The three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq have been set free. The joy felt at their release has been tempered by news that two other Japanese have been seized, the savage murder of an Italian security guard by his kidnappers and the knowledge that nearly 20 other foreigners are still being held in Iraq. These terrorist acts have not broken the will of the coalition partners. Despite the horror felt by all who have been forced to witness these sordid acts, allowing them to influence the behavior of the civilized world would constitute a victory for terrorism. That must not be allowed.
The three Japanese were kidnapped seven days ago as they traveled from Amman to Baghdad. The three seized are Mr. Noriaki Imai, a recent high school graduate who allegedly was going to research the effects of depleted uranium weapons, Mr. Soichiro Koriyama, a freelance photo journalist, and Ms. Nahoko Takato, an aid worker. The kidnappers were a hitherto unknown group demanding the withdrawal of Japanese Self-Defense Forces from Iraq in exchange for the hostages' lives. The government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi refused.
The government began efforts to secure the release of the hostages immediately after their capture, and within days there were reports that they would be released unharmed. The chaotic situation in Iraq made accurate information hard to come by, and initial hopes for a quick release were dashed. It is unclear why. Negotiations apparently continued, however, and they bore fruit this week when the three were handed over to a Sunni organization in Baghdad that has been mediating between the kidnappers and various governments.