Nothing more than common thugs.
It's not about the money, it's about the principal of the thing.
>> Iraqi militants demand $5m for release of French journalists.
> Nothing more than common thugs.
That's one possibility.
Another is that the Iraqi dead-enders are running
out of funds. The capture of al Douri probably
seriously impaired the trickle-down.
bin Laden wants to negotiate?
Cutthroat cultists now want money?
Progress is being made.