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Abe calls 24-hour hostage deadline despicable

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"Tokyo is likely to face resistance from Washington over any kind of swap."

Well, since Japan is theoretically a sovereign nation, perhaps they could respectfully tell the US to piss off.

7 ( +22 / -14 )

By all means they should swap the prisoners. But, I'm sure the woman can be injected with tracking chips that could lead to useful information on her location and who she meets with following release.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

The woman was tried and found guilty in a court of law. She is where she belongs. Goto, however, is a kidnap victim being used as a pawn by evildoers. He should be released unconditionally.

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Pay the money, make sure they return alive, then freeze the assets. Or if delivery is in cash, track them down and once the hostages are safe, blast the heck out of them. Anyway, money is just printed from thin air.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

I'd release her and Track her. of course shortly there after have a drone even the odds a bit.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

ISIS is forcing Japan and Jordan to make a swap deal with them. Even though I'm against all sorts of deals with terrorists, I'm going to go ahead against my beliefs on this particular case.

The options on the table are indeed terrible, but I'm going to vouch for the one where the father of two gets to be reunited with his family.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Japanese people are not necessarily sympathetic to the hostage. He went to the place where he was warned not to.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Any concession to the kidnappers only increases the likelihood of future kidnappings of Japanese people, as kidnappers worldwide will know that Japan pays out.

Therefore making a deal for Goto's release in turn makes the world less safe for every Japanese traveler everywhere. It would be irresponsible to trade his life for everyone else's safety.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

"He went to the place where he was warned not to"

Good god, do you know how many journalists are killed every year doing their job in dangerous parts of the world:

http://graphics.thomsonreuters.com/14/journalist-deaths/index.html

I suppose they should all just stay home and let big brother tell us what's happening.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

Good god, do you know how many journalists are killed every year doing their job

Goto was going after Haruna. That's not a journalist's job.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

@avigator I agree with you. Unfortunately that opportunity has passed. Money is more important than life. Hate to say it but ISIS or ISIL (take your pick) outwitted Shinzo Abe. He had a chance to trade paper for flesh, like most J-politicians do after work, but he refused to do it.

I wouldn't hand over a convicted terrorist for a hostage. Now is the time NOT to trade.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Any one who goes to this area endangers them selves and others, it also as in this case, can compromise a countries security and international respect, the people that willing travel to this hostile area should be left to their own devices and if lucky enough to return prosecuted for their stupidity.

I have little comprehension why some one would want to go to try to report on or be a hero over there, I alos have no sympathy for them when they willing go knowing the reality that they can be captured and used as pawns and leverage for some evil group.

As forest Gump would say dumb is as dumb does,

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Kassasbeh was captured by IS on December 24 after his F-16 jet crashed while on a mission against the jihadists over northern Syria.

Does anyone know if Kassasbeh was working for the US military at that time? Being that a F-16 Fighting Falcon is a fighter jet, I doubt his mission in Syria was a pacifist one.

Either way, I hope for the miricle of their safe return.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

I hate my gut feeling on the results of all this. Please make me wrong!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

the letter J, are not lucky this year ....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Does anyone actually believe the IS will safely return Goto? Does the IS actually believe their requests would be met? They are about as reasonable as a swarm of wasps. I just hope some drone strikes can hit the nest.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Does anyone know if Kassasbeh was working for the US military at that time?

He's an F-16 pilot in the Jordanian Air Force. He was working for the Jordanian military at that time.

I think Jordanian officials will make the trade to get their pilot back. They need to reassure their other pilots that they'll make every effort to get them back should any of them get shot down during bombing runs. Sort of a Jordanian version of the "no soldier left behind" creed. Mr Goto should benefit from their efforts to free their pilot.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Does anyone know if Kassasbeh was working for the US military at that time?

Are you seriously asking this question?

Being that a F-16 Fighting Falcon is a fighter jet, I doubt his mission in Syria was a pacifist one.

