I have lived in many war thorn countries through out my life. As some people have said, most of the time the problem are localized in very precise areas. Listening to the advise of the local often permit you to avoid most of the problem. Your attitude and body language will also play a part. I don't think that any of us are idiot walking straight to the "kidnappers".

Then, I think you can skip the SAS scenario. More often your "kidnapping" will be resolve by negotiation and it will take time...
If it comes to SAS, or Rescue Team, people who do this job know that there is the risk they might die doing it. No one forced them to do a risky job.

And then there is the question of selfishness.
Ironically, I think that the people here, who go around the world in motorcycle, have all accepted to live their life to the fullest. We are not eternal and what we love doing has high risk: Every time we go ride it might be the last time. There is more chance of you dying in an accident.
Now, the question would be if you died in an accident would you have been selfish toward your family/friends/taxpayer ( yes, they pay, the embassy that will surely have to work on your case if you end up in a coffin)?

In the end: "It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen." Herodotus