Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Great News for Italy

[Henners]

.. that the two women aid workers are safely home with their families. We can only hope for similar quick releases for all the other detainees.

[ath748]

Unfortunately it gives the wrong impression for future kidnappers..... Italy paid the ransom... allegedly..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3700480.stm

[Ian]

This could open up into a big conversation.

The problem with Iraq is that there is a "cottage industry" of hostage taking that has been going on for many years. Any rich Iraqi has been in fear of this, and many families have been bankrupted by such actions already. What normally happens is that the hostage is taken and then sold on, - so once they are taken by the first hostage takers there is a "market value" for that person or people. Now is it then wrong to out bid say Al-Q? Clearly it would be very wrong to buy a hostage from Al-Q, - what guarantee is there that you would get your hostage back after paying, - but it is slightly different if you can buy to prevent then from reaching Al-Q.

The worrying thing with the poor British guy is that he is already in the hands of the worst person you could end up with, which is why most of the "informed" opinion is that he is already doomed.

[gasmanrus]

doomed? no way. during the last few days ive found myself thinking more and more about this poor bloke & cant begin to imagine what his family must be going through.

i'm not one for following the news much but i have been recently.
there is always a hope that his captors may show some humanity & release him

i dont mind saying ive said a few words to the big guy upstairs

good luck ken

[ScottyB]

Sorry guys i have to add a different slant to this.......

The guy's family has portraid him as a do gooder out there for the people of Iraq.

I for one know exactly what he is earning out there as was offered similar work on the medical front with a similar company, and the chances are he is out there purely for the money, around about 1000 dollars a day, so lets not kid ourselves.......

He made the discision to go out there despite all the well publicised warnings by the foreign office, he knew the risks when he went and now his family are pulling all the strings trying to get him home, he needs to take some ownership for his actions and the situation he finds himself in.

I was in the Army for 9 years and when offered the job laughed until i nearly pi55ed.....i have enough medals and you could not pay me enough to work over there, I value my family and my life too much to even consider it.

It is a sorry situation to be faced with and i take my hat off to his loved ones who have the media band wagon at full steam behind them and wish them every success in his release.

Every Expat over there knows the dangers and we can not bow down to these animals or it will be open season for hostages like it is becoming already.

I was lucky/unlucky enough to be involved in Kuwait and there is no way of bartering with these folk, the only language they understand is an eye for an eye....and they have it down to a fine art.

Fingers crossed for you Ken.

Regards

ScottyB

[Guido]

Spot on Scott. Have to agree with you.

Feel sorry for the fella but after the much publicised outcome to Nick Berg's detention you can't say he wasn't aware of the risks.

As for any one those scum showing humanity. Anyone who can take a carving knife to a fellow humans throat and keep hacking until decapitation arrives is beyond that in my book. "Knuke" and "them" springs to mind....

Rant over.