S Korea criticised over hostage deal

[demoleft]

Source: Reuters/The Irish Times

The South Korean government won praise today for its part in securing the release of 19 hostages held in Afghanistan, but critics said Seoul may have set a dangerous precedent in directly negotiating with the Taliban.

...
The Chosun Ilbo , South Korea's biggest daily and one of the leading critics of the President Roh Moo-hyun government, said in an editorial the administration should be commended for resolving the situation while minimizing losses.

It cautioned, however: "For the first time ever, we had to negotiate directly with terrorist abductors. We cannot deny the fact that this precedent could possibly act as a burden on Korea's international image in the future".
...
Seth Jones, a Middle East expert with the Rand Corporation, told US broadcaster PBS: "It (the deal) strengthens the Taliban probably to some degree", adding it could increase the risk of kidnapping for other international aid workers in Afghanistan.





Read more: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0830/breaking8.htm

---

When Italians were able to save kidnapped journalist Mastrogiacomo from death a gentleman named Prof. Edward Luttwak went on a day tour in our national public TV programs (Raitre at about 9.00 pm, RaiUno at about 11.30 pm) to explain the DAMAGE Italy had done to the International fight against terrorism.

I know. I'm always repeating that. But you can't understand how hateful he was...

Rich, comfortably seated Middle East experts should finally go on TV and say: our military campaign there is a complete FAILURE. We don't even know how to get out of there.
Bush and his watchdogs are the real danger in the International fight against terrorism. It's clear, it's bare truth, it's evidenced.

So I welcome the news about the release of hostages. I always welcome LIFE vs DEATH.

[ohio2007]

1. Taliban was paid $2.46m for hostages

SOUTH Korea paid $A2.46 million to Taliban extremists in Afghanistan to secure the release of 19 hostages.Citing unidentified sources in Afghanistan, a Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun said Afghan mediators persuaded South Korea's ambassador in Kabul that there was no other way to end the six-week kidnap ordeal.

"Two million dollars were paid to release all 19 people," an Afghan mediator was quoted as telling the influential Japanese daily.
SNIP

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22339514-2703,00.html

They say that Italian journalist in Iraq was also a barter deal.
Currently,the Taliban are on record saying it pays to deal with the coalition the way they did the South Koreans.

Taliban vows more abductions as hostages freed

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070829/hostages_follow_070830/20070830?hub=TopStories

[SpikeTss]

2. I don't see where the problem is?

Several European states paid almost half a billion dollars to Quadaffis
terrorists as ransom for less people after they were kidnapped by the
Libyan state and the regime threatened to murder them.

So where is the problem in this case? It's a great bargain compared to
the deal with the Libyan terrorists.

Furthermore, the Libyan terrorists now get their hands on brand new weapons,
which they were always struggling to get and nothing like this will be
granted to the Afghan terrorists. So I'd say the Afghan deal is much better
compared to the Libyan one! :evilgrin:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-08/29/content_6628101.htm

[ohio2007]

3. it's a cottage industry ready for the big time

who they gonna grab next?

[ohio2007]

4. 60 suspected Afghan militants killed

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan police and foreign forces killed around 60 suspected Taliban fighters, many in the region where the insurgents recently released a group of South Korean church workers they had been holding, authorities said Saturday.

Meanwhile, South Korea's foreign minister defended direct negotiations with the Taliban to free the hostages amid concern the move violated international principles and could spur more abductions.

Police attacked a group of Taliban late Friday who were planning to strike security forces in the central Afghan province of Ghazni, killing 18 and arresting six others, said provincial police Gen. Ali Shah Ahmadai.

Taliban militants abducted 23 South Koreans in Ghazni district six weeks ago.
...
snip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070901/ap_on_re_as/afghanistan

Maybe the unmarked $ was being tracked. Wasn't there a story about bugged Canadian currency some time ago ?