US Won't Prosecute Hostages' Families For Ransom

[Coug]

"Softening longstanding policy, the Obama administration will tell families of Americans held by terror groups that they can communicate with captors and even pay ransom without fear of prosecution. The shift comes as part of a broad review of U.S. hostage guidelines that will be released Wednesday."

US Won't Threaten to Prosecute Hostages' Families for Ransom - ABC News

 

[theFallGuy]

paying these guys ransoms surely won't encourage more abductions, right?

 

[BearCat204]

Is there anything this man touches that hasnt turned to absolute ****. WTF

 

[theFallGuy]

Is there anything this man touches that hasnt turned to absolute ****. WTF

no.

I guess this is what you get with a community organizer.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

paying these guys ransoms surely won't encourage more abductions, right?

No it won't. Look at the Somali pirates. They get paid for a pirated vessel while investing what they made along with becoming wealthy and upstanding citizens.

 

[lawgator1]

Is there anything this man touches that hasnt turned to absolute ****. WTF

Come on, really? We're going to prosecute families that try to get their loved ones released? Please.

 

[theFallGuy]

Come on, really? We're going to prosecute families that try to get their loved ones released? Please.

.

 

[BearCat204]

Come on, really? We're going to prosecute families that try to get their loved ones released? Please.

There has never been any penalties to any family for directly paying ransom for a family member/members who are being held by a terrorist group. However the law was written to deter families from sending any ransom for release and the reasoning behind it is very simple as to prevent more income for these groups and to attempt to reduce these kidnappings. I think its a good policy to keep, but I am sure I probably would feel differently if it were one of my family members that were being held.

 

[hog88]

Come on, really? We're going to prosecute families that try to get their loved ones released? Please.

How else would we stop them from aiding terrorism?

 

[FLVOL_79]

To be fair its this is probably better than waiting on O to pull the trigger on a SpecOp mission relying on weeks old data that is weeks old because of all of the dawdling and hand wringing.

 

[Velo Vol]

Impeach Obama for not prosecuting the hostage families! #Tyrant

 

[BearCat204]

Impeach Obama for not prosecuting the hostage families! #Tyrant

I dont think a single person suggested this.................there are plenty of other reasons to suggest impeachment

 

[Vol8188]

Lol no matter what he does you guys will ***** like little girls. A family should not be prosecuted for paying a ransom. That is their decision and should be respected.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

Lol no matter what he does you guys will ***** like little girls. A family should not be prosecuted for paying a ransom. That is their decision and should be respected.

You guys? This a common sense topic and nothing more.

 

[Vol8188]

You guys? This a common sense topic and nothing more.

Common sense? Explain.

 

[hndog609]

This is one of the more clear cut "see both sides" issues that's come along lately. It's obvious that clearing the way for making money via kidnapping and extortion can do nothing but promote more of the same. It's also just as obvious that there's no way a government should be able to impede a family from securing the freedom of a loved one.

 

[hog88]

Common sense? Explain.

Common sense says you do not reward criminals.

 

[Vol8188]

Common sense says you do not reward criminals.

No. Common sense says you do not punish families for trying to save their loved ones.

 

[hog88]

No. Common sense says you do not punish families for trying to save their loved ones.

Ok

 

[FLVOL69]

Common sense says you do not reward criminals.

And telegraphing to the world you're going to pay ransom..

 

[Vol8188]

Ok

You're welcome.

 

[hog88]

And telegraphing to the world you're going to pay ransom..

Yep, can't see anything wrong with that. :thud:

 

[hog88]

You're welcome.

Thanks

 

[Pacer92]

I get both sides of it, but the real question to me is why are they changing this practice now?

 

[hog88]

I get both sides of it, but the real question to me is why are they changing this practice now?

I'm sure Obama just woke up one morning and said "hey I have a great idea".