I am posting this message to express my disappointment with the Canadian governments handling of the current hostage situation. I believe that if the Canadian government wishes to secure the best chance of survival for our citizens, they must appeal to the hostage takers from the perspective of a country who chose not to partake in the occupation of Iraq. I had always assumed that the reason that our government decided not to side with the americans on this one is because we did not believe that this war was justified. If this is the case then we should stand firmly behind our beliefs.
The demands which are made by the terrorists are clearly out of Canadian hands: 'We cannot release the prisoners that you have mentioned because, we have never taken an Iraqi prisoner, moreover, we have never killed an Iraqi soldier, nor an Iraqi citizen.
If we are not going to address the world based on our beliefs, then we might as well join the Americans, at least then we can ask for their protection. Our first priority should be to our own people, this is James Loney and Harmeet Sooden's best chance for survival.

   

Ummm..

that might work except that there are Canadians who have gone to the war in Iraq, it was quite a while that I heard about it but it was from guys in the American military, something to do with various training & exchange type programs???

Saying we have Never taken prisoner, nor killed either an Iraqi citizen or soldier, is a pretty broad statement to be making & one that likely cannot be backed up with any kind of solid evidence.

   

You really know how to miss a point. The point is, the terrorists were already demonstrated showing preferential treatment to the Canadian hostages as evident by the food, drink and lack of blindfolds and shackles in the video. We already know that the terrorists are less likely to kill them then the others. Now, you may have the inside scoop on some secret military trainning program that our soldiers are involved in, I however am not and I am pretty sure that the terrorists aren't either. So if we want our citizens back safely, their best chance is to emphasize that our Canada is not currently an occupying force in Iraq, is that easier for you to swallow?

   

Suck it up princess. If you are foolish enough to go to Iraq you deserve to have your life end. In case no one noticed it's a war zone. People die in war zones under normal. Throw in the Taliban and you have hell on earth. If you think that by being there you are going to make things better for the people you are only showing your level of stupidity. Leave the area until the war ends. until then you are just another bloody stump on the ground.

   

stupid or not, they are still canucks and we gotta get them outta there in nearly anyway possible. i'm sure they will be harassed enpugh to realise their stupidity when they get back. a converted canuck is better than no canuck.

   

Unfortunately on the larger "global" scale of things if you will, our government has to keep in mind the safety of ALL its citizens.

Flaunting the fact that we didn't invade Iraq alongside the US will likely further alienate us from some of our longer term allies, whom we are already alienated from anyways through this course of action.

I think it is terrible that we have citizens over there who are hostages but why were they over there? Our government can't go making rash decisions which could potentially have rammifications for the rest of the population.

That easier for you to swallow?

   

You know, I was playing a game of chess last night, and early in the game I broke my opponent's defence and ran amok, slaughtering at will. At the end of that run, my opponent, decimated, refused to concede. Which I thought unusual, considering his strategic position.

I had overwhelming material advantage and postion. But I didn't know what to do with it. Where would I start? There was so many ways. Then I ended up losing, all because of an embarassment of riches early in the game. I just didn't know how I could have lost given what I had. Maybe it never occurred to me I could lose.

At that point, I had my first ever inkling of sympathy for George W. Bush.

   

You are just a lousy chess player. Nothing unusual about that. Did you castle?
Delayed development while your queen ran around eating pawns and the odd knight?

   

Those terrorists are probably just thugs who are looking to make a few million in ransom money.
The better treatment for the Canadians is probably due to them considering Canada a softer touch. The USA and British do not usually pay ramsoms.
Martin will pay. The amount will be secret and it will boost his election chances.

   

Now THAT is an interesting take on it indeed...

   

The issue stands on a larger canvas. It's less about Iraq and more on Muslim issues. We've got forces in Afganistan doing some raunchy stuff

   

I think you have to realize that these terrorists probably don't know the difference between a Canadian, an American and a Brit (well the Brits do talk kinda funny ). The fact they are getting preferential treatment may just be the way they are acting towards the terrorists. We won't really know until they are hopefully released.

If the terrorists holding them actually have the global knowledge to really differentiate Canada from the US, than they probably know that Canadians are currently in Afganistan doing the same thing there, that Americans are doing in Iraq. Which means they probably have the same chance as the Brit and American of making it out.

I actually think the fact that we don't know if they are dead yet is a good sign. If this group was really intent on killing the hostages they would have done it by now. Worst possible scenario I see happening is the hostages being sold off to another terrorist group which could only lead to a bad ending.

   

Myself I would go with the PM doing a heartfelt broadcast to the families and Canada stating our Canandian views and values. Then turn to look into another camera angle and put it out there to the terrorist that we hope they do the right thing with our citizens but if they harm or kill them matters would be dealt with swiftly.

These indviduals put themselves knowingly into harms way and to pay money to anyone would be an outrage. However to take these groups to task for their deaths would be another matter.