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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Are Hostages Paying the Cost of US Policy on Ransoms?

    Unlike many European countries, the United States refuses to negotiate with terrorists over ransoms to free hostages. The rationale: it encourages more kidnappings. Now new evidence is surfacing that this policy can potentially discourage investigations into terrorists whereabouts.

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    KCRW placeholderBy Barbara Bogaev • Dec 29, 2014 • 1 min read

    Unlike many European countries, the United States refuses to negotiate with terrorists over ransoms to free hostages. The rationale: it encourages more kidnappings. Now new evidence is surfacing that this policy can potentially discourage investigations into terrorists whereabouts. With its "no concessions to terrorist policy" is the US losing rescue opportunities? New York Times foreign correspondent Rukmini Callimachi has been tracking this, her story on the cost of the US ban on paying for hostages ran in yesterday's paper.

    hostage.

    The full episode

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    2. 8:41Meet Your Microbes, They Could Save Your Life
    3. 44:03Are Hostages Paying the Cost of US Policy on Ransoms? You’re reading this
    • KCRW placeholder

      Barbara Bogaev

      radio journalist

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Jenny Hamel

      KCRW

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

    • KCRW placeholder

      Rukmini Callimachi

      New York Times

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    3 of 3
    Is the Bacteria in Our Gut the Key to Our Health?
    1. 1:49AirAsia Flight Said to Be "in the Bottom of the Sea"
    2. 8:41Meet Your Microbes, They Could Save Your Life
    3. 44:03Are Hostages Paying the Cost of US Policy on Ransoms? You’re reading this
    Back to To the Point