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 ...
What I think, really doesn't matter.
The officials who decided to pay the ransom were outsiders. They ought to have been able to see clearly.
Time will tell. where did the funds come from?
Aren't those just movies, from the leftist liberal hollywood crowd? Do they really reflect the truth?
I agree with you 100%. I'm not excusing what Italy did. The politicians should have stuck to the gameplan, but they blinked.
I just think it's hypocritical to excoriate the families for being "selfish" under circumstance like this. It's the same as condemning a POW for making a propaganda statement for the enemy under duress. It's excusable under the circumstances, in my opinion.
"Sorry, I have more faith in the US military than you do."
The same military that failed to track down the kidnappers of Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong? Wonder what their families think of your faith?
Then why'd ya post it here? ;-)
So well thought out too. Now the terrorists have more money to buy arms with, which they'll likely use to kidnap more Italians knowing that their government will gladly pay any ransom, among other things. But I suppose the Italians can't be bothered to think that far ahead. We can't afford that luxury.
Now it's my turn to agree with you 100%. :-)
Because, in international ransom matters, what I think doesn't matter...but on FR, everything that everyone thinks, matters....otherwise, it wouldn't be much of a forum.
Well hell yes, they work for terrorists' cause!
If they really want peace as much as the terrorists do, they should have become freedom fighters or insurgents and stayed there to kill Americans instead of funding the murderers.
Cowards.
Now they will go back to work at home to cause more American lives to be lost.
We should round up all of the Rachael Corries over there or send in the bulldozers!
I agree. A 2000lb bomb down the chimney. And then leaflet the surrounding neigborhoods why it happened.
Neither you nor I know exactly where the funds came from or if there were even funds at all.
In other words you admit that you are making an accusation against the Vatican without a shred of evidence.
I hope you realize what a disservice you've done to your own reputation and trustworthiness. You should be ashamed of yourself.
Given that these women were basically pacifist, antiwar types was this a setup? The horror of anyone being beheaded, particularly a woman, would garner a certain amount of a population, in this case the Italians ( who have been staunch allies)to protest 'big time' and then cough up the $$.
When is Berlusconi up for reelection?
Re adjusting the tinfoil here in sunny and DRY (at last) NC.
"I agree. A 2000lb bomb down the chimney. And then leaflet the surrounding neigborhoods why it happened."
and call it operation Abu Santa.
Now that the terrorists have a human face, one of "warmth and solidarity", let the agitprop begin. Obviously the evil ones are the Israelis and the Americans.
That's a lot of terrorist bombs and bullets. The Euro way doesn't save lives.
Does the War With Tripoli ring a bell?
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