Jeffrey Gedmin: Ransom's Inflation

The German government's willingness to pay ransom for kidnapped Germans is the topic of Jeffrey Gedmin's latest column in WELT. We gladly present the original version of the article.

Ransom's Inflation
Kidnapping in Iraq
Column in “Die Welt” (10.05.2006)
By Jeffrey Gedmin

I am absolutely delighted that Rene Bräunlich and Thomas Nitzschke got out of Iraq this past weekend, miraculously alive and well after 99 days in captivity. It’s a credit to skilful German diplomacy that the two men are free. But I also belong to the group that believes the way the German government is handling this sort of thing stinks. No sooner were the men free, did press reports begin circulating that the German government had paid the kidnappers more than $10 million (US). That would be more than twice the amount that Berlin apparently paid for the release of archaeologist Susanne Osthoff. It makes ones heart sink.

Eckart Lohse frets in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that a debate about paying these ransoms has begun (Silence is the citizen’s duty--Schweigen ist Buergerpflicht). Even the suggestion that ransoms are being paid, fears Lohse, will invite more kidnappings. Deputy foreign minister Gernot Erler likes to opine that Bräunlich and Nitzschke’s captors were just criminals and not Islamic terrorists. I think this is supposed to reassure us, although I am not sure really why. In any case, the

kidnappers started with political demands before they cashed out and Mr. Nitzschke says of his abductors these were “Muslims with strong commitment … people, who wanted to fight for their country” (“Moslems mit grossem Engagement … Leute, die für ihr Land kämpfen wollten.”) They seem now to be Muslims with very strong bank accounts.

Mr. Lohse need not worry. By now every Jihadist, Saddam loyalist and ordinary gangster in Iraq knows that certain countries will pay big bucks if you nab one of their citizens. Mr. Erler is at least right in one respect. Iraq has a “kidnapping industry.” God knows, there is a market. In summer 2004 Cairo paid several hundred thousands dollars to free an Egyptian diplomat. That same year Italy paid $1 million to free two female aid workers.  The French paid twice that amount to free two journalists. Then prices began to soar. A year later, the French were paying $6 million to free Liberation newspaper correspondent Florence Aubernas and her Iraqi interpreter. The Italians are said to have paid $8 million in 2005 to pry Giuliana Sgrena out of captivity.

It’s not easy to be the anti-humanitarian. Of course, human life is priceless and before we go further a disclosure:  if it were my loved ones who were kidnapped, I’d insist on paying any amount! Seventy-six percent of Germans approve of paying ransom to get these hostages out. I am still with the minority, though. We have been here before and seem to return time and again. Ronald Reagan was once foolish enough to try to exchange arms for hostages with the government of Iran. In the current case, it does take much imagination to figure out that ransom monies in Iraq probably do not end up financing hospitals and schools. A Russian made Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle goes for $290 in Baghdad; an Iraqi made Tariq pistol, $420. You can buy hand grenades for $3.10. Bullets sell for 33 cents a piece. A $10 million ransom could help finance a pretty serious shopping spree. Let's at least guess our kidnappers are not buying great art. I am happy for the hostages who are now free. It’s just the rest of the country and the next victims that I am worrying about. (emphasis added)

Comments

[Klops1]

5 Million Dollar for 1 hostage, that makes 10 Million for 2 hostages. So far, prices are more or less stable.

And: "did press reports begin circulating that the German government had paid the kidnappers more than $10 million"

That means, Gedmin's comment is purely based on speculations in the mass media. What a source of information!

[Mike H.]

A small point, Reagan did not trade arms for hostages. He sold the arms to Iran for cash that was then sent to the Nicaraguan contras.

Iran released the hostages at the end of Carter's term, because they thought that Reagan would invade if the hostages were still held when he took office.

[PlutosDad]

Germany really needs to take a look at crime around the world.

Kidnapping is rampant in countries where people pay off.

Kidnapping is very low in countries like the US, where people call the police.

If they REALLY WANT to put Germans in danger every time they go abroad, then by all means, keep paying off kidnappers. Soon Germans will not be able to travel ANYWHERE that's even remotely unstable. Which would mean pretty much all of Africa, South America and South Asia.

[Pamela]

@Mike H.
A small point, Reagan did not trade arms for hostages. He sold the arms to Iran for cash that was then sent to the Nicaraguan contras.

Not that small a point but well put.

@Klops1
That means, Gedmin's comment is purely based on speculations in the mass media. What a source of information!

Ok. Whatever. Here is my problem. Look at the last sentence of Mike H. post
Iran released the hostages at the end of Carter's term, because they thought that Reagan would invade if the hostages were still held when he took office.

Damn straight.

Jimmy Carter was not just the worst president the U.S. has ever had. He is the worst president EUROPE has ever had. I don't begrudge the German gov't doing what it has to do in order to get their own home safe and sound. I know I cannot even imagine the heartache of their families.

Is it my place to ask Germans to demand of their gov't that no ransom be paid? Yes, it is. And this is why.

