Obama: New policy lets US talk with hostage-takers; families won't be prosecuted for paying ransom
A revised U.S. policy for dealing with hostage-takers retains a “no concessions” bedrock approach and the country will not pay ransoms, President Barack Obama said during a Wednesday press conference at the White House.
However, the revised policy allows U.S. officials to communicate with hostage-takers. It has also been made explicit that families who opt to pay a ransom in the hope of winning freedom for a loved one won’t be prosecuted for doing so, the president said. “No family of an American hostage has ever been prosecuted for paying ransom for their loved one. The last thing we should ever do is to add to a family’s pain with threats like that.”
CNN has a lengthy article about the presidential policy directive. It was prompted, at least in part, by news reports that some family members of American hostages had been threatened with prosecution by U.S. officials.
The Arizona Republic, the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) also have stories.
Related coverage:
Bloomberg (opinion): “New Hostage Policy Walks a Fine Line”
National Review (opinion): “How Obama Invites Jihadists to Take Americans Hostage”
See also:
The New Yorker: “Five hostages”
Politico: “How The New Yorker landed The Atlantic’s hostage story”
