Old Joe just made a horrible error. He telegraphed the message world wide that American hostages are now worth a billion dollars each. That was a terrible mistake that has put all Americans, world wide in danger. The bad guys will do a lot to get the billion dollars, I assure you. That puts even people within the country in danger.

The way that the problem should have been dealt with is simple. First, announce that it is assumed that all the hostages are dead. The only thing that will change that is if they are returned safely. Second, announce that if they are not returned safely within five days, there will be retaliation. If we find out that they were killed after the the retaliation, we will retaliate again.

I am not saying that it will get our hostages back, though it very well might. The main thing is that it would announce that the wages for kidnapping Americans is quick and deadly retaliation. I can pretty much guarantee the kidnapping will stop.