No one goes to Iraq in any capacity a clueless moron.
I don't care what country you belong to. All the German gov't has done is reward the thugs. I would have a different post if Germany had a military draft or some such thing that FORCED citizens to Iraq. But it doesn't.

Germany has put every person - especially Germans - in Iraq - in grave danger. Germany has paid off the thugs.

So. Rejoice in their return. But take some time to mourn those who the German gov't has condemned.

[Scout]

Moreover, the folly of the German government takes a very bad turn when one considers that the ransom money will be used to recruit, buy supplies, and enable more terrorist attacks in Iraq, killing or wounding not only scores of innocent civilians and Iraqi policemen, but also my countrymen, American GIs. And I have to pay taxes to this worthless excuse for a government. It makes me sick. Thanks a lot, Germany. With friends like this....
To coin a German phrase, I can't even eat as much as I want to throw up right now.

[James W.]

That's pretty much it in a nutshell, Scout. The German government had to know the consequences. I don't even feel outrage that much--maybe because I'm not surprised--it's simply pure disgust.

[clarsonimus]

So true. It's not unlike their "being in denial" about globalization. The Germans really don't believe that they will ever have to come out of the comfort zone. It's the same way with the ransom. They're alone in the world. Their hostages first, nach uns der Sintflut.

[joe]

I just want to be sure I understand what the standard is. When something is published in the newspapers and it fits the template of being anti-American, then it is to be believed.

If on the other hand something is published in the newspapers that might reflect poorly on the euros and especially the Germans then it is not to be believed.

Got it.

So the press reports about secret prisons the EU commission used as the bases for their report critical of the US were to be believed.

Germany paying a ransom, much like they did for Dear Susan, is not to be believed.

I want to thank you for clearing up the confusion.

Of course, since Germany did not have a terrorist to trade this time, it is also believable that more was paid.

I just wonder if the exchange was in dollars or in euros?

[Dan Kauffman]

I seem to recall some stories awhile back that marked currency was found in the clothing of some hostage after they got back to their embassy and were cleaning up.

What ever came of that?

[grlzjustwant2havefun]

OT:

The Evolution of American Dance.

[grlzjustwant2havefun]

Of course it would help if I added the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg%20

[T_R]

Hi,

Sorry for being off-topic but I wanted to suggest a story idea for David and Ray. Take a look at the Spiegel online site today and check out the picture of George W. Notice anything? Has anybody else ever noticed that the almost never put a "nice" picture of him on their site? You should write something about it, because they do it all the time.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,grossbild-624792-415794,00.html

[Helian]

@TR

"Sorry for being off-topic but I wanted to suggest a story idea for David and Ray. Take a look at the Spiegel online site today and check out the picture of George W. Notice anything?"

Don't hold your breath. Bush Hysteria Syndrome has already been well-documented here at DMK. Bush became the designated fig leaf for America bashing the day he was elected. He's always been a convenient target, and lately he seems positively determined to play into the hands of our enemies. His latest poll numbers are so low (IMHO for very good reason) that even long-time friends of America are beginning to go wobbly. The poll numbers make it clear that many Americans, including myself, sympathize with the themes of much of the criticism from abroad. This makes it easy for anti-American propagandists of the ilk of hate peddlar Pitzke, the author of SPON's latest diatribe, to blur the line between constructive criticism and hate mongering. The difference is still obvious to anyone who bothers to look. Note, for example, the glaring disconnect between Spiegel’s breathless, sensationalist reporting on domestic spying in the US, and compare it with the laconic, matter-of-fact tone they take in reporting on domestic spying in Germany. These articles appeared within a week of each other.

Nevertheless, the already generous Bush fig leaf continues to grow. As the poll numbers show, few Americans are inclined to carry water for Bush. It is becoming increasingly difficult to resist propaganda attacks from abroad without appearing to do so. The usual rationalization of the America haters that "it's all about Bush" has never been easier. Few Americans are aware that cultivation of hate against America in the MSM of Germany and the rest of Europe hardly began with Bush. They don't realize that it will continue when he is gone. Only the fig leaf will change.

What to do? We must continue to unmask the haters. Bush is making it easy for them to play their game, but they can't hide. Their real motivation is too obvious.

[Mike H.]

Helian,
What the German media think they know about the problem that Bush is having and what is really going on are worlds apart. It's doubtful that the immigration debacle is impinging on their consciousness yet it's the main thing that has me fired up. I back Iraq, I'll back Iran, and I back the NSA. The media will have to stew in their hatred of 'Bush' when what they pray for doesn't come true.

The only other aspect of politics that gets me going at the moment is the high degree of gutlessness in the congress. Do you think that we can deport them to the EU? Will the EU even let them in the door? Maybe we can send them via Venezuela. I hate using that kind of weapon on former friends, makes me feel guilty.

[LC Mamapajamas]

@Mike H. Do you think that we can deport them to the EU? Will the EU even let them in the door? Maybe we can send them via Venezuela. I hate using that kind of weapon on former friends, makes me feel guilty.

ROFLMAO! Truly, that would be WAY too cruel to inflict on Eurasia (imagining Sen. Spector trying to explain the importance of not keeping track of terrorist activities to, say, the Spanish):D.