Would you?

[Flabby Chick]

(First off, want to say a big thanks to Krom for taking the time to sort out my noobness with the old account, you're a star, sunshine!!)

Gilad Shalit is being released, hopefully on Tuesday, in exchange for over a thousand prisoners, some of them planners and executors of terrorist attacks. My question to you guys is, would you do the same thing, but putting you're own country in the equation.

DO NOT make this into a middle east bashing thread. My question is about something completely different, and I'd be interested to know what you think.

[callmeslick]

I'm not sure that the trade sends the right message, in general, and would be reluctant to do similar in regards to my own nation.

[woodchip]

What is being said is one Israeli solder is worth a 1000 Palestinians. I'd be embarrassed. The Israeli's OTH, just open themselves up for another kidnapping so Hamas can get more of their people freed.

[Flabby Chick]

Again, and i know it's difficult, try to imagine your own country being the players. Wear the shoes of the subject!

Massive public pressure is on you to make a deal, children talk about it in class and hold weekly "Free "whoever" ", these kids are growing up to be voters, ect. Every public event has a "Free "Whoever" " aspect to it...what do you do?

[Will Robinson]

I don't know the details of the prisoners involved but my gut response to trading prisoners/spies/etc. is to get your own people back through a trade as long as you aren't putting more of your own people at risk by establishing a market for kidnappers to start taking hostages more often than they already do.

My uninformed opinion is the enemy is already taking hostages quite often so it doesn't seem like you are increasing the the threat. But if I'm wrong about that then don't do it would be my position.

[flip]

I guess the trading is fine but no way I'd trade 1 for 1000. With those kind of deals I have no real incentive to leave survivors. :p

[ Post made via Android ]

[callmeslick]

Again, and i know it's difficult, try to imagine your own country being the players. Wear the shoes of the subject!

Massive public pressure is on you to make a deal, children talk about it in class and hold weekly "Free "whoever" ", these kids are growing up to be voters, ect. Every public event has a "Free "Whoever" " aspect to it...what do you do?

That was exactly what I was doing, and I agree with Woodchip. You leave the nation, whichever nation one is considering, open to the next person, or group, that wishes to kidnap one of your citizens in exchange for a large-scale prisoner release or monetary ransom.

[callmeslick]

Massive public pressure is on you to make a deal, children talk about it in class and hold weekly "Free "whoever" ", these kids are growing up to be voters, ect. Every public event has a "Free "Whoever" " aspect to it...what do you do?

now, this part by necessity makes the situation specific to a given nation, as many nations would not react, publicly, in such a manner. Given that sort of public outcry, I can see the political response is almost mandated toward the trade, no matter what the potential downside is.