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[Jim Allman <jim AT ibang.com>]

On Apr 19, 2004, at 2:12 PM, Alan MacHett wrote:
> So there's this kid, some private, captured in Iraq (along with the
> several civilian contractors).  The media keep referring to him as a
> hostage.  I take issue with that for two reasons.

I don't know if this holds water, but I heard a simple explanation: 
He's a hostage because the captors are offering to release him in 
exchange for something. In other words, it's a *hostage*situation*.

So if a ransom is the key thing, then it should be possible (if odd) 
for a military force to take hostages, and for any soldier to be 
*taken* hostage.

  =jimA=

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Jim Allman
Interrobang Digital Media
http://www.ibang.com/
(919) 649-5760