Here's another little tid-bit from Muhammad Taher Al-Farouq's latest screed.I always tell the mujahideen that if they want to get money, they should beat the infidels and take their money. You must hit them on the head and take their money. You should rob their banks and take the money. You should take their people prisoner, just like the Prophet did. Don't think this is a sin, because the Prophet Muhammad himself exchanged prisoners for ransom. There's nothing wrong with collecting money in exchange for prisoners.
Don't think of it so much as extortion and kidnapping...it's more like..ah...a tradition.