Italian Hostages freed due to ransome being paid - Rome Paid Big Ransom to Free Hostages

Reuters ^ | Sept.29 | Luke Baker

[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.

[Rutles4Ever]

Sure you would. And then when the blank expressions and the "we've got 100,000 troops over there and no one knows where she is" statements start coming, you'd start preparing the funeral.

[killjoy]

"The sum ($1 million) is probably correct," he added.

They were asking $2 million for the Brit.

[firebrand]

I'm starting a new group: New Yorkers for Italian Terrorist Appeasers.

[fooman]

One of the things that ended the infada was Sharon blowing up the families house. He did kill family members, just thier house.

Terrorism dropped dramatically when calculus became get 25K but lose your house.

It also shows that these families were sending thier kids to death and cared more about thier houses than the 25K or even thier Kid!!!!

[sukhoi-30mki]

PING!!!!!The replies on this thread seem to correspond with your hypothesis!!!

[Alouette]

Time to re-watch the excellent Russell Crowe film, "Proof of Life", which deals with the kidnap business in Latin America.

Also Denzel Washington in "Man on Fire", about the kidnapping industry in Mexico.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

They are smart enough not to kidnap and ransom a Frenchman. No one would ever pay it.

[wideawake]

Sorry, I have more faith in the US military than you do.

[Ciexyz]

I plan to rent Denzel's "Man on Fire", the ads on TV looked pretty good. And Denzel is an Oscar-winning actor who gives bangup performances.

[wideawake]

Wow. The Vatican funds terrorists.

Please substantiate this scurrilous lie or retract it.

[fooman]

Edit:

One of the things that ended the intifada was Sharon blowing up the family's house. He did NOT kill family members, just their house.

Terrorism dropped dramatically when calculus became get 25K, but lose your house.

It also shows that these families were sending their kids to death and cared more about their houses than the 25K or even their Kid!!!!

[Smile-n-Win]

I'm sure they, and their families, think a lot differently than most here on FR about this.

I'm sure the next hostages they take in hope of more money, and their families, will think a lot differently than you about this.

[Rutles4Ever]

Just going on the hostage-rescue track record so far, I think your faith in the U.S. Military finding her in time would be effectively zero -- if it were your daughter.

[stuartcr]

And so have many of our troops...unless someone is actually shooting at you, sometimes, it's hard to distinguish a civilian from an enemy...besides, we do take prisoners, and we do provide aid to them.

[Alouette]

It's a good movie, but I think the little girl (she was also in "Uptown Girls") stole the show away from Denzel.

[Smile-n-Win]

From what I understand they weren't just aid workers, but also anti-war activists.

The quote from them about "warmth and solidarity" confirms that beyond reasonable doubt.

[Rutles4Ever]

Wow. The Vatican funds terrorists.

WTF?

[milemark]

I have never been, before today, ashamed to be of Italian heritage.

I am now.

?

Because some politicians who happened to be Italian caved?

By that example, we should all be ashamed to be American because of the behavior of many American politicians.

One of them even painted himself orange for some reason!

[Syncro]

...paging Dr. Kavorkian, please come to the IV drip in the Terrorist Ward.