CHARLES GRAHAM: Standing firm – until it's your son ...
My heart goes out to the family of Skelmersdale man Jason Swindlehurst, the security guard whose body was this week found in Iraq along with that of colleague Jason Creswell, two years after they were kidnapped.
I am not sure how I could face his relatives and argue that Britain was right not to give into his terrorist captors' demands, but it is a statement in which I still have to believe.
Listen to Terry Waite who himself stated this week that to pay ransoms and release terrorist prisoners in order to free hostages like him simply encourages more abductions.
Unfortunately other countries do not take the same line and rumours abound that large sums have been paid to terrorists – who then go out and buy more bombs and bullets to slaughter innocents – rather than tough it out.
Similarly ransoms are being paid to Somalian pirates who are now creating a lucrative hijacking industry.
I know that if it was my son I would be pleading for his release by any means possible.
But on the other side of the argument, how many more crimes would there be and other families affected if we surrendered to the murderers, kidnappers and extortionists.
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
