Another reason to keep strong our resolve to combat terrorism wherever and whenever it rears it’s filthy, murderous head…
“A Filipina nurse and a U.S. missionary held hostage by Muslim extremists for more than a year have been killed during a rescue attempt, according to Philippine military officials,” CNN is reporting.
“Martin Burnham, from Kansas, and Deborah Yap, a nurse, were killed in an intense firefight between the Abu Sayyaf rebels and the Filipino forces, according to the official.
“The third hostage, Martin’s wife Gracia Burnham, was wounded by the gunfire in her right leg and is out of danger, according to Philippine Marine Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio.”
Friday morning, Martin Burnham’s brother, Doug, spoke to reporters. ‘Obviously it hasn’t turned out the way we hoped. But we are grateful Gracia is alive. Our faith in the Lord is still the same. That hasn’t changed.’
The Burnham’s three children remain with their maternal grandparents, Doug Burnham said, and he declined to express an opinion about the rescue attempt, saying there were not enough details available to form one. ‘We are grateful for everyone who tried to rescue them,’ he said. ‘I’m sure in the future, we’ll get more details.’
The trio were the last held among a group snatched over a year ago by Abu Sayyaf kidnappers from a beach resort in western Palawan province.
For the last several months, U.S. Special Forces have joined Philippine patrols in the jungles of Basilan island in a joint mission aimed at wiping out Abu Sayyaf as part of the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
The rescue attempt took place in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga.
U.S. officials said no U.S. troops were directly involved in the raid, but a State Department official told CNN a U.S. medevac helicopter was deployed for medical assistance.
More details on the situation are expected at a Philippines Armed Forces news conference.
I don’t wish to sound coarse here, but 1 out of 3 extracted alive after more than a year in captivity has to be viewed as a small victory — especially when the upshot is that a mother will be reunited with her three children. Personally, I never expected any of these hostages to make it out safely. The last such allusions I had were dispelled by the Danny Pearl video.
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