Fighting ISIS is a peaceful mission. Ignoring them is not.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

How thick can one be They are already dead

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Well one thing is for certain, if Goto & Kaseasbeh are killed then al-Rishawi will certainly hang and ISIS doesn't get their "Tokyo Rose" (no offense to the real Tokyo Rose).

The ISIS Leaders have the worlds attention.

They should do the right thing and think this situation through very carefully.

Like try being sensible for a change?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Why is this story in the crime section? It's not like ISIL kidnapped Goto from Japan, he handed himself over to them. He doesn't understand who he was dealing with. Now it's a government problem but J-gov doesn't have much bargaining power. Just dependent on the kindness of strangers, Jordan. Not sure if Jordan will go along with the deal.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Isreal released 1,027 prisoners, included 280 charged with terrorism, in exchange for 1 Isreali prisoner in 2011 (the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange).

The US sold thousands of anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles to Iran, during a US embargo on such sales to Iran, in exchange for 7 hostages held in Lebanon in 1985-6. (Iran-Contra)

The following article:

http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/10/09/no-ones-really-in-charge-in-hostage-negotiations/

suggests that ransoms have been paid for US hostages since 9/11. My impression is that foreignpolicy.com is a generally reliable website in terms of not fabricating/exaggerating news.

The logic for not paying for US and European hostages is obvious. However, the number of Japanese is the area is far fewer. There is not as much risk of future kidnappings of Japanese. If at some time kidnappings of Japanese became endemic, it is quite likely that Japanese public/govt opinion would move away from the idea of paying ransoms - much as has happened over time in the US.

This case however, is no longer a cash ransom case - on the surface anyway - but perhaps we should assume that cash is involved in all hostage releases. The failed woman suicide bomber for whose release they are willing to trade Goto is not an important prisoner - as a prisoner swap it would be a good deal.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Now we have the strange spectacle of Abe pushing the Jordanian government to release a virulent jihadi so that she can come back and murder again. And I am sure he will add financial bribery from Japan to the pressure.

If this woman comes back and murders more Jordanians, the blood is on Abe´s hands. Keep an eye open.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Think long and hard about what precedent you want to set, Japan. Do you really want to make a handshake deal with these devils? They'll double up the ante next time and there is no going back from this.

I know you'll write the history books how the censors allow you, but if you free this terrorist and she succeeds next time, those lives lost will be on you and haunt a freed Goto for the rest of his life.

If it was me and I was Goto, I made my bed and I'll sleep better in heaven knowing this terrorist didn't go free because of my mistake.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Apart from being appalled and disgusted there isn't much positive news coming from the PMs office.....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Good god, do you know how many journalists are killed every year doing their job in dangerous parts of the world:

He is a freelance journalist working for himself which means he finds a story and tries to sell it. Before he went to this part in the first place where many journalists have been killed, he should have never formed a family and had kids.

Will his kids grow up proud of their dad?

Will his family live the remainder of their lives in shame because of their dad's stupidity and a lot of people blaming his family for not preventing him from growing?

I only hope for the best out of this but expect the worst due to the atrocities ISIS have committed in the past.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

What happened to the Japan wont "negotiate" with terrorists? Seems like they are negotiating. Whatever happens I hope it's for the best for everyone and not to make Abe look good.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

something that would go against the policy of the kingdom’s main ally, the U.S., which opposes negotiating with extremists.

The US covertly negotiates with peoples and groups labeled extremists all the time.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

What Craig Hicks said.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You can't TALK these guys down. You have to find your hostage or buy time until you do. Unfortunately ISIS is the real deal. This isn't a movie

Abe needs a hostage negotiator. Politicians aren't hostage negotiators. Abe missed his chance to save them when he refused to write a check.

I think Abe watched Ransom one too many times.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

The US covertly negotiates with peoples and groups labeled extremists all the time.

