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 ...
From what I understand they weren't just aid workers, but also anti-war activists.
So? What's your point?
If they are free because of a payoff, then they have created an incentive for more people to suffer and die, and for more unrest to plague Iraq.
Their selfishness and shortsightedness will have injured others - they are cowards and sellouts if this story is true.
Just an observation, with a comment.
Not all people in the world think alike. A lot of times, people think differently when they are more personally involved.
Despite the pledges of unity, the dramatic kidnapping, of two women known for their dedication to the anti-war cause, seems certain to reignite the debate within Italy over the wisdom of continuing to support the Iraq war effort.
Both women are named Simona, both are 29 and both are known in Italy for their outspoken opposition to the war, giving their plight a special resonance to Italians already ambivalent about their country's role in the war.
Every foreign woman in Iraq needs to leave immediately. This is like hitting the lottery.
I dont think we need 'peace aid workers' in iraq which endanger all of our lives.
I wonder how much thier families 'contributed to this'?
Ugh. The whole this makes me sick. They should not have there in the first without good weapons..
Be honest - as outsiders, we can see clearly. If it were your daughter - if you had to lie awake wondering if some snuff film was going to show up on the web with your little girl's head getting sawed off - you'd demand the same, everyone else be damned.
We can say they've made a big mistake. The families can't. It's just not the same perspective.
You're absolutely right...peace aid workers have no business being in Iraq...
This has been going on for a while. The Phillipines started it by paying ransom....since that date a few months ago, kidnapping has become a profitable business and the amount of kidnappings has skyrocketed.
I would demand that US Special Forces track down the hostage takers first.
My first reaction would not be to assume that the criminals were trustworthy parties that I could just sit down and do business with.
Someone is an intermediary here and that intermediary knows where the hostage takers are and how to find them.
Welcome to Chechnya!
Any NEIGHBORHOOD where hostages are found to be held and from where hostage takers are from should be leveled. The hostages are kept openly in people's homes and there should be a price for people who see such a crime and do not report it in.
They do this in Columbia dont they?
I will severly admonish my daughter about over there in conditions in the first and doing other dangereous things.
My conscience would be clear.
From another link, RPGs go for about $20 in Iraq, so these fools just financed another 50,000 RPGs for use against coalition troops. Smart move! Save two lives in exchange for sacrificing how many hundreds . . . ?
the point being we can fight back
Time to re-watch the excellent Russell Crowe film, "Proof of Life", which deals with the kidnap business in Latin America.
the 'workers' also gave aid and comfort...
Didn't Bush say we would not tolerate the countries that aid and support terrorism? Doesn't Italy now fall into that catagory?
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