How the Founding Fathers grappled with hostage ransom demands
The debate over the US government refusal to pay ransoms to kidnappers, including the captors of James Foley, has a long history. In the late 1700s, the US fought Barbary pirates who demanded ransoms and tributes./ The US debate over paying ransoms to kidnappers – revived by the murder of freelance journalist – isn't a new one. America's Founding Fathers were also preoccupied by the issue while confronting " In the late 1700s, Barbary pirates in northern Africa were regularly capturing foreign ships and holding crews for ransom. In 1795, ...
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