Ransom demands, should Governments pay and/or how do we resolve the matter?

A British couple who were sailing near Somalia have, according to the media, been attacked and held by pirates who are now apparently demanding a ransom for their safe release. Should Governments pay, or should we respond a little differently? How would you feel if it were your family, wouldn't you expect help from your Government?

Perhaps we should make an example of these pirates by standing them in front of a firing squad. I suspect it would bring to an immediate end piracy on the seas, which does appear to be a growing menace. So what do you think POE'rs?

But not many would make that sacrifice if it were their own relatives! its human nature to protect your own.

But i can see where your coming from, and yes it may work, trouble is, theres always another thousand waiting to jump into the leaders shoes!

I think what makes it particularly difficult is knowing that if it were a celebrity or a government officials family being held they wouldn't think twice about getting involved.

The fact that your family or mine would not be given the same consideration makes it an even harder pill to swallow.

I have been watching what's been going on for several years now, thanks to coast to coast radio...we have already had American hostages, they sent in special operations military and got them back, but not without gunfire and loss of life. I just read couple of weeks ago, when the typhoons were going through that they have haulted their piracy actions an bit and they felt they would resume them as they quieted down in Novemeber. We were wondering in another site if the unusually high tyhoons this year were planned by weather controllers to halt some of their actions..same for Al quida, as they have or had an core group in Indonesia at one time also. Both this last week have been busy bombing and taking hostages it seems.I read an article, I thought I mentioned here, that they are using an "Voice of God" techonology on them also...so it is not as if they are being dealt with in ways. Your best defense is perhaps to not be in the area. I do not know if Naval operations in the area would be of any help or not.If they could see bigger military ships in the area if it would be of any help, though they might try to ram them or take them, you never know. As for now, probably pay the ransome and then go after them..if the people are harmed, no mercy...same if they aren't released....they really don't give much of option to be done otherwise. I read about this in today's newspaper before coming here.

Ron, we actually had a 28yr old nephew, who is a diver for repair on ships etc, who was caught up by pirates just  2 months ago, whilst on a job out there. I have to say, when he finally DID call home, he tried not to scare his mum, but the fact is...he was scared......less....lol. The pirates went thru the ship, took what they wanted, and finally left. He has gone back to work with the same ship. Some of the other guys onboard ship have gone back also....playing the odds of the pirates returning. His mum was trying everything to convince him that no matter how much he was being paid, it wasn't worth losing his life. I guess maybe some of the younger generation don't feel the same way as we older ones do..when it comes to taking chances etc.

OMG! What a story, Beth. Thank goodness he was alright.

You are right about the younger generation though. My 19 year old nephew is a Marine about to deploy to Iraq and he wants to go because combat pay is so good. He just doesn't thing anything could ever happen to him. :-(