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Obama administration clears way for hostages' families to pay ransom Obama administration clears way for hostages' families to pay ransom
(about 3 hours later)
Barack Obama cleared the way on Wednesday for families of American hostages to pay ransom to secure their loved ones’ release, despite a longstanding US ban on making concessions to terrorist groups. The families of more than 30 American hostages currently held around the world were given a green light by the White House to negotiate private ransom payments, despite a longstanding ban on making concessions to terrorist groups.
As part of a review of hostage policies, the White House said it “does not intend to add to families’ pain in such cases by suggesting that they could face criminal prosecution”. Barack Obama confirmed new policies on Wednesday for communicating with terrorist groups, and for families to pay ransoms to hostage-takers.
Despite insisting the US government would continue its policy of not making direct “concessions” or payments to hostage takers, the president met with families and former hostages at the White House and announced it would help arrange talks, and would not prosecute those involved in ransom negotiations.
“The last thing we should ever do is add to a family’s pain with threats like that,” Obama said.
Related: The ransom dilemma: why Washington is softening policy on cash for hostagesRelated: The ransom dilemma: why Washington is softening policy on cash for hostages
There will be no change to the law banning material support for terrorists, but the Justice Department indicated it would not hold families accountable if they pursue ransom payments. “I firmly believe that the United States government paying ransom to terrorists risks endangering more Americans and funding the very terrorism that we are trying to stop,” said Obama. He added that the US government will assist in efforts “in part to ensure the safety of those family members and to make sure they are not defrauded.”
The US government will continue to uphold this “no concessions” policy, but officials can help families communicate with hostage-takers, either through direct contact with terrorist groups or using intermediaries. Lisa Monaco, Obama’s counter-terrorism adviser, revealed there were more than 30 hostages currently held around the world but insisted the US policy of no concessions stands.
“These efforts will be focused on ensuring the safety and security of a family to prevent them from being defrauded or further victimized by a hostage-taker,” the White House said in a fact sheet. “In short, we will not abandon families in their greatest time of need.” “I want to take issue with the term ‘facilitate’, [the new system] will not facilitate ransom payments, it will give the families advices,” she said in a briefing for reporters.
Obama ordered the review last year after criticism from families that complained about threats of prosecution, as well as sparse, confusing and sometimes contradictory information from the government. “No concessions does not mean no communications,” added Monaco.
The most vocal families were those whose loved ones were killed in recent months while being held by the Islamic State group, al-Qaida and others. But critics of the White House review argue that allowing families to do what the government will not could lead to those same troubling consequences.
Some European governments routinely pay ransom for hostages and win their release. But the US has long argued that paying ransoms both funds terror activity and makes Americans a greater target for kidnapping. “We have had a policy in the United States for over 200 years of not paying ransom and not negotiating with terrorists,” said John Boehner, a senior Republican Congressman. “The concern that I have is that by lifting that long-held principle you could be endangering more Americans here and overseas.”
Critics of the White House review argue that allowing families to do what the government won’t could lead to those same troubling consequences.
Related: US ransom policy shift undermines UK's hardline stanceRelated: US ransom policy shift undermines UK's hardline stance
“We have had a policy in the United States for over 200 years of not paying ransom and not negotiating with terrorists,” said John Boehner, the Republican speaker of the House. “The concern that I have is that by lifting that long-held principle you could be endangering more Americans here and overseas.” Despite the ban on the US government making concessions to terrorists, the Obama administration did negotiate with the Taliban last year to win the release of Army sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured after walking away from this post in Afghanistan. Five Guantanamo Bay detainees were exchanged as a condition of his release.
Despite the ban on the US government making concessions to terrorists, the Obama administration did negotiate with the Taliban last year to win the release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was captured after walking away from this post in Afghanistan. Five Guantánamo Bay detainees were exchanged as a condition of his release. White House officials say those negotiations were permissible because Obama sees a special responsibility to leave no American service member behind on the battlefield. Some hostages’ relatives have argued against the government making such distinctions between US citizens.
White House officials say those negotiations were permissible because Obama sees a special responsibility to leave no American service member behind on the battlefield. Some hostages’ relatives argued on Tuesday against the government making such distinctions between US citizens. The White House announced the creation of a Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, one of the newly announced mechanisms for streamlining communications between the government response and families. The cell was already up and running, the president said.
In a step aimed at streamlining communications with families, the White House also announced the creation of a “Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell” that will coordinate recovery efforts among various government agencies. Some families had pushed for the new office to be based at the White House, but it will be at the FBI. Obama apologised to families of American hostages, who have been sharply critical of the administration’s attitudes in the past, and thanked them for their recommendations, many of which were incorporated into the policy change.
“I acknowledged to them in private what I want to say publicly: that it is true that there have been times where our government, regardless of good intentions, has let them down,” said Obama, who had met with some of the families in “a very emotional meeting” at the White House. “I promised them that we can do better.”
“Today my message to anyone who harms Americans is that we do not forget,” Obama said in his final remarks. “Our reach is long. Justice will be done,” he said.