Ransom Paid for Korean Hostages Will Guarantee More Hostages

I was glad to hear that 19 Koreans had been released from captivity in Afghanistan, but not happy to hear that the South Korean government paid a ransom to get them back:

South Korea paid the Taliban $950,000 -- or $50,000 a head -- to secure the release of 19 church workers abducted in southeastern Afghanistan, Afghan officials who took part in the negotiations told ABC News.

The negotiations took on urgency, the Afghan officials said, after two female hostages who were released last month reported being repeatedly raped by their Taliban captors.

The kidnappers also killed two of the male hostages, who were abducted six weeks ago riding by bus through southeastern Ghazni province.

"We have reports the various Taliban commanders were fighting over the women hostages," said Mirajuddin Pathan, the governor of Ghazni province. "They were abused over and over."

South Korean Foreign Minister Song Min-soon today defended the decision to negotiate with the Taliban, according to The Associated Press. The move raised concern it would lead to more abductions and put thousands of foreign troops and aid workers at risk.

Seoul has insisted no ransom was paid.

Sorry, Seoul, but I'm not buying it. Those savages in the Taliban don't release hostages out of the goodness of their hearts (or the goodness of Allah's heart). They claim purity in the name of their corrupted religion, but act with a savagery that no god would sanction or desire. It was money that got those people out, and unfortunately money that will drive the kidnappers to try it again.

You don't negotiate with hostage-takers.