with the Islamic State. When proof- of- life of the  hostage was  verified  a counteroffer of the ransom demand was made. According to a person involved in the negotiations for the hostage release the average negotiated ransom for release was only about  TWO MILLION EUROS. My view: Pay the money, U.S. government. What price can you put on a persons life?

The emails sent from the kidnappers to the Foley parents also seemed to be addressed to the U.S.Government, (i.e.) Obama, Congress, the administration. It read:
" You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted."  " We have also offered a prisoner exchange to free the Muslims currently held in detention like our sister Dr. Afia Sideiqqi however you proved quickly to us that this is NOT what you are not interested in. "You and your citizens will pay the price of the bombings."
Folks, ONE WEEK later the horrific video execution of  James Foley occurred.

Lets talk about hypocrite president Obama. When it come to negotiating, on one side of his mouth he says it is strictly a "no negotiating" policy for release of a hostage. But - - out of the other side of his mouth he orders the  EXCHANGE of "FIVE" top Taliban detainees for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, a military man who was allegedly said to be a deserter. A man some of his comrades said was a coward who ran away from service and duty, seeking sanctuary. FIVE dangerous killers of the Taliban for a deserter? Was it a fair trade? Obama thought so. He told Americans he had no regrets for the trade.Yet, when it comes to paying a few bucks to release journalists, aid workers and others doing good works for the U. S. our government plays the "we don't negotiate" card. My heart goes out to the Foley's and all the other VICTIMS  families who's sons could have been brought home safely. And, now  the Islamic State has Peter Kassig scheduled for beheading, courtesy of  this administration. Where's the justice?

Do you think Obama and congress will step up to the plate and pay a ransom of a few million dollars or release a prisoner in exchange for Kassig?  They clearly could. and should, but I have my doubts. Folks. the Foley's and  the other parents would have been arrested if they  attempted to negotiate with the kidnappers but Obama can pick and choose who he wants to negotiate for. What's wrong with this picture?  I would suggest that the United States and Britain get with the rest of the world and negotiate for hostage release.

We could have had all of the people that were beheaded home if only we paid a few dollars for their release but apparently Obama and Cameron like to play the game of "Chicken" and  "I dare you to knock this chip off my shoulder."

Cameron and his parliament and Obama and the congress go before the media  and say the beheadings are disgusting and they tell us  that is the reason we are fighting a war in Iraq and Syria. They blame the war  on barbarism. How dumb is that?

If Obama and Cameron would catch up on history and culture they would know that a beheading in the middle east region is not uncommon at all. It is not disgusting to the people that live in those countries. That is a way of life with many of these groups as a way to mete out justice.   Hell, it's not uncommon for different sects and factions in the middle east to impose a penalty of death and the method is that of beheading. Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region have "chopped off" the hands, even the arms of a thief. The sentence of death often results in the beheading of the  criminal. There are other methods of death rendered in the region. One is stoning a person to death when citizens are ordered to take stones from a pile and throw them at the alleged criminal or crime violator until that person is dead. Disgusting? To us, maybe. To those living in those other countries, -- No! It's common place. It's part of custom and culture.  Yet, our officials in America and Britain think it barbaric.

Lets talk about disgusting and monstrous  acts. Most every day in the United States criminals commit heinous crimes and yes, they behead their victims, they torture the victim, there has been numerous cases where the criminal dismembers the victim and scatters the remains, sometimes in water or along roadsides; others put dismembered body parts in garbage bags and dispose of them in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. There is no limit what one person can do to another but to have people like the British parliament,  the U.S. congress, Cameron and Obama stirring the pot using something like beheading as a pretext to go to war and spend billions and trillion of dollars is a farce.

I've always maintained that the British government is the "lap dog" of the United States. Whatever the U.S. wants, the British government complies with and plays along for money, prestige and power.

It should be noted that ISIS and the militant groups currently in conflict in Iraq and Syria has always said they do not want any Western and/or foreign powers interfering in their internal squabbles. The people of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other areas of the middle east DO NOT want want us there on their soil. I tend to agree. The fight is between different ethnic and religious groups in the region.

I will make another prediction: We here in the U.S. will be attacked by  the Islamic State if Obama, this administration and congress DO NOT cease air strikes in Iraq and Syria. I submit that it is the fault of Obama, congress and the administration of constantly provoking and agitating these mid east countries. It it apparent that the U.S.  has the intent to try to convert other countries people to the path of democracy when it is just as apparent  their people's do not want OUR democracy. So, the only reason we will be attacked here on our soil is  because of  our governments meddling in internal problems of other nations. It is a good bet that these other countries will RETALIATE because we brought a war to their country.. People, you can't blame them because we would do the same thing.
And, if we are attacked I would also predict the president and congress will shout to high heaven - -"we were attacked, we have to respond, retaliate." But they will not mention that we started this whole mess by preemptive strikes in these other countries.

The middle east wars have been going on for  centuries and it is clearly none of America's or Britain's business.   But I guess the "greed" for oil by Western powers trumps common sense. I would suggest that we allow those  different factions in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan to fight it out among themselves, without Western help. Then, which ever power in those countries come out on top that is the  regime we deal with.

Folks, we spent TRILLIONS of dollars in Iraq the first go-round to train their military and build up their country. But now, only ONE HALF of the Iraqi military is reliable, people we could count on. We also lost 4000 LIVES to  give Iraqis their freedom the first time. Now, this administration wants to spend MILLIONS, if not TRILLIONS  of dollars taking the  war into Syria. People, the sectarian divisions in the middle east has been on going for centuries and it will go on for centuries to come. Just because we think other nations/regimes  should be democratic like the United States doesn't make it so. We cannot force our beliefs and way of life on others.

I say, put yourself in  Iraq or Syria's place. If some country commenced air strikes on , say -- California, you can bet  all of Congress and the American people  would be in an uproar. We would be squealing and  shouting that we will retaliate. In fact that is what occurred  regarding the World Trade Center. We were attacked and we, with all our bluster,  said we are going to retaliate. Well, we did. And, I say it should have stopped there when Osama Bin Laden was killed. But -- No! The old talking heads in Congress and arm chair military people wanted to start a war and conquer another country. OIL, MONEY, DRUGS, POWER , folks. It seems that's the name of the game.

And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.

Bradley W.Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached by email at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com