Why are there so many people being taken hostage in Iraq? What are our troops doing to stop this from happening? I know they can't be everywhere all the time, but why are all these foreigners being allowed into the country anyway while we're still engaged in active combat?

I can understand journalists being there, as they know and accept the risk, but ordinary people and religious types trying to "help" ... I thought that was what we were supposed to be doing by getting into this war

Actually, these latest hostages seem to have been there to help the Iraquis being mistreated by our military forces (detained in the middle of the night for no good reason, harrassed on the streets, etc.), so it's rather ironic that they were taken hostage. However, I think it just proves a point I have about the entire conflict - we're dealing with factions that have been fighting each other for centuries and aren't going to stop just because America goes in, takes out the current leader and bombs the hell out of the country.

The fact that a militant group from one faction took the last 4 hostages (2 Canadians, a Brit and an American) who were not exactly pro-US involvement underscores this, IMHO.

Now the deadline has passed for the execution of these four and no word ... all we can do is wait, yet again. Of course, it doesn't make the national news that an Egyptian was kidnapped and killed in Iraq this week because he was dealing with the US, does it?

It'd be pretty hard to keep everybody out of Iraq - I imagine they might try to do a better job of warning people about these risks though. There are some pretty unscrupulous people there and I think the reason it was a peace group that got captured was because they were too trusting. I think it's really a shame that they of all people are now going to be the casualties of this - they're probably the ones who least deserve it.

And now the guy who was negotiating for their release has disappeared and not been heard from in a week ... what is this group up to. The deadline has passed and nothing has been heard.

Guess this isn't too popular a discussion because only 1 of the 4 (now 5) involved is an American. If we are there to enforce peace, why the heck aren't we dealing with this and making a big deal of the kidnappings that are happening and using our troops to rescue these people and keep others out of the area? Or are we really not in control at all?

Your logic is astounding. Let me get this straight. The reason hostages of other natianals who are not exactly pro US is to get back with our treatment of Iraq prisoners. Absolutely astounding. How old are you anyway--about 5 year old is my guess.