So Fox News paid terrorists $2 million to release two kidnapped employees, and the money will be quickly turned around and used to kidnap or kill many others.
Palestinian terror groups and security organizations in the Gaza Strip received $2 million from a U.S. source in exchange for the release of Fox News employees Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig, who were kidnapped here last summer, a senior leader of one of the groups suspected of the abductions told WND.The terror leader, from the Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committees, said his organization's share of the money was used to purchase weapons, which he said would be utilized "to hit the Zionists."
He said he expects the payments for Centanni and Wiig's freedom will encourage Palestinian groups to carry out further kidnappings.
There are two main reasons not to pay ransoms to terrorists, and both can be seen here. First, if you pay ransom once you're opening yourself up to further kidnappings, on the assumption that you'll keep paying. Second, the money you pay will be used against you, further enabling your enemies.
In the big picture, it's bad for you when other people on your side to pay ransoms to your common enemies... but when it's your loved ones on the line you'll be willing to do just about anything to get them back safely. Why? Because it's unlikely that you'll have to personally bear the consequences, facing further kidnappings of your own loved ones; it's others who will suffer for your decision to save your own. It's a realistic example of the classic moral dilemma: would you save your family from impending doom by redirecting it towards an innocent third party?
Update:
Drudge is now carrying an exclusive note that Fox News denies paying any ransom.
**EXCLUSIVE** INTERNAL MEMO DENIES PAY-FOR-HOSTAGE AT FOXNEWS...Internal FOXNEWS memo to employees from Roger Ailes: 'I just saw an article on the internet from WorldNetDaily.com by Aaron Klein which claims we paid $2 million in hostage money during the Centanni & Wiig kidnapping crisis. The story is absolutely 100% false. Not a cent of hostage money was paid, and it was never considered'...
On such a subject, neither World Net Daily nor "a senior leader of one of the groups suspected of the abductions" should be considered a trustworthy source.
Terrorism, this terrible contemporary disease, has to be fought against without hesitation and using all the available sources. Every country has its rules concerning the payment for a ransom and everybody is aware that the money paid will only help the kidnappers continue.