I have little sympathy for the Taliban, and I hope this crisis is resolved without further loss of life. At the same time, I wonder if it is a good idea for well-intentioned people to put themselves into situations that are highly dangerous. I don't think President Bush can be rightly blamed for this one.

James, Jacksonville,

Might I suggest that they blame the Taliban, they took the hostages. The "peaceful" Taliban are the ones who executed innocent people.

Chuck, Gshanna, Ohio/USA

The Korean Christians should not be angry at Bush or Karzai
This is really time to show the world that the power of faith and prayer . It is time to show that Christians can be just as strong and brave too.
Christians have always drawn strength from their faith.
Many of the early Christians went to their deaths for their faith bravely.
Why should Christians now weep and tremble when their lives or the lives of their loved ones are threatened.

egee fay, St. Louis, USA

i think they shouln't have gone there. because i have been to korea for 2years and i saw some people who insisted on believing god. which is quite good., but they seemed to be a senseless people. As i rememer nobody gave them attention
firstly.. they must survive and they have to change their belief which is only for them.

vincent choi, bournemouth, UK

if one of these hostages had been a kid of either Bush or Dick Cheney, I've no doubt they would have done a deal. The crime of the hostages is that in US eyes, the hostages have no value.

Akram, London,

Although i understand that we are all responsible for our own decisions and consequences let us remember these Korean hostages went to Afghanistan not for politiacal reasons but to bring aid to people ravaged by war.

These people are brave humanintarian soldiers whose courage and compassion lead them into the hands of terrorists. Some people even did this on their vacation time. These people are heros, they have done something we didn't even consider doing.

How can they be released? This is a very difficult question but let us not sit in peace with food, clean water and medical supplies for our children and berate those that did what we didn't do....show compassion to the suffering.

Cheryl Anderson, Kansas City, MO

I think we should be more compassionate in times of life-threating issues, think about it, if those captured were your close kin, would you have begged for mercy and release of them in exchange for something? Though releasing of prisoners and monetary giving in exchange may not be rightful, but who has never commited a single wrong in his or her life ? Do we want to live in regrets? Are we depriving people a chance to survive? Pls all , put yourselves in the victims's families' members shoes.

Vanessa, singapore, singapore

Jimmy Lam, Singapore gave a long virtuose on why the Koreans cannot hold moral ground to help their own people in dealing with Taliban. Here is my reply.

I'm sure if those were 21 american/Singaporean hostages and they were your family member, then everything would have been different!

I do hope they will be freed at the end. I remember an episode where the secret agent got the hostage out only to be killed by those who support eh war. I think it is the French. Koreans have to be that gutsy and stood up against the Americans and say enough is enough.

Joseph Koh, Port Dickson, Malaysia

No one should be held hostage and threatened to be killed unless they have done bodily harm to another being (and even then we could debate). The missionaries did go where no one fears to tread and went where they felt they were called to go. It is a risk and if they've broken the law, then put them in jail or have them immediately exiled. Even if they knew what they were getting into, President Bush should still have pleaded for their release. It's a humanitarian issue.

Caren Watson, Lansdowne, MD, USA

These people are the cause of their own problems. Christian do-gooders in the land of Islam should expect only hostility. Lets not release maddog killers to free them as that success would only encourage more kidnapping of nonMuslims. This is so obvious it should not even have to be said.

JL RONISH, seattle, us

Everything should be done to get the idiotic Korean hostages freed, but this must and should not include the freeing of the barbaric talibans.

Sacha Aceituno, Paris ,

Ernest Werner USA: Religious missionaries (and their families) should understand the nature of working for God in unchartered territories - they are fraught with dangers that could costs them their lives. Indeed many have died. But this surely does not hinder them from preaching the gospel and convert new followers. Otherwise, missionaries might as well stay home among the own.

Many would be disappointed IF Bush and Karzai were to agree to the demands of the terrorists (including me). Bush has shown resolve throughout the war on terror; not many would be that courageous to stand up for unpopular issues. (Spain recalled their troops from Iraq after the Madrid bombing.) Koreans generally have a strong character as a people; in this instant, it failed them as a people. None of the missionary should have pleaded for their lives. Alas the faith is NOT as strong as the rock. Are these fashionable Christians?

anton Lyn, Guangzhou, China

I have been living in S.Korea for 18 months and have witnessed first hand the particular brand of Christianity propogated here.

This is just another example of the anti American sentiment thats rife here. I have on numerous occasions been told "Ameircan go home" because I am white.

Maybe instead of laying the blame at President Bush's door they should look closer to home. They should hold to account the leader of their church who encouraged these young and, in my opinion, nieve, people to go to Afghanistan against the governments advice.Look at their blog sites you see photos of them singing and praying christs message at muslim holy sites.Just like they grafiti Buddhist temples in Korea.They had little respect for the religion,or culture they were entering.It's not the international communities job to save them.They knew the risks,if they didn't they shouldn't have been there,if they did then they should have realised the consequences of their actions.

Nick Barrowclough, Incheon, S.Korea

Many US citizens have died at the hands of hostage takers. The responsibility lies exclusively with the hostage takers. Cutting deals with hostage takers only encourages them to take more hostages. If you want to point the finger at anyone other than the Taleban you can point it in the direction of the Italian government who caved in to the Taleban's demands in order to free Italian journalists. To Brenden in New York...It's ally. An alley is where cats hang out. Do you not understand that caving in to the demands of terrorists only spawns more terrorism. Shame on those blaming Bush.

