strapped to an explosive vest

I felt sick to my bone when I heard the news yesterday.

Mr Alan Johnston, the only BBC international correspondent who lived in the Gaza Strip was kidnapped by a group called 'the army of Islam' on 12th March 2007. Yesterday a video clip on Mr Johnston strapped to an explosive vest was released to prevent forced entry to save him.

The group wanted the UK government to release Abu Qatada, a Palestinian-born Islamic cleric suspected of having close links with al-Qaeda in exchange.

According to sources Mr Johnston's reporting gave insightful and accurate reportings on the situation. Now that he has been kidnapped, are there good reportings coming out from the area?

What was in the mind of the leader of 'the army of Islam'? What does he or his group expect to resolve or achieve?

By calling themselves 'the army of Islam' -- have they not made a mockery or tainted the name of their Allah? Why come under the banner of religion? Is this the only way to recruit suicide bombers to do their dirty work by calling on the name of their god? Is this the way to gain sympathy from the masses?

Are the leaders so powerless that they resort to using kidnapped hostage to become human bomb?