Should we conduct prisoner exchanges with insurgents?

[TexasMexican]

One of the interesting things that came out of the latest "hostage," which is an American solider, is that the captors claim to want to do a prisoner exchange.

Historically has the US ever conducted prisoner exchanges? Did we do any during WWII? From what I've seen from history it seems the majority of our troops that were captured stayed in the POW camps till we won.

I dont really think it is wise to exchange enemy soldiers for civillians that they have captured or even "mercenaries," however I think there may be some merit to exchanging captured soldiers.

I think the real question comes down to what would the terms of such an exchange be? If it were a one for one deal (assuming they didnt want Saddam) I'd think most of us would be for it. However they know that we usually favor our soldiers more than we do thiers so they would probably ask some kind of multiple.

[0007]

1. Why not?

[TexasMexican]

2. What kind of ratio would you suggest?

How many Iraqis buys us back 1 American Solider?

[aquart]

I like an incentive to keep them alive.

It's not a question of exchange. If we won't exchange it's really a decision to move to a take no prisoners policy. They'll kill and mutilate whichever of ours they take......eventually we'll do the same.

However, if we agree to prisoner exchanges, treating our prisoners well may pay off. If we can manage to do that much.

[TexasMexican]

4. Thats what I'm thinking.

Why would they take prisoners if they are worthless to them.

[Exultant Democracy]

3. should we, yes, but there is no way it is going to happen.

The people that they capture are hostages, and the people we capture are enemy combatants.

Now if we had followed the rules in the first place both groups would be prisoners of war and an exchange would be possible.

[Qanisqineq]

5. why soldiers and not civilians?

I understand why neither choice is wise... but why the difference?

[TexasMexican]

8. We dont want to encourage the targeting of our civillians.

If we give them anything for targeting our civillians then it would encourage them to do it more often.

However if we are willing to do prisoner exchanges maybe atleast they might not just execute captured soldiers.

[Aidoneus]

9. What civilians?

On the side, what measures would you take for discouraging the invaders from kidnapping Iraqis? They hold tens of thousands of them as hostage, but that doesn't seem to be much of a "crisis" to some.. I'd say that proportionately, that's a hell of a lot more important to consider.

[AnlaShok]

6. The first thing we do....

Is stop calling them "Insurgents." These people are not insurgents, because they are not fighting an established government. By calling them that, we give into the claims of the neocons who want to give our occupation legitimacy.

[kixot]

7. F#*k that.

The little loser failed to do his job and got captured, boo-friggin'-hoo. It should serve as a lesson to all the cowards over there to stiffen up, stop screwing around, and kill as many of those rag-headed brownskins as they can.

</ceases freeper impression>

(hope I didn't offend anyone with that, let's all pray for this poor kid that he and all of our troops make it home soon and saftly.)