Pop Quiz:
Q: What happens when you are on record as paying ransom?
A: Thats right, kidnapping becomes really, really popular.
— varifrank (@varifrank) August 18, 2016
Remember when President Obama and the State Department said this earlier in the month?
"We do not pay ransom for hostages," President Obama says https://t.co/05WMc4Efdm pic.twitter.com/1NB3YjuK8p
— Bloomberg Politics (@bpolitics) August 5, 2016
Obama on Aug 4: "We do not pay ransom for hostages.” https://t.co/i39A8oEOyG
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) August 18, 2016
.@statedeptspox Kirby on Aug. 3: $400M cash payment to Iran timing with prisoner release was "coincidental” https://t.co/TQeIxrRfoh
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) August 18, 2016
The White House insisted the $400 million payment to Iran as four U.S. citizens were being released wasn’t a ransom and was just coincidental timing. But according to State Dept. Spokesman John Kirby today, the exchange was the textbook definition of “ransom”:
@StateDept confirms that US wouldn't pay the $400 m in cash to Iran until the prisoners were released
— Brad Klapper (@bklapperAP) August 18, 2016
Q on #Iran: "You wouldn't give them the $400 mil. until the prisoners were released? @statedeptspox: "Yes." pic.twitter.com/XUZV1TjygS
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 18, 2016
Roll tape:
Here's the video where State Dept finally admits – after 7 months of saying opposite – link between hostages & $400m https://t.co/yFl5R1ixiX
— Omri Ceren (@cerenomri) August 18, 2016
Sure sounds like a ransom to us!
ran·som (noun)
1. a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner. https://t.co/U6aK0PWmBp
— Rep. Kevin Yoder (@RepKevinYoder) August 18, 2016
But it’s all the media’s fault, or something:
State Department blames attention and criticism of ransom payment to Iran on the media https://t.co/naQl2HuQ03
— David Rutz (@DavidRutz) August 18, 2016
So, in short:
"No it's not a ransom"
"Really?"
"Not a ransom""No but really though?"
"Lol yeah it was a ransom"
¯_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/5XdV8RoHjT— Matt McD (@GovMatt) August 18, 2016
