It is a fact the Chandlers who were kidnapped by Somali pirates are proud owners of the idiot award. They were in their yacht, boating of a renown area where pirates were known to be about. Were kidnapped and held for ransom for over a year. The negotiation process took place thought the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) but they were a bit slow. On account of not wanting to pay any ransom. Eventually a ransom was paid by the family to the pirates, not the FCO. So now although the Chandlers are free after an event they are wholly responsible for, anyone else who is kidnapped by the Somali pirates will again expected to fetch an handsome ransom. OK I can understand a family would want their loved ones back, but it is not as if nobody knew about Somali pirates. The region was off limits. They had willfully put themselves in harms way. Can you have sympathy for what is without doubt a completely stupid, cretinous action. They are certainly lucky to be alive, but of course the £620,000 which was paid for them certainly went some way to their release. How they can now sit and give evidence to a committee of MPs is again risible. The Chanders are criticising the rescue effort of the FCO, however had they been of sound mind they would never of been in a renown area were pirates casually do a bit of sea fishing. For what they have done they are now guilty of the continuing kidnapping and ransoming of other innocent persons. Since these pirates have been so handsomely paid they now have ventured out to the Kenyan borders and grab holiday makers minding their own business. The Chanders deserve to be put in a stock and pelted with rotting food, which is probably too good to throw at them anyway.
I would go so far as to say it is not worth wasting a breath on the Chandlers, unfortunately their liability for being idiots and endangering the lives of others increases as each new victim is taken. Idiot award, most definately qualified.
