Should US bargain with Terrorists?
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| Fri, 08-13-2004 - 9:21am |
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040812/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_american_hostage
Should US Bargain with the US to free hostages?
This is so frustrating, on both sides. I feel the government should do what they can, but I do not think they can afford to compromise thousands of lives for a few people. If they did, the terrorists would have us exactly where they want us, and just focus on kidnapping and threats to get their way.
I thought this would make an interesting debate. How do you think the government should handle the hostage situations?
Also, going over there you do know you are putting your life in danger. Should you just accept that you may be taken hostage or not come back alive when taking any jobs over there? Don't the contractors have the option to go over there, or are they required?
BOGOTA, Colombia - The mother of one of the U.S. Defense Department contractors captured by Colombian rebels 18 months ago accused the U.S. government on Thursday of abandoning the three hostages.
On her first visit to Colombia since her son was captured on Feb. 13, 2003, Jo Rosano, of Bristol, Conn., said she was "sick and tired" of U.S. government officials telling her they were doing everything possible to secure his freedom.
"What are they doing? What is the progress? Anything?" Rosano, mother of hostage Marc Gonsalves, told The Associated Press. "I believe the United States is just lying, pacifying me by saying 'we are doing what we can.'"
A State Department spokesman said on condition of anonymity Thursday that the U.S. government was working with Colombian officials to win their release.
U.S. Ambassador William Wood has said previously that his government is doing everything possible to free them, but has also underscored that the government refuses to negotiate with terrorists.
Gonsalves, three other Americans and a Colombian army sergeant were on an anti-drug mission for U.S. Defense Department contractor Northrop Grumman when their single-engine plane developed engine trouble and crash-landed in southern jungles controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
The FARC later said it killed two men — American Thomas Janis and the Colombian sergeant — while Gonsalves, Keith Stansell and Thomas Howes were taken hostage. Gonsalves is a father of three whose home is in Florida.
"These people cannot just be left there to rot," Rosano said, her eyes filling with tears as she stood on the steps of her Bogota hotel. "I will never give up, I'm going to keep fighting until the day I die."
Rosano said she hoped to meet with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, U.S. Embassy officials and the families of hundreds of Colombian hostages languishing in rebel hands.
The FARC accuses the three Americans of being CIA (news - web sites) agents and has included them on a list of dozens of so-called political prisoners who will be freed only in exchange for jailed rebels.
The United States has spent more than $2.5 billion on training, equipment and intelligence in the past four years to help Colombian forces combat drug trafficking and the rebels, who have been waging a 40-year-old insurgency and now fund themselves mainly through drug trafficking.
In an interview with a Colombian journalist at a rebel hideout in July 2003, the three contractors pleaded for release, warning they would likely die in any rescue attempt.
Rosano said the support of hundreds of sympathetic mothers across the United States helps her. "They gave me an angel pin ... so this way I would not feel alone."
Debbie

These are people who do not fight by 'geneva convention' rules. Did you see the Nick Berg beheading on the internet? That will REALLY give you perspective on who we are fighting. These are animals and should not be treated as anything more (sorry PETA).
You would really be stupid to go to Iraq or Afghanistan without knowing you are endangering your life. As far as I know, you are free to work for whomever you like here in the U.S. so, I think you could quit your job if it required working somewhere you do not feel safe.
We have got to make the area safer so that more U.S. contractors can get in, boost the infrastructure and employ the Iraqis. Unemployment is still an issue and getting the people to work for their country will help matters all the way around.
If this mother raised her son to assess the risks he was taking, and to judge the risk vs reward, then he lost. Which is unfortunate... my understanding is we do not take guns to peoples heads and force them to work for war contractors in unstable countries. Whatever perks this guy got, lets hope they are solace to him or his family.