ANOTHER ACT OF NUTTINESS – AT 8:53 A.M. ET:  It is hard to figure out the logic behind something like this, except to do as much damage to American credibility and strength as possible.  From CNN: 

Washington (CNN) The White House will release on Wednesday a presidential directive and an executive order that will allow the government to communicate and negotiate with terrorist groups holding Americans hostage, a source briefed on the matter told CNN.

While the government will maintain its policy of not making "substantive concessions" to captors or paying ransoms, the White House will announce that officials will no longer threaten with criminal prosecution the families of American hostages who do pay ransoms to their relatives' captors, according to a senior administration official.

Family members of former hostages were meeting at the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday to learn of the administration's decisions after a months-long review of U.S. policies in dealing with American citizens held captive. The families were set to meet with President Barack Obama on Wednesday.

COMMENT:  The change may be presented as "compassionate," but the practical effect will be to put a target on the back of every American working in a dangerous area.  Why not take hostages if there's money to be made? 

And what of families who can't afford ransom?  Are we to have a caste system? 

There is a history of paying ransom.  Even the tough Israelis have often gotten people back by releasing prisoners.  But there is no evidence that payments or concessions have ever resulted in anything good.  The same process – capture then ransom – is just repeated over and over.

June 24, 2015