The Coalition of the Swilling

While the idea does have appeal, I have to agree with JeffS here that it's not a good idea.

Pffft, both of you 'lighten up, Francis'! It's entirely refreshing and absolutely hilarious to have a released hostage so absolutely pissed that he wants to go after them. Good for him. There's so much mealy mouth blithering from the hostages who do get some airtime (a certain Italian ring a bell?) before they fade away in obscurity, that it's not surprising they snag people left and right. Hostages, if they get out alive have no voice. There is no retribution, no recourse for them. I mean, exactly what arethe consequences of being a kidnapper in Iraq? Hmmm? Anyone? The justice meted out so far to depraved killers who videotape all the horror of their barbaric acts has been what exactly? Exactly! If you aren't caught (like the few unfortunate holding Mr. Wood) by Iraqi forces stumbling through your home, YOU DON'T GET CAUGHT. The last person on earth they'd expect action from is a released hostage.

Build a school? ('Don't upset the hijacker' and 'feed the world'? C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!) Even if he never actually spends a dime (which is entirely possible, too), he's made a STATEMENT, taken a stand ~ "I'm mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore!" And this is just ONE GUY. Not hoards descending upon Baghdad, six a piece for every hostage ever taken, for Heaven's sake. One pissed off guy, who says he's taking action. (Chances are, he'll be the only one ever, too. Most hostages seem to cherish that obscurity when they get home. They're so thankful to be there, vengence becomes an abstract.) Word will get out on the streets and the first scummy shit who disappears, whether or not the 'bounty' had anything to do with it, is going to give other aspiring kidnappers pause. And maybe a few will decide not to. And THAT would be worth it.

Reminds me of what one of the "original hostages" I'm talking Iran in
79 here said when asked after his release what he would say/do to the hostage takers.
He said something to the effect " I just want to fly a B-1 with a full load
to downtown Tehran", you get the picture. No frigging schools...

Yeah, yeah, I know, I know, politically incorrect, RWDB, all that jazz, etc, etc ad nauseum. I'd like to see the bastards dead as well, it would cedrtainly save a lot of money in trials and jail. It's just that I like to pretend that there is this fine line between Us and Them, that I won't cross when I Have The Choice, let alone in jest. Standards, y'know.

But perhaps I'm just too indoctrinated with the Geneva Convention, the 10 Commandments, and US law, and I'll just wimp out when I have the chance to put a 9mm round through the back of some murderous a*****e's cranium as the reporter has his camera aimed at a pile of body parts that used to be innocent civilians who just wanted to live their lives.

That's because you're a member of the United States military and thank goodness you are that way. But you are also thinking like an American/military man, not a civilian hostage. I completely understand where the guy is coming from
and he wants a little of his own back. You, on the other hand, already are in a position and equipped to defend yourself.

(And JeffS, Pumpkin, he's Swedish! That makes him not us.)

(And don't you dare dump me in the RWDB category! I'm THE tree hugger, Red Cross in Gitmo, free the whales, recycled toilet paper, send money to Greenpeace one here. I'll pop you one in the schnozzola! MAN, of all the nerve!! I'm so mad I'm molting...)

mmbork-bork-bork!

My HERO!!!

Nothing a little cleaver can't cure...

A Plastic Turkey!!!

(well, actually it looks more like yarn and old carpet...)