September 09, 2004 Columns » IQ

As the crisis in Iraq continues, terrorist groups have upped the ante by taking hostages. To date, more than 90 foreign hostages have been taken -- 24 of whom have been executed.

Negotiating with terrorists  

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As the crisis in Iraq continues, terrorist groups have upped the ante by taking hostages. To date, more than 90 foreign hostages have been taken -- 24 of whom have been executed. Some countries have bent to terrorist demands. The Philippines, for example, withdrew its troops a month early. Others have not. France, for instance, instead sent diplomats to mediate the release of two captured journalists. Should we be doing more to ameliorate this situation, or is this just part of the cost of war?
click to enlarge Dave Elliott - - Safety manager - - North End - - - - What's your reaction to the hostage taking in Iraq? I - feel outraged about it. - - What is the best response a country or company can - give when someone has been taken hostage and death - or beheading is threatened? Unfortunately, - retaliation. - - How can we keep high morale for the mission of - building a stable Iraq in spite of increasing numbers of - hostages? I was in the military, and just being in - those situations, it's tough to keep the morale of the - troops up. The hostage situation makes it that much - worse. You feel like you're looking over your shoulder - that much more, like you can never relax.

  • Dave Elliott

    Safety manager

    North End

    What's your reaction to the hostage taking in Iraq? I feel outraged about it.

    What is the best response a country or company can give when someone has been taken hostage and death or beheading is threatened? Unfortunately, retaliation.

    How can we keep high morale for the mission of building a stable Iraq in spite of increasing numbers of hostages? I was in the military, and just being in those situations, it's tough to keep the morale of the troops up. The hostage situation makes it that much worse. You feel like you're looking over your shoulder that much more, like you can never relax.

click to enlarge Media Wright - - Information specialist - - Reno, Nev. - - - - Should we ever negotiate with these terrorists? - Negotiation that returns the hostages to us eliminates - the problem. - - How can we keep high morale for the mission of - building a more stable Iraq in spite of increasing - numbers of hostages? We should use all of our - resources that we have available -- and not pretend that - we don't have the resources available -- to eliminate that - problem, that threat. The fact that they take hostages - says that we're not using all of our resources. People - should not be put in a situation where they're at risk.

  • Media Wright

    Information specialist

    Reno, Nev.

    Should we ever negotiate with these terrorists? Negotiation that returns the hostages to us eliminates the problem.

    How can we keep high morale for the mission of building a more stable Iraq in spite of increasing numbers of hostages? We should use all of our resources that we have available -- and not pretend that we don't have the resources available -- to eliminate that problem, that threat. The fact that they take hostages says that we're not using all of our resources. People should not be put in a situation where they're at risk.

click to enlarge Don Gotwald - - Maintenance technician - - Near Penrose Hospital - - - - What's your reaction to the hostage taking in Iraq? - The fact is that it's happening, and it needs to stop. - - What is the best response a country or company can - give when someone has been taken hostage and death - or beheading is threatened? In areas that I've - worked with, if you get captured, whether it be by - terrorists or anybody, there is no negotiation. If a person - is going into a situation knowing that that could happen, - I think that no negotiation should happen.

  • Don Gotwald

    Maintenance technician

    Near Penrose Hospital

    What's your reaction to the hostage taking in Iraq? The fact is that it's happening, and it needs to stop.

    What is the best response a country or company can give when someone has been taken hostage and death or beheading is threatened? In areas that I've worked with, if you get captured, whether it be by terrorists or anybody, there is no negotiation. If a person is going into a situation knowing that that could happen, I think that no negotiation should happen.

click to enlarge Jonnell Miles - - High school student - - South Cascade - - - - What's your reaction to the hostage taking in Iraq - over the past few months? I disagree with war altogether. - I don't think that any of that should be going on. - - Should we ever negotiate with terrorists? No, I - think terrorists should be handled professionally and be - taken care of -- not negotiated with -- more or less told - what to do. - - Is the hostage taking having any effect on your - feelings regarding this war? Yeah. I disagree with - the war to begin with. I think we should help them, not - control them. I don't think that it's right to go over there - and just control them.

  • Jonnell Miles

    High school student

    South Cascade

    What's your reaction to the hostage taking in Iraq over the past few months? I disagree with war altogether. I don't think that any of that should be going on.

    Should we ever negotiate with terrorists? No, I think terrorists should be handled professionally and be taken care of -- not negotiated with -- more or less told what to do.

    Is the hostage taking having any effect on your feelings regarding this war? Yeah. I disagree with the war to begin with. I think we should help them, not control them. I don't think that it's right to go over there and just control them.

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