Quote:
Originally Posted by jar_e
I doubt it was the federal government that paid up but if it was...
I'm not gonna lie, I'm kinda irked by it. Lindhout, from what I read, is an amazing journalist and has done a lot of work in the middle east. But when you goto a country on your own free will, such like Somalia where all the travel advisories from every country is saying don't go there and the threat to westerners is high to get kidnapped, and than actually get kidnapped, don't start blaming the government for not paying a few million to have you released. I'm pretty sure a few months ago the kidnappers released a tape with what is believed to have been Lindhout begging the government for help.
I'm not trying to make light of the situation, I'm sure she has gone through some horrible, horrible things...but ultimately, she set herself up for this situation and given the turmoil in that country and the fact she knew about it (the reason she was working there), she should have fully accepted the risks and been well aware that the Canadian government was not going to help financially.
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You're right, when she had a gun to her head or other threats against her, she should have gone on tape and said, "whatever you do, make sure that the Canadian taxpayer doesn't foot the bill for my release."
Do you seriously believe that anything you see on a hostage tape isn't done through manipulation and coercion? If I'm taken hostage and threatened and beaten unless I plead with my government to intervene, then I'm going to do it. Would I actually expect the government to intervene or think that they should? No, but if making that tape is what's going to keep me alive for a few more weeks or lessen the beatings, I'll do it.
I hate to see anyone rewarded for kidnapping, but in this situation where diplomatic or tactical operations were not feasible, I respect the right of the family to make this happen. It seems that they did the right thing, waiting as long as possible for other things to develop rather than giving in quickly.