Posted on 05/21/2006 10:02:43 PM PDT by jmc1969
France, Germany and Italy paid about $45 million to obtain the release of hostages kidnapped in Iraq, despite denying it in public, a British newspaper reports.
Britain has not handed out any money to kidnap gangs, the paper said on Monday, basing its report on "documents seen by The Times".
The list of payments has also been seen by Western diplomats, who are angered at the behaviour of the three governments.
France, Italy and Germany have all publicly denied paying any ransom money. "But according to the documents, held by security officials in Baghdad who have played a crucial role in hostage negotiations, sums from $2.5 million to $10 million per person have been paid over the past 21 months," the paper said.
According to the report, France paid out a combined $25 million for the release of Georges Malbrunot in December 2004 and Florence Aubenas in June 2005.
Italy handed over $11 million for the freedom of Simona Pari, Simona Torretta and Giuliana Sgrena in 2004 and 2005, again according to the report, while Germany was said to have given kidnappers $8 million to secure the release of three hostages, including Rene Braeunlich and Thomas Nitzschke, who were freed earlier this month.
The Italian daily Repubblica cited an official report according to which Rome handed over several million dollars in ransom for Iraq hostages.
(Excerpt) Read more at english.aljazeera.net ...
BTTT
There was quite an industry going on with these kidnappings.
Much of the money for the Madhi Army and the various Insurgent groups comes from kidnappings.
LOL...more of the same absurd insanity that is TODAY...
Nothing like putting a target on the backs of other French, German and Italian visitors in Iraq. In fact, if I was Al Quaeda, I'd go outside Iraq and target them knowing that their governments pay handsomely.
If it's cash, it was probably a good move. Today's currency is made to be traceable, especially in big wads. Great tracking device.
No one in Iraq should allow themselves to be kidnapped.
Anyone working there should carry a few cyanide caps .
Better than becoming such a funds source that will result in the deaths of so many others . We all have to die anyway, what is there to be so attached to , at any cost?
Just go already if that seems to be your fate , you have to come back anyway....
Pretty easy to say that...until it applies to yourself.
Idiots and Scumbags. Financing our enemies and playing into their hands.
Was there ever any doubt? Helluva way to have to fight a war.
So The EUSSR has been lying about this for years. I'm sure that the US media, which the left claims is so conservative, will make this headline news tonight. < /sarc >
That is so sad to hear.
Arming them with enough to buy whole armies there...
Yep.
Proper headline: Germany, France, and Italy fund terrorists.
That's enough to buy enormous amounts of explosives for booby traps and suicide bombings.
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