The possible reinstitution of ground forces increases the possibility of military hostages. They whole situation is a nightmare!

How many of these hostages do you think are US spies? With all the spies we have across the globe, you have to assume every once in a blue moon they get caught. When we hear about an obscure journalist from some small town Florida newspaper getting captured while taking a hike through the rugged mountains of the Iran/iraq border, or in a war torn town in Syria, it makes me wonder. Kayla very well could have been an employee of Doctors without Borders, but I would not be shocked if she was in fact a spy. Still tragic.

Agree strongly with President Obama (wow, I think I'm getting a rash). Negotiating with terrorists literally puts others directly in grave danger. The practice of other countries paying ransoms for their citizens is directly causing more kidnappings and deaths. The terrorists openly use it as a revenue stream to fund their savage, murderous activities.

It is a complete mess over there, it has always been and it is neither Obama's nor Bush's fault. We continuously for generations are forced to make decisions in no-win situations, and then others down the road say we are paying the price for those decisions. This is not about politics or religion. It is about poverty, greed and being an uncivilized culture. If it were about religion, than you wouldn't have 99% of the world's Muslims being peaceful, and you would see the Clerics being the "heroes" strapping bombs to their chests instead of the poor young men and women who are trying to make money for their families "in the name of God."

No Ransoms.
As with all decisions - it should be discussed before taking risky behavior. My husband and I have made agreements on reproduction, on end of life issues, health decisions, and the paying of ransoms. With travel involved in our work, we felt it necessary.

Of course, we also have a secret signal in case one of us suspects the other of having their body taken over by an alien.

Parents and families should pursue all avenues and not worry about the law.
The government should do all it can do.

Ugh these situations are so hard. From my mind, I agree with not paying ransom. But then when it comes to our children... Well from my heart, I know I would move heaven and earth. No family should have to lose a child. My heart breaks for them.

Donna Levine wrote from a parents viewpoint you would do anything but the reality is when you go into a war torn area even with the best intentions you are assuming a risk. Her parents allowed her (maybe they tried to stop her) to go or she went on her own and thus all of them assumed the risk. And not a risk that was outside the realm of possibilities and should have been something they considered before she left. Every doctor at doctors without boarders assumes not only the risk of being kidnapped but of getting sick etc (ebola). They make a decision that helping the greater good out weights the danger. Their choice.

Although their Temple managed to raise the money, the parents of murdered journalist Steven Sotloff were told by a White House counterterrorism official that they could face criminal prosecution if they paid ransom to try to free their son