![]() ![]() ![]() In fact, it may even endanger the lives of U.S. While the Obama Administration’s policy shift is sensitive to the families of Americans who are abducted, it does little to reduce the risk of kidnapping. In many cases, the captors ultimately murder their victims and post videotaped executions online.Īfter the high-profile beheadings of several American hostages last summer, the Obama Administration ordered a comprehensive review of the government’s hostage negotiation and recovery policies. According to the White House, 30 Americans are currently being held around the world. ![]() More than a decade later, journalists and aid workers are increasingly being abducted in several high-risk areas around the world, including Syria, Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the federal government doubled down on its hostage policy by announcing that it “does not negotiate with terrorists.” The stance reflects the reality that many terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda and ISIS, generate the funds needed to finance their activities through kidnapping and ransoms The policy is intended to avoid encouraging terrorist groups and others that mean harm from kidnapping Americans. The United States has a long-standing “no concessions” policy, under which it will not pay ransoms, release prisoners, change its policies, or agree to other acts in exchange for the release of U.S. The only Americans who were not shocked by this order were the 50% of Americans who don’t have passports and the rest of the people who haven’t read this order. The President’s executive order last week ruled that Americans would no longer be barred from paying ransoms if their loved ones were kidnapped abroad. ![]()
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