Gretchen's Take: US hostage problem underlines bigger threat

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Gretchen's Take: US hostage problem underlines bigger threat

We live in a different world today where terror groups pose a real threat to American families

So now we as a nation or as an administration decide to change the policy on American hostages being held by terrorists or others. While the government is maintaining its policy of not paying ransoms, the White House has announced that officials will no longer threaten with criminal prosecution the families of American hostages who do decide to pay them.

What would you do if you were one of the families whose loved one is being held? Wouldn't you do anything to get them back?I would. If we didn't have such a big terrorism problem we wouldn't have a hostage problem.

And I also feel for the families who've already had their loved ones killed by ISIS. Some pleaded with the administration to consider paying a ransom but were told they'd face criminal charges if they did it on their own.This change in policy is simply too late for them.