Should the US pay ransom for hostages?

Ralphy1

Ralphy1

Well-known Member
Methinks so seeing that we pay for everything else that goes on in the world. A few hundred million more here or there would hardly make a difference in our deficit and at least it would save a life rather than take one...
 

The argument against it is that payment will only encourage the kidnappers and terrorists to kidnap even more Americans for ransom. It's known as moral hazard and hard as it sounds it is better not to pay ransoms.
 
Glad I'm not in a position to be captured if it was up to you guys...
 
Unfortunately there is no answer to this one. If we pay they will only take more hostages.

However covert arrangements do go on behind our backs and we never hear about it.
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I find Michael's post intriguing. Brings to mind the fact of what is a life worth. Can you imagine if the president of the USA was taken....imagine the behind the scenes bargaining that would go on there.
 
Lee said:
I find Michael's post intriguing. Brings to mind the fact of what is a life worth. Can you imagine if the president of the USA was taken....imagine the behind the scenes bargaining that would go on there.
Click to expand...
I can just imagine! :)
 
I'm with Warri and Hollydolly, paying ransoms only encourages the taking of more hostages, as then it is profitable for the kidnappers/terrorists.
 
The sad part is, that oftentimes the hostage is killed even before negotiations have started.

I'm reminded of Bruno Hauptman, the kidnapper of the Lindberg child.
 
True, I always said if I was kidnapped, not to pay the ransom...that would not guarantee my safety anyway, and may even endanger the person paying the kidnapper on my behalf.
 
Got to remember the hostages are usually the cause of the problems especially media people or those that "stray" into other countries where they don't belong.
 
I have to say, thinking about this for awhile, and seeing what they do to Americans like Foley, I think we probably should pay the ransom if it can save a life.
 
I agree..But to have your head cut off with a 6 inch penknife beggars belief...I would hate to be the mother of these captives..

Why aren't we doing something else..they want 80 million dollars...for a life...
 
I heard there have been complaints about the shipping companies paying off Somali pirates for years with the key word being yearS. They say it's cheaper to pay off the occasional ransom than it is to secure ships and/or pay off survivors if kidnapeee is killed.

They say ISIS funds a lot of their operations with ransom payouts along with black market oil. The ransom money could also be used to buy illegal drugs which in turn are sold to make more money.
 
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