Recently the US paid a debt owed to Iran and almost simultaneously four US hostages were released. We don't pay ransoms for hostages, right?

Of course we don't, COL Lee Flemming! Josh Earnest told us it wasn't ransom, so it has to be true! PO2 Ed C.

A rose by any other name? Yes, this smells like BS, but don't expect to move anyone with your observation. Those who aren't blinded by their allegiance to President Obama see it as ransom. Those who are simply can't see. In fact, I predict that someone will soon arrive in this discussion thread to point out that President Reagan or some other beloved leader did the same thing. Well, if someone commits a crime, does that excuse others? Go ask your mama...

This is typical liberal wordsmithing the notion of ransom away. The other side does it too, but usually to a lesser extent. Rather than how we look at it, the determiner is how the bad guys look at it and the result time provides. We've seen more than enough the results of the Apology Tour.