Text 31314, 104 rader
Skriven 2009-04-13 16:53:02 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
  Kommentar till text 31254 av Ross Cassell (1:123/456.0)
Ärende: Piarates
================
Hello Ross,

>WD>The reckless behaviour of whomever ordered whatever might now cost a
>WD>pile of innocent lives in retaliation.

>JB>Yep.  You're right. They should have paid the ransom like all the
>JB>Europeans do.

RC>Funny isnt it?

Not to the families of those who lost their lives trying to rescue
the crew of the SS Mayaguez, whom had already been released before
the assault on the hijacked ship took place.

RC>Talk to the pirates, give them what they want..

Didn't keep President Ford from ordering military action
against those who hijacked the SS Mayaguez.

U.S. tally - 15 dead, 50 wounded, 3 missing, 23 non-battle deaths.
After the crew had already been released.  The 23 non-battle deaths
were due to a helicopter crash in Thailand.  Such a tragedy that
could easily have been avoided.

Cambodian (Khmer Rouge) dead - estimated at 60 killed.

RC>They take another ship..

The Munich massacre was the result of a bungled rescue attempt.
Not as a result of Palestinian terrorists murdering Israeli athletes.

The Entebbe Airport raid resulted in the loss of one Israeli -
Bemjamin Netanyahu's brother.  The hostage crisis could easily
have been resolved through negotiation.  But the Israelis wanted
to act tough.

The Mayaguez incident resulted in 68 U.S. casualties (dead, wounded,
missing).  President Ford authorized the assault, for political reasons.
Even though the crew had already been released.  While it is true that
President Ford did get a bump in the polls due to his acting "tough",
President Ford went on to glorious defeat at the hands of Jimmy Carter.

Not even Carter was immune to the "get tough" mindset.  The bungled
rescue attempt to free the hostages in Iran proves that point.

Through negotiation, Carter was eventually able to win the release
of all 52 hostages.  Had he ordered another rescue attempt, it is
likely that at least half, if not all, of the hostages would have
been killed.

Whether it is the Munich massacre, the Ma'alot massacre, the
Entebbe Airport raid, the Train hijack (Netherlands), Iran hostage
crisis, West German embassy siege, or any other hostage situation,
it is often better to negotiate with terrorists rather than playing
Mr. Toughguy.

In the particular situation off the coast of Somalia, the commander
acted so as to protect the life of the captain who was held hostage.
A split second later might have been too late.  Fortunately, all
turned out well for the captain and his crew.  One cannot expect to
be so lucky in every hostage situation.  That is why the use of
force should be an action of last resort, not an action of first
resort.

RC>Talk to the pirates, give them what they want..

RC>They take another ship..

Seize an embassy.  Refuse to negotiate.  Hostages die.

Happened in Stockholm, Sweden.  On 24 April 1975.

Terrorists seized the West German embassy.
The Swedes refused to negotiate.
One hostage shot to death.
The Swedes continued to refuse to negotiate.
Another hostage shot to death.
The Swedes still did not get the picture.
A third hostage shot to death.
The Swedes have hard heads.
One of the terrorists dropped a grenade.
The embassy blew up.
Live on television.
Scores dead.
Others burned beyond recognition.
All because the Swedes refused to negotiate.

Who was the PM of Sweden?  His name was Palme.
He was later shot to death.  The same group of
terrorists claimed responsibility.

Don't believe me?  Ask Bjorn.

RC>Seems to me that under Wards perceptions, crime does pay.

It very often does.

--Lee


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