White House National Security Adviser Robert OBrien tells NBCs Meet the Press that Baghdadi operation was named for Christian who refused to give up her faith
By Sonja Harris
AUSTIN Texas (Texas Insider Report) In 2015 I wrote about an extraordinary young woman humanitarian aid worker Kayla Mueller. She and a friend Omar Alkhani had been kidnapped by ISIS terrorists in the Syrian city of Aleppo on August 4 2013.
The announcement from President Donald Trump last Sunday morning October 27 2019 that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had been killed brought back my feelings about this very courageous young woman.
The raid to kill Baghdadi was named after Kayla Mueller.
It has been revealed that Kayla was tortured beaten and repeatedly raped by ISIS members including the groups now-deceased leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Her execution by her ISIS captors was confirmed in 2015 when I wrote how the news of her death left her parents in the United States brokenhearted and devastated.
In fact it is believed she was probably forced to marry Baghdadi. The man who raped and intimidated her! She appeared in a video dressed in Muslim garb as Proof of Life.
According to ABC News there was a second clip where Kayla says
Those detaining me are demanding an exchange of Dr. Aafia Siddiquis release for my release. If this is not achievable they are demanding $5 million euros to ensure my release.
This was not to be since the Obama Administration did not permit exchange of prisoners or exchange for money.
I watched the news unfold over the weekend as it was reported that the heinous terrorist leader died by detonating his suicide vest and blowing himself up with three of his children. Its always sad when children suffer at the hands of their father. To the very end Baghdadi proved how evil-hearted he was.
President Trump in his declaration on Sunday described al-Baghdadis death more vividly:
Last night the United States brought the worlds number one terrorist leader to justice Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead. He was the founder and leader of ISIS the most ruthless and violent terror organization anywhere in the world.
Baghdadi was vicious and violent and he died in a vicious and violent way as a coward running and crying.
Last night was a great night for the United States and for the world. A brutal killer one who has caused so much hardship and death has violently been eliminated. He will never again harm another innocent man woman or child.
He died like a dog. He died like a coward.
The world is now a much safer place."
On Sunday Kaylas parents Marsha & Carl Mueller praised President Trump and the soldiers who pulled off the mission.
I still say Kayla should be here and if Obama had been as decisive as President Trump maybe she would have been Marsha Mueller said.
Her parents have come out publicly to tell their version of Kaylas abduction. They wanted to keep Kaylas story quite before her death in hopes that she would be released. Kayla was never released.
The Muellers felt that the support they wanted and needed never came from the Obama Administration or any of the organizations Kayla was affiliated with which included the Doctors Without Borders. The Doctors Without Borders comment was that they were busy securing their own people.
Interestingly in my research I found an opportunity for her possible rescue was tragically missed by the Obama Administration. It was reported by Catherine Herridge of Fox News that the American hostages location was known in May 2014 but more intelligence was asked for by the Obama White House.
A July 4 2014 raid was attempted to rescue American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff as well as Kayla but the prisoners had been moved.
President Obama confirmed for the first time Tuesday (February 10 2015) that Mueller was one of the hostages Delta Force commandos attempted to rescue in a raid on an oil refinery facility in northern Syria in summer 2014.
The two dozen commandos arrived a day or two after the hostages had been moved from the site Obama said.
I deployed an entire operation at significant risk to rescue not only her but the other individuals who had been held and probably missed them by a day or two" Obama said during an interview with BuzzFeed News.
After President Trump announced Baghdadis death Kaylas parents have been speaking publicly about their journey to bring Kayla home.
She was held in many prisons. She was held in solitary confinement. She was tortured. She was intimidated. She was ultimately raped by al-Baghdadi himself.
He either killed her or he was complicit in her murder Carl Mueller said.
Kaylas body has not been found.
This is a constant reminder to the Muellers that someone must know where she is buried. Marsha Mueller told KPHO-TV an affiliate of CBS.
We want Kayla home and I know that sounds like an impossible task but after what weve been through the things that pop up and happen I believe we might just find her.
I heard the Muellers on Fox News with Martha McCullum say they are determined to know who killed her. They still hope to find an answer to the questions: Where was she killed? And where is she buried?
They want Kayla home.
They are even willing to travel to Iraq to ask for any news about their daughter.
Kayla died helping others afraid for the other hostages that were with her. She even refused to go with them when they escaped to freedom leaving her behind. She died a devoted Christian keeping to her faith and missing her parents with all the love a daughter can give.
This is the letter she wrote to her parents that was smuggled by the hostages that were released.
Please know that I am in a safe location completely unharmed healthy (put on weight in fact); I have been treated w/ the utmost respect kindness. I wanted to write you all a well thought out letter (but I didnt know if my cellmates would be leaving in the coming days or the coming months restricting my time but primarily) I could only but write the letter a paragraph at a time just the thought of you all sends me into a fit of tears.
If you could say I have suffered" at all throughout this whole experience it is only in knowing how much suffering I have put you all through; I will never ask you to forgive me as I do not deserve forgiveness.
I remember mom always telling me that all in all in the end the only one you really have is God. I have come to a place in experience where in every sense of the word I have surrendered myself to our creator b/c literally there was no else…. by God by your prayers I have felt tenderly cradled in freefall.
I have been shown in darkness light have learned that even in prison one can be free. I am grateful. I have come to see that there is good in every situation sometimes we just have to look for it. I pray each each day that if nothing else you have felt a certain closeness surrender to God as well have formed a bond of love support amongst one another…
I miss you all as if it has been a decade of forced separation. I have had many a long hour to think to think of all the things I will do w/ Lex our first family camping trip the first meeting @ the airport.I have had many hours to think how only in your absence have I finally @ 25 years old come to realize your place in my life.
The gift that is each one of you the person I could could not be if you were not a part of my life my family my support. I DO NOT want the negotiations for my release to be your duty if there is any other option take it even if it takes more time. This should never have become your burden. I have asked these women to support you; please seek their advice. If you have not done so already REDACTED can contact REDACTED who may have a certain level of experience with these people.
None of us could have known it would be this long but know I am also fighting from my side in the ways I am able I have a lot of fight left inside of me. I am not breaking down I will not give in no matter how long it takes.
I wrote a song some months ago that says The part of me that pains the most also gets me out of bed w/out your hope there would be nothing left…" aka The thought of your pain is the source of my own simultaneously the hope of our reunion is the source of my strength.
Please be patient give your pain to God. I know you would want me to remain strong. That is exactly what I am doing. Do not fear for me continue to pray as will I by Gods will we will be together soon.
All my everything Kayla
In 2015 the Muellers received photographs from ISIS purporting to show that Kayla was dead. Because her body has not been recovered they still hold on to the hope that she might be alive.
My prayers are that the family gets answers to their questions; that if Kayla is dead that her body is found so that they can bring her home for a Christian burial and that they have a quiet place to visit her.
Hope is the everlasting wellspring of life.
Sonja Harris of San Antonio blogs for Conservatives in Action under the name of Red Sonja. She welcomes feed back at libertyphoto@att.net
