[Jeff Head]

I am just going on the stated and emphatic policy over years...which I happen to agree with. I hope the government was not involved in any way with the offer, raising, or transfer of any funds for terroists hostages.

But I do not have personal knowledge in the Pearl case either way...just a strong opinion is all.

[ariamne]

I read Marianne Pearl's book and there was no mention of the government paying to ransom him, though his panicked family members were willing to do so. The truth is that the man was doomed the second they found an Israeli telephone number in his address book.