To pay ransoms to terrorists or not to pay?

while countries like Germany do, countries like USA n the UK don't

USA n UK both believe that paying ransoms helps fund terrorism (its a major money-maker for them) and encourages future kidnappings

but at the same time, Germany believes in paying the ransoms to bring its citizens home safe

neither of these options are perfect.

personally, i think not paying ransoms is more of the problem solver

Not at all tricky. If you start paying ransom then the kidnappings will continue. We already dealt with this problem in Lebanon in the 1980's. Several Americans were kidnapped and held for ransom, some for years. When it became clear that the U.S. would not pay, the kidnappings stopped.

Dear Robyn:

Whatever is profitable will continue; whatever is unprofitable will cease.

Cease paying ransom for kidnappings and kidnappings for ransom will cease.

And if were one of my family members? I would organize my own strike force to mount a rescue; but no way would I advocate the paying of ransom.

“Millions for defense; but not one cent for tribute.” - Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

Flash Kellam

Even if a family member.....no pay....instead...retaliatory death and automatic killing to the terrorists and the execution of their whole organization....this is how terrorists .....are taught their fate. Their civilian families are also lethal targets made so by them.

Remember terrorist world leader Osama bin Laden shot dead in his pajamas before his wives, his body dumped at sea....No pay, no ransoms, ....death....to terrorists. This is US policy.

Hopefully Mohammed's followers won't get their ransom money nowadays. Maybe it worked 1400 years ago. We should have learned our lesson by now. Paying doesn't 'pay'

Sorry Mo.

No ransom money for the SOBS any money they demand should be put up for their head or capture instead.

Ransoms ,war booty and slaves are explained in the koran.

Yes, if you pay them they'll keep on kidnapping knowing we'll pay. If you don't they'll die. The UK does not pay.

Never paythese pig fckers

This is not a theoretical issue, when it happens yes you have to pay