Hostage Bargaining Strategies Option 1 Don't bargain. Just blow them up Bassiouni style. This may hurt a few innocent people now, but in the long run, fewer innocent will be kidnapped and killed. Israel says any captured soldier is considered dead in a hostage situation. Option 2 Bargain and get these particular hostages back now. In the long run the government will need to increase intelligence and target hardening to prevent future hostage situations. During the bargaining, government agents should remember the following: 1. The government must be willing to consider granting some concessions. However, the first publicly known concessions may have a pronounced contagious effect. By the same token, the government cannot afford to stand as rigid tin soldiers and refuse to concede to unimportant demands. Every possible concession should be tactically evaluated. 2. Every time a concession is granted, not matter how small, the terrorists must provide something in return, generally a hostage. 3. The government must communicate to the terrorists that all gains could be lost if violence escalates. 4. The government must seek to assist terrorists in re- capturing their lost sense of reality. Have the terrorists make a multitude of mundane, everyday decisions. Food is the primary vehicle - what kind, how cooked, salt and pepper, something to drink, what time do you want it to be delivered, what time do you want breakfast tomorrow, do you need plates, straws, do you want an extra trash can to dispose of the materials. 5. Two officers should always be present at all negotiation sessions. 6. The commanding officer who has the final power and authority should never be present at any negotiation session. 7. Government officials should seek to control the negotiation session both directly and indirectly - set the agenda, set time limits, establish the options, determine the time and place of the meetings, talk slower, get in the last word, wear power colors, sit higher. 8. Remember that time is generally on the side of the government. Bore the terrorists to death. Wait them out.