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Should U.S. pay ransoms?

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"Giving into murderous terrorists is horrible. Giving up on the lives of innocent human beings in the name of a principle when there might be real and serious possibilities of saving them is worse," writes Aaron David Miller.

The tragic news that Kayla Mueller, an American woman being held hostage by ISIS, has been confirmed dead has once again raised the question of how the United States and others should respond to hostage taking.

That the United States has negotiated in the past with groups and states that have condoned and sponsored terror is beyond contention. But should it do so in the future? And, equally important, should it try to impose or try to influence others who are considering negotiating, specifically the families of those taken?

These are tough questions, so let's get the easy stuff out of the way first.

There's no question that negotiating with terror groups, paying ransoms, incentivizes these activities, undermines America's credibility, sets terrible precedents and encourages copycats and more terror. How could it not? Nothing in life succeeds like success. And whether it's a legitimate business or criminal enterprise, if something is working, the tendency is to do more of it.

Read the full article on CNN.com.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author.

 

About the Author

Aaron David Miller image

Aaron David Miller

Global Fellow
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Middle East Program

The Wilson Center’s Middle East Program serves as a crucial resource for the policymaking community and beyond, providing analyses and research that helps inform U.S. foreign policymaking, stimulates public debate, and expands knowledge about issues in the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.  Read more