Ali is a HERO!!

Submitted by Nick B. (United States), Nov 29, 2005 at 19:55

Perhaps those of you who are so quick to damn Ali for his actions during Vietnam should take into consideration his actions as a hostage negotiator. In 1986, at the request of Vice President George Bush (maybe you've heard of him), Muhammad Ali ventured into the Middle East to negotiate the release of 5 hostages.

"It is noteworthy that Vice President Bush asked famous boxer Muhammad Ali to journey to the Middle East and plea for the release of the hostages. Ali, a hero among most Muslims, agreed, and made more than one visit to Beirut and other Middle Eastern locales to meet with a number of business and government officials to win the release of the hostages."

http://www.iraqtimeline.com/1986.html

One hostage was sadly tortured to death despite Ali's efforts to give you some sense of the gravity of the situation, but another - Jeremy Levin - was released entirely due to Ali's efforts. My recollection was that Ali personally escorted the surviving 4 out of the Middle East.

"Go tell whoever you've got to tell: Release these men in the name of God." -- Muhammad Ali

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".