John Foster, Jejusi, Jeju Do, South Korea

I hope the Korean government has the resolve and courage to do the right thing of not striking a deal with the Taliban. Releasing Taliban terrorist prisoners is morally wrong as this is like releasing known murderers so as to save the lives of these hostages. If the Korean government decides to pay a ransom to secure the release of these hostages, then what it is effectively saying to all terrorists around the world that there is a monetary value attached to every Korean kidnapped by them. This will only encourage them to kidnap Koreans all over the world. The Korean government has to realise that there are many Koreans working in sensitve areas in the Middle East in the construction sector. I am sure they do not want to compromise the safety of these Koreans by encouraging terrorists to target them as the next batch of hostages.

Jimmy Lam, Singapore, Singapore

I'm sure if those were 21 american hostages and they were your family member, then everything would have been different!

Claudia, Sao Paulo, Brazil

The situation calls for clarity of mind not fury and finger pointing. Being Christian, these people ,hostages and their families , have excellent opportunity to teach fundamental principle of Christianity- it is called -compassion. That will help them more than mr. Bush.

Jacek kulikowski, Los Angeles, California

Shouldn't God be doing something?

JonB, glasgow, UK

It has long been American policy that we will not negioate with terrorists. You can like it. You can hate it. But the logic behind it is simple. If we yield to terrorists demands there will just be more terrorists taking more people to get more ransoms. If you must be mad at someone, be mad at the ignorant terrorists who know this is our policy. Of course, they may not be ignorant at all, they are just seeking to make the world hate America even more.

"The needs of the many out weight the needs of the few, or the one."

Eric Wade, Redmond, WA, USA

If I traveled to Afghanistan, headed on highways subject to attacks or assaults, fully aware of the incumbent risks, and was kidnapped by the Taliban I would have only myself to blame--not Presidents Bush or Karzai. These South Koreans went despite all the warnings, all reason, and now their families expect Karzai's government to release terrorists in exchange for the hostages. I feel empathy for the hostages but they brought this on themselves. I would strongly urge Presidents Bush and Karzai not to negotiate with the Taliban, not to pay them blood money, and certainly not to release terrorists held in Afghani prisons. This will send two messages: one to those who decide to go to Afghanistan, that their life is in their own hands; and to the Taleban, that the kidnappings will not produce any results other than disgust and contempt for them.

Neil, San Francisco, California

While my heart bleeds for the hostages and the anguish of their families, thir personal tragedy has in their case transcended logic. Don't they understand that they are in this horrible situation precisely because the German and Italian governments made deals with previous kidnappers? One can never give in to the demands of hostage-takers: all it does is prove that they're on to something, and keep them at it.

Perhaps it might be appropos, if slightly cold, to point out that sending a busload of Christian missionaries into an Islamist warzone was likely to end up this way.

solicitr, Richmond,

No, actually people should figure out that if you travel to a country like Afghanistan or Iraq that there is a possibilty that you will be kidnapped. If you are dumb enough to go there then don't expect to be rescued or expect negotiations.

Brenden.... an alley is where you put garbage cans.

Greg, Phoenix, Az

What precedent is more important? Rewarding the Taliban with prisoners in exchange for hostages or rewarding Christian missionaries for showing compassion for our enemies? Bush said in is 2002 state of the Union address:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) By bringing the hostages home to Korea, we would be a giving nod to Koreans to keep sending help to very dark corners of this world. Lets support the Koreans spread Christ's message of peace. Let the Taliban know that we do not fear them. If the continue to take hostages they will lose support because everyone will see their cowardly acts and bankrupt theology.

Paul, St Paul, MN

I hope with this tragedy that South Korea proclaimed strong US Alley (this should include japan) should now realize that there so called Alley would NEVER help or raise their finger in their hour of need. As US allies continues to painfully find out, being US Alley does not bring reciprocal deeds from washington. As a US Alley, you're expected to provide all support necessary,eben if your local electorates is against such support. But when the so called US Alley needs washington's help, not only does washington refuses, but refuses publicly,thereby humulitating the other goverments. Asian countries that are so called US Alleys would do very well to learn from this episode

Brenden, New York, US/NY

I fully understand, and sympathise with the family's feelings on this. I would no doubt feel exactly the same way if my loved ones were taken hostage.

But giving into their demands *will* increase the kidnapping of people's loved ones.

I hope a solution is found to this horrible situation.

MM, Andover, UK

I fail to understand how we know where these hostages are but cannot rescue them. With all of the US forces and our allies who have spent millions of dollars training our soldiers for special warfare, we cannot find a way to simply get these victims home to their families. I will continue to pray for their safe return. And for those who capture and kill innocent people, may God have mercy on your soul.

KJ, Columbus,

Seems there anger is better directed at the Taliban and their relatives for going there. Maybe they should blame the Italian's for establishing the precedent that hostage could be cashed in for prisoners.

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

How easy it is for this cowardly president to stand firm on others' lives. Unspeakably heartless. Bush is an old record on which the needle is stuck.

Ernest Werner, Trumansburg NY , USA