I always wonder how much it would cost the government to rescue its civilians. According to AP, France has spent more than C10 million ($13.6 million) to try to track down and free two journalists held captive in Afghanistan since December. In an interview with Europe-1 radio and Le Parisien newspaper, French chief-of-staff Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin said he made the price tag public because he is urging "everyone to have a sense of responsibility," a message aimed at French reporters covering danger zones. The general said France's annual budget for foreign military operations is C870 million. He added that U.S. Predator drones had also taken part in efforts to find the reporters.  A week ago, the Taliban released a video of the two journalists for France-3 television pleading for their government to negotiate with their captors. Both said they were in good health and had been well treated.

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