Tragic contradictions and ironies are exposed by the kidnapping of Ms Margaret Hassan, the humanitarian aid worker who has become the latest international victim of hostage-taking gangs in Iraq.
Although she is a British citizen born in Ireland, Ms Hassan is married to an Iraqi, speaks Arabic and has fought throughout her long career on behalf of the ordinary people there. She has vehemently opposed United Nations sanctions against Iraq and the US-led invasion last year. Since then she has denounced the lack of everyday security while continuing her work to help hospital electricity and water supplies. Her employers, Care International, which have suspended their activities, have brought benefits to most of Iraq's population in their work there.
Ms Hassan's kidnap symbolises all the failures of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The sheer viciousness resulting from it could make her a pawn in a deadly political game involving the closing stages of the US election campaign and the deployment of British troops to back up an American assault on the city of Fallujah. It is appalling that such a remarkable woman should be so involved.
More than 140 foreigners are estimated to have been kidnapped in Iraq since the invasion, of whom 35 have been killed. Thousands of Iraqis have suffered the same fate at the hands of criminal gangs and political groups flourishing in the elemental disorder of Baghdad and other Iraqi cities and towns.
All the elements of resistance, including disaffected Ba'athists, Sunni and Shia religious groups and international terrorist networks are involved in this grisly business, with the criminal gangs forming a sub-stratum feeding captives into it for profit.
It is not known at this writing precisely who is responsible for kidnapping Ms Hassan or what demands they are making for her release. The Government has been quick to state its concern and to appeal on her behalf on the basis that she is Irish and entitled to an Irish passport. It is working closely with her family who appreciate the effort.
Yesterday the Dáil passed a unanimous motion deploring her capture and calling for her safe release. Given the genuine uncertainty over who is responsible it is to be hoped this involvement is well-advised. Her captors may have no regard for Ireland's reputation as an honest broker. They may be tempted to raise demands on Irish policy as a result. There was no good will shown when Ken Bigley was murdered after a similar intervention was sought by his family.
This kidnapping brings it home once more how urgent and necessary it is to ease the burden of occupation in Iraq by setting a timetable for withdrawal of the coalition troops, transferring security to a more acceptable international force and facilitating a return to genuine self-determination for the Iraqi people.