Comments on: Did Italy Pay Million Dollar Ransom for Hostage Release?

By: This Vehicle Makes Wide Right Turns

This Vehicle Makes Wide Right Turns — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 03:53:25 +0000

Exclusive Interview with Giuliana Sgrena's Agent
Iraqi terrorist hostage, Giuliana Sgrena, was released by her captors on March 4th. Many conflicting stories have come out in the days since her release, but our desire to get to the truth has finally paid off. Catscape has gotten an excusive intervi...

By: The Republic of T.

The Republic of T. — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 13:00:26 +0000

Getting What You Pay For
There are reports floating around that Italy paid the equivalent of $1 million to the captors of Simona Pari and Simona Torretta secure their release, and Italian officials have only spoken of "difficult choices" concerning citizens held hostage in I...

By: Elrod

Elrod — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 02:16:19 +0000

By most accounts kidnappings of Iraqis is about ten times as frequent as kidnappings of foreigners. Are Iraqi captives freed on ransom? And if so, how different is it when a foreign government pays the ransom? Italy is a coalition member, remember, and not likely to back out over this. Does kidnapping a foreigner, and the attention it brings, just jack up the ransom price? Or is there a truly different dynamic at work when foreigners are kidnapped vs. Iraqis.

By: Diggers Realm

Diggers Realm — Thu, 30 Sep 2004 01:03:29 +0000

Did Italy Pay A Ransom For Simona Pari And Simona Torretta? [update]
There are numerous reports floating around that Italy paid a $1 million ransom for the release of the two hostages, Simona Pari And Simona Torretta, who were taken hostage September 7th and released on September 28th. Reuters Gustavo Selva,...

By: Kathy K

Kathy K — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 22:41:18 +0000

Iraq had joined their number almost before we got there. They've been kidnapping Iraqis since day one.
I'd like to see a few kidnapper's heads on poles.

By: Rooftop Report

Rooftop Report — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 20:42:28 +0000

Kenneth Bigley pleads for release
Briton begs Blair to meet captors' demands. (MSNBC) BAGHDAD, Iraq - British hostage Kenneth Bigley appeared in a videotape broadcast on Wednesday, pleading with Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet the demands of his captors to release women prisoners in...

By: Diggers Realm

Diggers Realm — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 19:33:02 +0000

Did Italy Pay A Ransom For Simona Pari And Simona Torretta?
There are numerous reports floating around that Italy paid a $1 million ransom for the release of the two hostages, Simona Pari And Simona Torretta, who were taken hostage September 7th and released on September 28th. Reuters Gustavo Selva, an...

By: Change for America

Change for America — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 19:01:17 +0000

Argh
Via Outside the Beltway, we learn that the Italian government may have paid the Iraqi terrorists to release their hostages. France may be offering to influence peace negotiations in exchange for

By: Meezer

Meezer — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 18:08:25 +0000

I am old enough to remember the start of the Israeli policy of no negociation. Looking at it from the nice, safe (then!) U.S., most of us thought it was chilling, but logical. Kidnapping has not been a terrorist tool in Israel since then.
There are other countries where kidnapping is a way of life - do we really want Iraq or the U.S to join their number?

By: ken

ken — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 17:41:36 +0000

You make the call. Give up one million dollars or get two dead women.

Ransom is often paid in domestic kidnapping cases. It both gets the hostages back and gives solid leads to the authorities for follow up.

To say that it is always wrong to pay the ransom is simplistic and counterproductive. If no ransom was paid and the women were killed the criminals would still be unkown and free to kidnap again.

You could just as easily say that by not paying the ransom you would be encouraging the kidnappers to kill, move on, and try someone else.

That said, we have to act like we will never negotiate or pay ransom. A good bluff on this is better than no bluff at all cause many times a bluff works.

By: Political Animal

Political Animal — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:43:30 +0000

Ransom
RANSOM....James Joyner brings together a couple of stories today that suggest western countries are paying ransoms to terrorists who kidnap their citizens in Iraq. Italy is widely believed to have paid $1 million for the release of "the two Simonas"...

By: Fred Boness

Fred Boness — Wed, 29 Sep 2004 16:25:24 +0000

Her friends? Has she thought about how the kidnappers knew when and where to grab her?