Besides whatever ones they did covertly, there are also cases made public involving prisoner exchange.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Just read this in the Jordan Times:

"in remarks made before the reported release of the video, MP Bassam Manaseer, head of the House’s Foreign Affairs Committee, sounded optimistic. He told The Jordan Times that a third party including tribal leaders and scholars from Iraq and Syria were mediating, adding that IS’ move was propaganda before a deal is announced. 'They want to show they are strong and have the upper hand. I expect a deal to be announced soon,' the lawmaker said."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Jordan might release their prisoner in exchange for the Goto guy, but japan will then have to make some compensation to Jordan for their cooperation.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Tick Tock P.M. But ain't no way the Jordanians are going to release that murderous woman.

Well, I think Jordan cares about that pilot, so it could be a possibility.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yawn. What else was he going to say?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Well, since Japan is theoretically a sovereign nation, perhaps they could respectfully tell the US to piss off."

You mean respectfully tell Jordan to piss off? They're the ones holding the wacko woman.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

put it this way would Japan release a terrorist in a Japanese prison, who killed many japanese citizens to ISIS because Jordan asks it of them!? dont think so Japanese would be enraged by it, as would Jordanians

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I know the answer would be different if I were Goto's wife or mother but if you back down from a terrorist then you will only have succeeded in making the world a more dangerous place. No to the IS and they are right there isn't anything difficult about it. The answer is no.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What the heck does Abe expect (besides asking that Japan be an exception)? Of course it's despicable! We're not dealing with benevolent souls here or anything that'll wait for him to form panels and discuss it. There's not going to be any 'cooperation' he can expect. He's got to make a tough decision NOW!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Where is our Foreign Minister, with his three successive generations of political experience?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

From the BBC: Despite Mr Abe promising an all-out effort to get Kenji Goto released, it's pretty clear that the power to do so now lies not in Tokyo but in Amman. The one potential bright spot for Japan is that Islamic State is now offering to release Muath al-Kasaebeh.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31006588

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Goto seems like a great guy but we really need to have a no negotiating with terrorists policy on this I would be extremely disappointed to see this ending in ISIS demands being met. The exchange must not occur

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think I'd like to look forward now. We all have been very active on this thread. Some have said pay and most have said don't pay. Now I'd like to look at what the future might hold.

Most people have said that IF we pay then more Japanese citizens will be in harm's way. I kind of disagree with that because after this most Japanese people won't travel to these ME nations. However I believe ALL of us have overlooked one thing.

What IF we don't pay or don't swap their terrorist monster for Goto. We accept the outcome as somewhat of a victory because we WILL not negotiate with terrorists. We have nothing to worry about?

I don't think so.

You see we forget how a terrorist organization works. They operate in sleeper cells. They have placed dormant operatives in many nations. Japan doesn't have the watchlist like the U.S has. Japan's refusal to swap or pay ransom can be interpreted HOW by ISIS? Ask yourself that question? How will they respond?

Do they have "sleeper" cells here in Japan? No nation is untouchable or inaccessible for these organizations like ISIS or the Taliban.

Can we expect more to come here in Japan? A hostage taker will NOT rest until they have taught their lesson.

It's a ripple effect. Cause and effect. We believe we are doing the right thing by NOT giving in or negotiating with them but what's to come?

The World will see Japan's defiance (interpreted as such) and how will ISIS feel about that?

This is going to hurt. Perhaps it's not personal enough for us. Perhaps Japan will do nothing till we all feel the heat.

Something to think about and something to worry about.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Abe San cannot walk on water, diplomacy at the highest level may just not be enough to persuade a Jordanian Government to exchange Sajida al-Rishawi, a despicable terrorist that shares responsibility for the deaths of many innocent people. I am just keeping my fingers crossed for Kenji Goto and his family.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Deter others by not paying one cent or yen, the Japanese man should have stayed in Japan. as a tax payer living in Japan my tax money should be better spent by the government.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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