Posted on 09/29/2004 9:12:51 AM PDT by Ace
Ransom payments seen fuelling Iraq's hostage crisis
By Luke Baker BAGHDAD, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The release of two Italian aid workers in Iraq has raised hopes other hostages may soon be freed, but reports that a large ransom was paid may only feed the burgeoning hostage crisis.
The two Italians, Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, had been seized along with two Iraqi colleagues from a central Baghdad office in a brazen attack witnesses described as very organised and probably carried out by a criminal gang.
Gustavo Selva, an Italian lawmaker, told French radio a ransom of around $1 million had been handed over.
"In principle, we shouldn't give in to blackmail but this time we had to. Although it's a dangerous path to take because, obviously, it could encourage others to take hostages, either for political reasons or for criminal reasons," Selva told RTL.
"The sum ($1 million) is probably correct," he added.
Over the past year or more, hundreds of Iraqis -- doctors, surgeons and prominent businessmen -- have been kidnapped by criminal gangs who demand ransoms of up to $100,000.
Now, with so many easily-identifiable foreigners in Iraq, criminals appear to have branched out, targeting more lucrative Westerners and foreign workers as well as locals.
Kadhim estimates that about 90 percent of the kidnappings in Iraq are carried out by criminal gangs, who then trade the captives on to militant Islamic groups and other factions.
"If the criminals don't get their money within 72 hours or so, they sell them up the chain to other groups," said a British security consultant who has been operating in Iraq for a year.
"There's vast amounts of money being paid, whether it's by companies, families or governments. It's a very, very good business," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.netscape.cnn.com ...
I plan to rent Denzel's "Man on Fire".......
My favorite recent movie! Check out some of the director's comments on the DVD. Especially the first scene where Denzel gets up front and personal with a scumbag kidnapper. Body parts are cut off.
Well, if they do have to revert to the 5th cent, it will be their fault.
I understand, but apparently some others in this world don't.
Hostage-taking is big business only because there are people who pay ransoms. Italy got back these two women, but now the whole world knows Italy pays ransoms.
If I was a kidnapper, I know who I'd want to grab.
And it can't hurt the insurgency to pick up a cool million like that.
"Could they have been in on it?"
I'm not sure about these two (I'd say "most probably not" out of gut feeling), but you sure raise a very interesting question here.
"They are smart enough not to kidnap and ransom a Frenchman"
They kidnapped two.
How much was the ransom? I missed that part.
I dunno, something around 3 millions, but I don't remember if it was in dollars or euros. These two got kidnapped by rather confused hostage-takers.
First, they wanted France to repel a law forbidding Muslim girls to go to school with their headscarf on. It failed, and even managed to put radical Muslims organizations in France(who had demanded the same things weeks before)in a very delicate situation where everyone, including French Muslims, was against them.
Then, they asked for money as if it was the 1980s and Lebanon all over again, and also demanded that France did not meddle into Iraq's affairs ! When I read that I wondered if this gang was either a purely criminal one or on PM Allawi's payroll.
good grief. Sounds like a scene from monty python.
Yep. The new batch of Secret Islamic Soldiers : confused.
Exactly, because I guarantee you there are a lot more potential hostages out there, then there is ransom money to free them.
Ransom should be strictly paid with money laced with anthrax.
The problem is that all of these "common" criminals are attached to the terrorist network. Like it says in the article:
"If the criminals don't get their money within 72 hours or so, they sell them up the chain to other groups," said a British security consultant who has been operating in Iraq for a year."
Higher up the chain = terrorist groups. So they definetly have ties, and it is quite possible that some of these bigger fish are going to demand some of the money.
-paridel
"PING!!!!!The replies on this thread seem to correspond with your hypothesis!!!"
Looks this way, yes. Soon there'll be a market for kidnapped foreigners and real terrorists will be able to outsource this kind of job to ordinary gangs.
How are things in India, by the way ? What are the top stories at home ?
Nothing big in India-Gerhard Schroeder's in town(probably to launch a mutual programme for both Germany & India to get into the UNSC)so is the Pres of South Korea,Roo.m.Hyoon(sic!!!) & there is a pretty big state govt election on in Maharashtra(India's 2nd biggest state & place where Mumbai is located,where ruling centre-leftist Congress coalition looks ahead).
India in the UNSC ? Well, I for one would support it.
Yep-infact India,along with Germany,Japan & Brazil have formed a troika which will support each other's bid for the UNSC-South Africa was originally part of the grouping.The problem is one or other UN member has promised to oppose the foursome-Italy opposes Germany(& the US has not been too happy either),China opposes India & Japan,Pakiland opposes India etc.Moreover,Slammic nations want a rep on as well for which Malaysia ,Egypt & Saudi Arabia all have given feelers,of which Egypt looks the best positioned due to the fact that it is both Muslim & African.Logically speaking India is more than representative enough of Islam as it has the world's 2nd largest Muslim population(over 138 million after Indonesia),but most Slammic states think otherwise.India has the most support among the foursome in the P-5 as Russia,France & Britain have all promised support while the US has not said it would oppose it.
"We were treated well, with warmth and solidarity," Simona Pari said in quotes carried by Italian news agency Ansa.
"They understood our work and from that moment on the situation improved," said the other hostage, Simona Torrettta.
"They were people who treated us with a lot of respect and dignity."
Where's the Dem-rage at ransom money that will be used against our troops and workers? Oh, it wouldn't be an indictment against Bush? I see.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.