What to do:
- one can't do very much for the present hostages; all one can do is try to prevent more hostage taking
-- give the workers already there a chance to return home; increase the rewards to those who stay
-- issue all workers with suicide capsules and weapons to protect themselves; impress upon them how dangerous their situation is
-- give the workers more protection by professional armsmen/soldiers
-- don't pretend this will be the last time this happens; Japan must evaluate whether the increasing cost of trying to help Iraq is worth the trouble

If I were one of those hostages, I don't think I would want my plight broadcast worldwide. And I'm glad I haven't been watching television for a few days.

In the long run, foreign nations who care about their citizens will have to leave southern and central Iraq; perhaps they will remain welcome in the north. Unless America is willing to pay a huge price, Iraq will have to be divided into three parts (even though this will lead to trouble with Turkey). Perhaps there is a possibility of dividing it into only two parts (thus appeasing Turkey). Regardless, Saudi Arabia is not going to appreciate its new neighbouring quasi-democratic Islamic-republic.

Lewis Lapham, editor, Harper's Apr. 2004, p.11 (ironically, refering to old history: ...the Shah of Iran can say that he means to make a democratic state among people who believe that they have won the blessing of Allah by burning to death 400 schoolchildren in a movietheatre... I never heard about that one. Maybe something from the 1950s? I guess things have changed a little bit for the better since then. In the past, Harper's also refered to how ludicrous it was to offer US$500 to people turning in rocket launchers which were worth up to ten times that amount on the black market. Recognition of the magnitude of the problem seems to be lacking in the Bush administration. This is a horribly difficult situation. Hopefully, Bush will not be re-elected.

Aside: my first response: raze two mosques for each hostage killed; give warning, but otherwise don't wait for evacuation.

But a little reflection told me that'd be very bad idea.