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.
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.
As if this is the first case of hostages for a ransom in Iraq.