Whoo-hoo!!! Hopefully these battles will keep the terrorists too busy to worry about any hostage-harming. Let's get Gracia and Martin home soon.
The bad guys aren't hiding anymore -- they can't.
I think the terrorists know that these two living Americans are the only thing standing between them and a Daisy Cutter.
The question is: how do you make a reasonable deal? I think the terrorists aren't willing to deal much, but also unwilling to die.
The answer would have to be: win by attrition.