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| U.S. Agencies Review Policy on Hostages | |
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| The Obama administration confirmed on Tuesday that it was reviewing its policy on securing the release of United States citizens taken hostage abroad, but that the ban on paying ransom would not change. | The Obama administration confirmed on Tuesday that it was reviewing its policy on securing the release of United States citizens taken hostage abroad, but that the ban on paying ransom would not change. |
| Word of the review, disclosed by an under secretary of defense in a letter to a Republican lawmaker, came as the administration was grappling with a series of beheadings of American captives by the Islamic State militant group, which posted a video Sunday announcing the third such killing. | Word of the review, disclosed by an under secretary of defense in a letter to a Republican lawmaker, came as the administration was grappling with a series of beheadings of American captives by the Islamic State militant group, which posted a video Sunday announcing the third such killing. |
| Some family members of hostages have criticized what they see as an unacceptable refusal by the administration to grant concessions, including ransom payments, to hostage-takers. | Some family members of hostages have criticized what they see as an unacceptable refusal by the administration to grant concessions, including ransom payments, to hostage-takers. |
| Unlike European governments, which have paid many millions of dollars in ransom to win the release of citizens held by the Islamic State or other militant groups, the United States has said it will never pay money to rescue its citizens. It has also privately pressed other governments not to pay. | Unlike European governments, which have paid many millions of dollars in ransom to win the release of citizens held by the Islamic State or other militant groups, the United States has said it will never pay money to rescue its citizens. It has also privately pressed other governments not to pay. |
| Administration officials said that the review, first reported on Monday by The Daily Beast, was not a re-evaluation of the ransom prohibition. | Administration officials said that the review, first reported on Monday by The Daily Beast, was not a re-evaluation of the ransom prohibition. |
| “The United States government, as a matter of longstanding policy, does not grant concessions to hostage takers, for a very important reason — granting such concessions would put all American citizens overseas at greater risk for kidnapping,” Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the National Security Council, wrote in an emailed statement. “Furthermore, paying ransoms would only sustain the very same terrorist organizations that we are working to destroy.” | “The United States government, as a matter of longstanding policy, does not grant concessions to hostage takers, for a very important reason — granting such concessions would put all American citizens overseas at greater risk for kidnapping,” Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the National Security Council, wrote in an emailed statement. “Furthermore, paying ransoms would only sustain the very same terrorist organizations that we are working to destroy.” |
| Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, told reporters at a daily briefing that “the president continues to believe, as previous presidents have concluded, that it’s not in the best interests of American citizens to pay ransom to any organization, let alone a terrorist organization, that’s holding an American hostage.” | Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, told reporters at a daily briefing that “the president continues to believe, as previous presidents have concluded, that it’s not in the best interests of American citizens to pay ransom to any organization, let alone a terrorist organization, that’s holding an American hostage.” |
| Mr. Earnest did not specify precisely when the review had been undertaken or when it would conclude. Because of “the extraordinary nature of some of the hostage-takings that we’d seen this year,” he said, “the president felt it was warranted to direct the relevant departments and agencies who have traditionally been involved in assisting families” to review their policies. | Mr. Earnest did not specify precisely when the review had been undertaken or when it would conclude. Because of “the extraordinary nature of some of the hostage-takings that we’d seen this year,” he said, “the president felt it was warranted to direct the relevant departments and agencies who have traditionally been involved in assisting families” to review their policies. |
| Christine E. Wormuth, an under secretary of defense, disclosed the review in a letter to Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. A copy of the letter posted by The Daily Beast was stamped Nov. 11. The letter was a response to an Aug. 20 inquiry from Mr. Hunter seeking clarity on the administration’s position. | Christine E. Wormuth, an under secretary of defense, disclosed the review in a letter to Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. A copy of the letter posted by The Daily Beast was stamped Nov. 11. The letter was a response to an Aug. 20 inquiry from Mr. Hunter seeking clarity on the administration’s position. |
| “As a result of the increased frequency of hostage-taking of Americans overseas, and the recognition of the dynamic threat posed by specific terrorist groups,” Ms. Wormuth’s letter said, “the president recently directed a comprehensive review of the U.S. government policy on overseas terrorist-related hostage cases, with specific emphasis on examining family engagement, intelligence collection and diplomatic engagement policies.” | “As a result of the increased frequency of hostage-taking of Americans overseas, and the recognition of the dynamic threat posed by specific terrorist groups,” Ms. Wormuth’s letter said, “the president recently directed a comprehensive review of the U.S. government policy on overseas terrorist-related hostage cases, with specific emphasis on examining family engagement, intelligence collection and diplomatic engagement policies.” |
| The Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, recently publicized the beheading of Peter Kassig, 26, an aid worker and former soldier, the third American captive the group has killed. It is believed to be holding one more American. It has also posted videos showing the beheading of two Britons. | The Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, recently publicized the beheading of Peter Kassig, 26, an aid worker and former soldier, the third American captive the group has killed. It is believed to be holding one more American. It has also posted videos showing the beheading of two Britons. |
| The Islamic State, which has seized parts of Syria and Iraq, first killed an American captive, James Foley, 40, in a beheading that was publicized in an Internet video posted on Aug. 19. A video of the second American beheaded, Steven J. Sotloff, 31, was posted on Sept. 2. | The Islamic State, which has seized parts of Syria and Iraq, first killed an American captive, James Foley, 40, in a beheading that was publicized in an Internet video posted on Aug. 19. A video of the second American beheaded, Steven J. Sotloff, 31, was posted on Sept. 2. |
| The group has called the killings part of its retaliation for an American-led bombing campaign aimed at Islamic State targets. But it demanded ransom for the captives before the bombing campaign, which President Obama authorized in early August. | The group has called the killings part of its retaliation for an American-led bombing campaign aimed at Islamic State targets. But it demanded ransom for the captives before the bombing campaign, which President Obama authorized in early August. |
| After Mr. Foley’s death, his parents went public with their unhappiness over the way American officials treated them while the government was trying to determine who had abducted Mr. Foley and whether his freedom could be negotiated. They and the relatives of other hostages said the administration seemed to regard the abductions as unfortunate but routine. | After Mr. Foley’s death, his parents went public with their unhappiness over the way American officials treated them while the government was trying to determine who had abducted Mr. Foley and whether his freedom could be negotiated. They and the relatives of other hostages said the administration seemed to regard the abductions as unfortunate but routine. |
| “Our government was very clear that no ransom was going to be paid,” Mr. Foley’s mother, Diane, said in an interview with The New York Times in September. “It was horrible — and continues to be horrible. You are between a rock and a hard place.” | “Our government was very clear that no ransom was going to be paid,” Mr. Foley’s mother, Diane, said in an interview with The New York Times in September. “It was horrible — and continues to be horrible. You are between a rock and a hard place.” |