Stardate 20010923.0645 (On Screen): Sad to say, the religious workers who are being held by the Taliban for the crime of preaching Christianity are pretty much doomed. Had the attack not happened, it was looking likely that they would be found guilty in a show trial but
sentenced to a token punishment, and deported. If the US commences military operations against Taliban targets before their trial, which seems likely, I suspect the Taliban will throw the book at them. It's regretable, but the US cannot craft its entire foreign policy around saving eight people who knew they were taking a chance when they went in. I'm sorry for the parents of these missionaries, but that's the reality. Their best hope now is to be involved in a POW exchange after the war, or to be liberated by a resurgent Afghani Northern Alliance, who would most certainly set them free.
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