Italians ready to pay ransom for release of hostages held in Iraq

[kskiska]

Three Italians held hostage in Iraq were poised for release last night amid growing indications that Silvio Berlusconi's government has been negotiating a controversial ransom deal.

Top Italian government officials anticipated "positive news" within hours, while UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi predicted an imminent release.

"We confidently expect something to happen which should become clear in the coming hours," Mr Berlusconi said. His foreign minister, Franco Frattini, said: "We are waiting for positive news."

Asked if the way to get the hostages freed was to pay up, the Italian interim governor of Iraq's Dhi Qar province, Barbara Contini, said: "Everyone pays. It has been done for centuries and centuries."

more…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1197320,00.html

[NNN0LHI]

1. Wonder if that shipment of AK-47s that the Italian police found were...

...supposed to be part of the down payment to the Iraqis?

Don

[Frances]

2. And this administration won't let Jesse Jackson talk to the

Iraqi clerics about the poor man from Mississippi whose dairy farm went under. The guy went to Iraq to get money to pay for his wife's heart operation.

[BostonTeaParty04]

3. God, so many DUers really fell for the sappy story about that merc!

Sorry but the guy went to iraq to Kill for Money.

[alittlelark]

4. Uh, NO - he was a truck driver w/ minimal military experience

His life story reeks of desperation.

What would you do if they offered you big $$$ for an 'easy quick job driving trucks', and you were facing the ruin of your family?

[Frances]

5. And your spouse/loved one needed a heart operation you

could not afford

[saracat]

9. Excuse me?

His wife works for 911.She has government health insurance and probably has better health insurance than you or I could afford. But that being said, he had just lost his dairy farm. I don't think he was the brightest bulb on the tree and ought not to have been allowed by anyone to go to Iraq, but that was his choice. Still, it would be nice if our government would do something to attempt to get our hostages back, even the silly ones.Italy cares more for its citizens.

[PaDUer]

6. Many families

are in ruin already and are not going to Iraq. As they say, money is the root to all evil..

[alittlelark]

7. Is SURVIVAL also the root of all evil??

Especially if you are an ill-educated blue-collar worker facing financial ruin?

[PaDUer]

8. We don't

fit that category, but many families do, and these people are facing ruination thanks to you know who. As far as going off to Iraq where they were offered BIG bucks--they all knew shit was flying and wasn't going to be a piece of cake as possibly staged. They'd be better off doing something else until this misadministration is gone.

[Stockholm]

10. How about a trade....

Berlusconi for the hostages. At least their innocent.