View Single Post
Old 01-01-2010, 13:38   #14
Mr Angry
Inactive
 
Mr Angry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Belfast
Posts: 4,785
Mr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny stars
Mr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny starsMr Angry has a pair of shiny stars
Re: British Hostage Peter Moore Freed In Iraq

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris View Post
I can't help wondering what was motivating the kidnappers to keep hold of him for so long. Not just him, but the likes of Terry Waite, Brian Keenan and others. I mean, two and a half years is a long time to be holding on to someone, feeding and keeping them. How does it take them so long to realise they're not going to get what they want, and ultimately what motivates them to release rather than kill their captive?
Chris, I think it's more a case of them holding on to certain hostages for longer as they are, contrary to what certain Governments might want people to believe, negotiating exactly what they will get in return. If it were the case that no hostage situation ever "paid off" from their perspective then you're right - it simply wouldn't be worth their while.

A cursory look around the web in relation to Mr Moores situation (both during his time in captivity and subsequently as a free man) is very revealing - especially when one considers the "coincidental" release of certain prisoners on or about the same time that bodies (and indeed Mr Moore) have been released.

Another interesting facet to this particular case is the fact that his bodyguards were considered combatants (a nod to the status of Guantanamo detainees) by their captors and have been executed as such.

There are very clear messages being sent here - one only needs to look for them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirius
However it was there decision
I don't think any of them "decided" to be detained in Guantanamo and, faced with the conditions many allege they have had to endure, suicide is not much of a "choice".

Factually speaking neither partys treatment of their captors can be considered humane.

That said, both sides consider themselves to be fighting a just war and killing in the name of something or other - whether that be democracy or a religion is of little comfort to the victims or their families.
Mr Angry is offline   Reply With Quote