Danegeld

CNN:

A source in the Philippine embassy in Baghdad said Monday that abductors holding a Filipino truck driver have promised to release him Tuesday. It was not clear how that message was conveyed. The news came moments after the Philippines government said it would withdraw its 50-member humanitarian force from Iraq by July 20 to comply with the kidnappers' demands and save the life of 46-year-old Angel de la Cruz, a father of eight.

There are millions of Filipino workers in the Middle East. By agreeing to the terrorists demands Angel de la Cruz may be safer. All the others are in greater danger. I am sure that in the future the terrorists will have more demands. And they know the government of the Philippines will give in. Wretchard at Belmont Club wrote about this possibility on Saturday. Good reading.