One Cheer For The French
Not three cheers, obviously, because they’re French. But one. Muffled.
They’re learning slowly. In 2004 reporters Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were kidnapped in Iraq. France paid $15 million dollars in ransom for their release. In 2005 Florence Aubenas, a reporter for the daily Libération was released after the French paid $10 million dollars in ransom.
So twice bitten, third time shy. They’ve finally noticed that people are taking the piss. And this time they just aren’t bothering….and they are annoying people because of it.
“Taliban accuses France over kidnapped journalists,” from AFP, January 1:
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) – The Taliban said Saturday that France had “not paid much attention” to their demands for securing the release of two French journalists held captive for more than a year. Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier, a reporter and a cameraman working for France 3, were kidnapped with three Afghan colleagues in December last year.
“We presented our conditions and demands even one year ago to the French government… They are very simple and easy conditions,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP.
“But unfortunately they have not paid much attention to our conditions and the rights of their citizens.”…
Quite right too. The journalists have put themselves in harms way fully knowing the risks. and when you put the lives of soldiers in peril to rescue them and it goes a bit wrong you don’t get any thanks for trying. Leave them there. They’ll learn not to do it again.
And as far as British hostages have been concerned, we’ve had some low points too. Computer bloke Peter Moore was kidnapped in 2007 with his four bodyguards. They were all killed later, and the body of one still hasn’t been recovered. Showing his appreciation of their sacrifice to protect him, he said “In 2009 things were actually pretty good. Things improved a lot. I was out of the chains. I had a PlayStation and satellite TV, a laptop computer, en suite shower, toilet facilities. And ultimately I got released, so that was excellent.” Arsehole. Should have left him to be pampered to death.
After his release Moore was introduced to Terry Waite who had been chained to a radiator for the five years of his captivity. Considering the comfort Moore was kept in, at least they were able to swap anecdotes about domestic temperature control.
Probably the most comical was British hostage Philip Sands who begged for his life on a video that his captors forgot to send to Al Jazeera and was then ‘rescued’ accidentally by US troops who confessed that no-one knew he was missing.
Anyway, get yourself in that situation through your own stupidity or greed then learn to live (maybe briefly) with your own choices. Well done the French.
Sadly the only way to deal with these people has been shown to not give them anything as it only encourages them. This can be harsh on the victim, but ultimately is for the good of all.
Going after the known family/tribe of the kidnappers as a reprisal would also work as they are amoral familists putting family ties above all else even religion. But sadly we’re too civilised to do that either.
Indeed. Remember the stupid couple who took their yacht into pirate-infested waters? That cost us a few million quid, and all that happens in those situations is they buy better kit to do everything more efficiently the next time.
I’m sorry, but if you recklessly put yourself into harms way then you’ve taken that risk and should live with it (or not live, depending). Neither my taxpayers cash nor the lives of servicemen rescuers should come into any subsequent equation.
I read recently that the yachting couple claimed to have sailed several hundred miles clear of the supposedly risky area? I don’t know the real truth of the matter, though. That not withstanding, they would probably have been safe if the Russians were about:
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2010/12/pirates.html
I can foresee the Taliban begging the French government to take the reporters back given more time!!!
They were defining “risky area” in a self-serving way. Do you pick the area that the Foreign Office defines as risky? Or areas that the Royal Navy aren’t active in? Or that the Somalis define as hazardous? Or the US? Or your glossy yachting magazine?
All are different, so as always in life you carefully pick the one which doesn’t make you look like a dick and stick with it.
In a few cases the Taliban have got bored and just released people in the end (or killed them) so maybe the French are just going to play the long game and see what bits of their reporters are given back.
“and see what bits of their reporters are given back.”
Frogs Legs??
I’ll get ‘me coat…..
No. no, stay where you are.
Management will organise your taxi. It’s for your own safety, you understand?
And I suppose the “taxi” will have FTAC on the side….
Our cars are unmarked.
Beware of black Montegos with tinted windows, though…
Montego’s??? Bloody hell, I can’t remember the last time I saw one of those…
I have to hope it’s one of the diesel powered variety – the noise of that Perkins converted “O” series lump can be recognised from miles away!
“But unfortunately they have not paid much attention to our conditions and the rights of their citizens.”…
Nice to see that the Taliban ‘appreciate’ the rights of others – at least to the extent that France is supposed to buy them back to in order to enjoy them…
Agree with everyone else – if someone recklessly/negligently puts themselves in harms way then it’s reasonable not to send Lear Jets full of money to rescue them.
Conversely, if a Royal Navy ship with special forces on it is bobbing less than 100 metres away from a kidnapping attempt, I’d like to see the video of the resultant rescue on Youtube – after all, the French & Russian Navies don’t appear to be reticent about showing that they’re prepared to fight priracy.