We’ve heard the terrorist demands and the threats to execute Mr. Johnson if the Saudi authorities do not release Saudi held al Qaida prisoners. We’ve seen the bound Mr. Johnson on video released by the terrorist holding him. Some of us saw Mr. Johnson’s son on TV, with his own 3 year old child, plead with the Saudis when he said - “You can make it happen and I’m just asking you, please make this happen.”
So, the question is what is the ‘proper course’ in the situation? Should the Saudis release the al Qaida prisoners and hope the same is done for Mr. Johnson, with all the assumed consequences, or is it more proper to do nothing in the way of releasing prisoners? Will not acceding to terrorist demands stop this sort of terrorist activity or is there too much exposure, too much political or other types of gain for the terrorists where these video murders are concerned?