Canadian being held by Taliban

[Guest American Woman]

I think it's fairly clear that the statement you quoted implies approval of military intervention but disapproval of ransom payments.

Exactly, especially in light of my earlier responses expressing concern about ransom payments.

[icman]

The problem I see with the government getting involved is related to what the demands might be other than money -- and questioning whether Canada should be giving the Taliban the money knowing what they will likely be doing with it.

I feel for the guy, as I said. I wish him the best, but he had to have known the risk he was taking, so is it right for Canada to put a large sum of money in the hands of those who could use it against other Canadians? Canada does have troops in Afghanistan, it's an international issue involving war, so I don't think putting out money to save him can be compared with putting out money in domestic situations such as the examples you have given.

It's a tough situation all the way around.

So, why don't we do a "Seal Team Six", and bust the guy out, maiming and killing a few extra Taliban in the process?

[ninjandrew]

So, why don't we do a "Seal Team Six", and bust the guy out, maiming and killing a few extra Taliban in the process?

Do we know where he is?

[Guest American Woman]

Do we know where he is?

Probably not, but Canada could play along, and hopefully find something out in the process. If Canada is to meet their demands/deliver a ransom, there would have to be two way communication and perhaps something would tip them off. But as I said, it's a tough situation all the way around, which is why I feel for the guy and feel as if things don't look too good. But then, he may be released after at a later date, just as the Americans in Iran recently were.

[RNG]

So, why don't we do a "Seal Team Six", and bust the guy out, maiming and killing a few extra Taliban in the process?

This is really interesting or more accurately perplexing to me. Like most in the "west" I was, if I am to be honest, happy that Osama Bin Laden was killed. But it was effectively an execution, no matter how they try and spin it. And it did violate a sovereign country's territory, and it assumed guilt without trial. There is such a thing as moral justice, but the rule of law has to be supreme or anarchy will result. This is one place where I do fear the slippery slope.

[segnosaur]

just curious , but how do you feel about people like journalists who get kidnapped and ransomed by the govt.? They too voluntarily go into war zones where bad things happen.

I think the difference between a kidnapped journalist and a kidnapped "tourist" is that while the journalist did voluntarily go into the war zone, their actions do provide a benefit to society at large. (Accurate reports help us citizens determine how our actions are impacting places like Afghanistan.)

On the other hand, a tourist who decides to travel to Afghanistan for "thrills" is largely only providing benefit to himself.