Lauer Challenges Uncle's Call for $100 Million Ransom for Kidnapped Soldiers

Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

June 20, 2006

For a TV host, there's nothing much more difficult than interviewing a family member of someone who has been killed or seriously harmed. So when the uncle of one of the US soldiers kidnapped and possibly killed in Iraq called for the offering of a massive ransom and a prisoner exchange, give Matt Lauer credit for having had the courage to challenge him.

Here's how it went down.

Lauer: "A group linked to al-Qaeda on its website has claimed that they actually took Kristian and another soldier. What's your reaction to that?"

Replied Ken MacKenzie, a well-spoken, well-informed uncle to PFC Kristian Menchaca:

"My reaction is the United States government should have immediately notified . . . the mujahadeen that the United States government was offering a $100-million reward and offering to exchange the 2,500 mujahadeen detainees that Prime Minister al-Maliki of Iraq plans to release several weeks from now. I think the U.S. government was too slow to react to this, they should have had a plan in place. Because the U.S. government did not have a plan in place, my nephew has paid for it with his life."

Lauer:

"Let me just interrupt for a second. Obviously the U.S. has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists. We do have reports that up to 8,000 troops, U.S. and Iraqis, are out searching for your nephew and also reward money is being offered in Baghdad or in the area for any information leading to the finding of your nephew. Are you suggesting that you think the U.S. government should pay a ransom?"

MacKenzie didn't mince words:

"Yes. The ransom is available from Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party funds seized by the U.S. government. More than $100 billion in cash and gold, that the U.S. government apparently had plans to return to the government of Iraq. I would think that that money, part of it, could be used to pay ransom. That would not be coming out of U.S. taxpayer pockets, by the way. It could be paid out of the bank account where it now reposes. I think that that money should have been earmarked for this type of a hostage situation." Lauer again challenged the suggestion:

"Mr. MacKenzie, obviously you are dealing with this as a personal and a family tragedy. I can certainly understand that, but wouldn't that then make it very profitable for terrorists in Iraq and other parts of the world to kidnap westerners because they could reap huge amounts of money from it?" MacKenzie:

"Yes, but they are doing that anyway. I don't know if that would escalate or encourage them to kidnap more westerners and more U.S. soldiers. But I rather doubt it. My concern is the humanitarian concern. This money will be used of course by whoever's going to use it in the future and it won't go toward saving lives. I am more interested -- was more interested in seeing my nephew saved with some combination of ransom and prisoner exchange. Apparently the Prime Minister of Iraq planned to release these 2,500 mujahadeen without any so-called quid pro quo, something for something."

Lauer: "I'm sorry. Mr. MacKenzie, I'm sorry to interrupt. And I want to mention again there are some conflicting reports coming out of Baghdad. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We hope for a good outcome."

MacKenzie: "Thank you very much."

For all the criticism this column levels at the MSM in general and the Today show in particular, we're obliged to applaud Lauer for his courage in sensitive circumstances in standing up, politely but firmly, for a U.S. policy designed to prevent the taking of even more hostages.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today Show/NewsBusters ping.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Great, the next Michael Berg.

[camle]

but he has absolute moral authority here. a la sheehan and the lovely Ann Coulter's "Harpies" you can't challenge him or even question his lunati-er-wisdom!

[massgopguy]

This is why you at shoot cars that won't stop at check points.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

That's why I give Lauer credit. He DID challenge him.

[Brilliant]

I'm sure they were dead within hours after they went missing.

[EagleUSA]

"More than $100 billion in cash and gold, that the U.S. government apparently had plans to return to the government of Iraq."
-----
More appropriately, it should go to the taxpayers of the USA who funded this war, and to the families of those that gave their lives for Iraqi freedom, certainly not to some sub-human terrorist filth.

[AmericaUnite]

Sounds like this uncle was waiting for an opportunity to give his antiwar views. I'd be too distraught to make an appearance on national TV to discuss how "my plan" would have made this all better.

[Brilliant]

They need to give these guys tracking devices.

[starfish923]

Matt Lauer is PIMP....nothing more.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

if a ransom was paid, it could probably set a precedent, and then more Americans could get kidnapped. Still, Mr. MacKenzie's response is completely understandable.

[SE Mom]

WOW. I'm truly surprised that Lauer was first of all- capable of having those thoughts- and two- that he actually said them out loud to the uncle. Never thought I'd say this, but good for Matt.

[mware]

Maybe his uncle should be blaming Murtha, with all his claiming that US military are murdering civilians, they were not looking for ransom.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I don't understand your comment. Lauer was defending the US policy of not paying ransom to terrorists who kidnap our soldiers. He did so with dignity and courage under sensitive circumstances. Why are you blasting him?

[xzins]

The Uncle complains there's no "plan" to protect US Forces who are captured?

Like Heck there isn't.

We're part of the Geneva/Hague conventions.

EVERYONE agrees not to kill POWS.

EVERYONE agrees not to TORTURE AND MUTILATE POWS!

[TomGuy]

If they paid that kind of ransom, we'd be seeing weekly kidnappings-for-ransom, because the insurgents need $$$ to continue their terrorism.

That would be like feeding the lion your foot so he will quit chewing on your arm.

[COBOL2Java]

Lauer: "Mr. MacKenzie, obviously you are dealing with this as a personal and a family tragedy. I can certainly understand that, but wouldn't that then make it very profitable for terrorists in Iraq and other parts of the world to kidnap westerners because they could reap huge amounts of money from it?"

MacKenzie: "Yes, but they are doing that anyway. I don't know if that would escalate or encourage them to kidnap more westerners and more U.S. soldiers. But I rather doubt it. My concern is the humanitarian concern. This money will be used of course by whoever's going to use it in the future and it won't go toward saving lives. I am more interested -- was more interested in seeing my nephew saved with some combination of ransom and prisoner exchange. Apparently the Prime Minister of Iraq planned to release these 2,500 mujahadeen without any so-called quid pro quo, something for something."

---

Notice the tactic, backing away from the statement when challeneged by Lauer, but at the same time throwing up emotional smoke screens (e.g., "humanitarian concern"..."more interested in saving my nephew"). If you take his response in a logical context, it's contradictory, but logic isn't the point, as Ann Coulter pointed out in her book.

[Blueflag]

What angers me is that they would have the gall to stick a camera in front of a relative to begin with.

Don Henley had it right ...

I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry

Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I dont have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em all around

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
Comes on at five
She can tell you bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
Its interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry

Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
Running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry

You dont really need to find out whats going on
You dont really want to know just how far its gone
Just leave well enough alone
Eat your dirty laundry

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down

Kick em when theyre up
Kick em when theyre down
Kick em when theyre stiff
Kick em all around

Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry

We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!
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[syriacus]

Maybe the uncle should speak with Murtha about the torture-killing of his nephew. I wonder if the soldiers could have defended themselves, but were afraid they would be accused by Murtha of cold-blooded murder.