After ISIS videos, White House is reviewing U.S. hostage negotiation policy

After ISIS videos, White House is reviewing U.S. hostage negotiation policy
(Image credit: iStock)

Last summer, President Obama ordered an interagency review of how the U.S. government addresses situations where Americans are held by militant groups overseas, the Pentagon and White House said Monday. "The administration's goal has always been to use every appropriate resource within the bounds of the law to assist families to bring their loved ones home," National Security Council spokesman Alistair Baskey said.

The review apparently won't reconsider longstanding U.S. policy against paying ransom for hostages. "While we are not in a position to detail every effort or every tool we are using to try to bring American hostages home," Baskey added, "we will continue to bring all appropriate military, intelligence, law enforcement, and diplomatic capabilities to bear to recover American hostages."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.