Anderson: terrorism should cost governments

by Lacy Papai
FOR THE POST

WASHINGTON - Seeking to make terrorism more expensive for governments, Ohio University visiting professor and former hostage Terry Anderson vividly recalled his seven years in captivity in Lebanon and pressed for compensation from Iran yesterday.

"Governments use terrorism because it is cheap and easy," Anderson testified in Federal District Court of the District of Columbia yesterday. "If governments like Iran have to pay, these rulings will make it more expensive."

Under a 1996 law, Anderson has filed suit against the Islamic Republic of Iran asking for $100 million in damages. A judge in Anderson's lawsuit issued a default ruling yesterday in Anderson's favor. Now the judge has to decide on damages.

Three other American hostages held with Anderson won a similar judgment in 1998, but they have yet to receive any compensation. Iran has refused to defend itself in any of the suits. It also has sent no lawyers to Anderson's court hearing.

At the time of his capture, Anderson was chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press. He was living in Beirut with his wife, Madeleine Bassil, who was six-months pregnant with their daughter. Since 1998, Anderson has been a visiting professor at OU's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

Anderson's lawsuit claims that Iran funded and supported the terrorist organization that kidnapped him in 1985. His testimony focused on his experience in Lebanon before, during and after his kidnapping. He vividly recalled the March morning in 1985 when three members of the Hezbollah, a paramilitary organization, kidnapped him on a public street. He said he knew immediately that he was going to be captive for a long time.

"One of my kidnappers told me not to worry, because my kidnapping was only political," he said. "I knew what that meant. I knew I was going to be gone for a while."

He was held for 2,454 days - almost seven years.

During that time, Anderson's kidnappers moved him around Lebanon more than 20 times. He was psychologically abused, beaten and was often ill, he said.

"You cannot imagine the humiliation of having diarrhea when you are chained to the wall of a cell," he said. "And you could bang on the wall for the guards all you wanted, but they only took you to the bathroom when they wanted to."

But, Anderson testified, he has forgiven his captors. "You can hate what they did, and you can want compensation for that," he said. "But as a Christian and a practical man, you must forgive them."

Bassil and the couple's daughter, Sulome T. Anderson, also are plaintiffs in the case.

The hearing resumes today, with Dan Rather of CBS and Gene Porter of the New York Times testifying about the effect of Anderson's capture on the news industry.