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 ...
And these savages know they can count on Italy to fund their terrorism.
Brilliant...
And weren't those two female hostages a couple of anti-war activists? Could they have been in on it?
We need to find out who is doing this and get to thier families.
According to Kuwait TV, 1 million and medical treatment for 10-15 Iraiqs in western hospitals..
Now, how do they say "no" when another woman ... or any other Italian is kidnapped? Do they get sued by the survivors if the next hostage is killed due to their not paying?
It looks like Italy is funding terrorists now. What happened to the mafia? Bunch of whimps.
Nothing new.
Well, maybe Italy now can take pride for the next embassy bombing... hey, maybe the Vatican next time. Good job Italy...
Has that whole continent lost it's balls to fight? If that's the case, pull out and nuke the place flat. If they don't care enough to protect their people from this ongoing crap, then why should we sacrifice one more soldier because of them. BAH!
I'm sure they, and their families, think a lot differently than most here on FR about this.
At the very least, Berlesconi ought to make all the leftist "charitable" organizations come home or face the fact that there is NO ransom money left for them should the Islamists snatch more Italians.
WTH? What about the NEXT TIME? Guess the NEXT TIME it won't be needed.
Ingrates, but then again, it's a small percentage ruining things for the rest of Iraqis... same thing often applies here as we all know.
---Details of their replies filtering in the Italian media suggest the women were not mistreated as their captors became satisfied they were aid workers helping the poor in Iraq - and not Western spies.
"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."---
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3699982.stm
Warmth and solidarity...
Heres hoping that 1MM plus millions more which will now paid dont go to blowing up your town....
Coming soon to a News program near you....
More Italian hostages were taken today, bringing the number to around 50. Italian officials to approach the World Bank and America for loans to pay the ransoms...
Some people just don't get it..
I have never been, before today, ashamed to be of Italian heritage.
I am now.
Nah, most of them are good people.
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.