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| Luke Somers's mother on kidnapping: I blame the US more than I do al-Qaida | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| In late September 2013, Paula Somers learned that her son Luke had been kidnapped in Yemen. The next day, four FBI agents showed up at her doorstep in Washington state. | In late September 2013, Paula Somers learned that her son Luke had been kidnapped in Yemen. The next day, four FBI agents showed up at her doorstep in Washington state. |
| The group – including a hostage negotiator and a victim specialist – came with a slew of questions for Somers and her son, Jordan. Eager to help, they detailed their last communications with Luke, and other information they thought might be useful. At the end of the meeting, the agents left printouts with suggestions on what to do if the kidnapper made contact, along with a cassette player to record a potential call. | The group – including a hostage negotiator and a victim specialist – came with a slew of questions for Somers and her son, Jordan. Eager to help, they detailed their last communications with Luke, and other information they thought might be useful. At the end of the meeting, the agents left printouts with suggestions on what to do if the kidnapper made contact, along with a cassette player to record a potential call. |
| The proposed scripts were formulaic at best. The cassette player was broken. It was an ominous start to a more than yearlong engagement with the US government that only went downhill, and ended in Luke’s death. | The proposed scripts were formulaic at best. The cassette player was broken. It was an ominous start to a more than yearlong engagement with the US government that only went downhill, and ended in Luke’s death. |
| “We were treated so badly,” said Paula, with Jordan adding: “These people had so little tact, so little compassion or sympathy.” | “We were treated so badly,” said Paula, with Jordan adding: “These people had so little tact, so little compassion or sympathy.” |
| On Wednesday, President Obama released a policy directive aimed at changing how families like the Somers are treated. Speaking from the White House, he acknowledged, “there have been times where our government, regardless of good intentions, has let them down”. | On Wednesday, President Obama released a policy directive aimed at changing how families like the Somers are treated. Speaking from the White House, he acknowledged, “there have been times where our government, regardless of good intentions, has let them down”. |
| Among the key steps announced were the establishment of an intergovernmental cell to coordinate across agencies, the creation of family engagement team, and the creation of a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who will report directly to the secretary of state. | Among the key steps announced were the establishment of an intergovernmental cell to coordinate across agencies, the creation of family engagement team, and the creation of a special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who will report directly to the secretary of state. |
| Paula and Jordan were among the dozens of family members and former hostages present in the Roosevelt Room. They hope the review will help relieve other families’ pain. For them, it’s too late. | Paula and Jordan were among the dozens of family members and former hostages present in the Roosevelt Room. They hope the review will help relieve other families’ pain. For them, it’s too late. |
| The Somerses try not to live in a world of regret, but it’s hard. What if they had gone public? What if they involved someone like David Bradley – the media mogul whose efforts to free hostages in Syria are chronicled in this week’s The New Yorker? Maybe other families would have had advice? They wonder if any of it might have brought Luke home alive. Mainly, though, they fault the FBI. | The Somerses try not to live in a world of regret, but it’s hard. What if they had gone public? What if they involved someone like David Bradley – the media mogul whose efforts to free hostages in Syria are chronicled in this week’s The New Yorker? Maybe other families would have had advice? They wonder if any of it might have brought Luke home alive. Mainly, though, they fault the FBI. |
| “Their advice to us was: OK, this is what we should do, be quiet, don’t talk,” said Jordan. Not to friends, other families, journalists, NGOs or even senators. Involving the latter, he says they were told, could cause delays. Fearful of the impact on Luke, the Somers obeyed even as their disenchantment grew. | “Their advice to us was: OK, this is what we should do, be quiet, don’t talk,” said Jordan. Not to friends, other families, journalists, NGOs or even senators. Involving the latter, he says they were told, could cause delays. Fearful of the impact on Luke, the Somers obeyed even as their disenchantment grew. |
| The first video of Luke arrived in May, and the second a few months later – both via the FBI, who orchestrated the response: a letter to start, they advised. Then a video. “Scarf, no scarf. Greeting in Arabic, no greeting in Arabic,” said Jordan. “They had no clue.” | The first video of Luke arrived in May, and the second a few months later – both via the FBI, who orchestrated the response: a letter to start, they advised. Then a video. “Scarf, no scarf. Greeting in Arabic, no greeting in Arabic,” said Jordan. “They had no clue.” |
| In November, news broke of a rescue raid in Yemen, with reports of hostages being freed – though no Americans. At first, Jordan says the FBI told him that it had nothing to do with Luke. Then, they said they hadn’t been authorized to tell him that it was indeed a failed rescue attempt. Events moved quickly from there. | In November, news broke of a rescue raid in Yemen, with reports of hostages being freed – though no Americans. At first, Jordan says the FBI told him that it had nothing to do with Luke. Then, they said they hadn’t been authorized to tell him that it was indeed a failed rescue attempt. Events moved quickly from there. |
| On 4 December, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula released their first public video of Luke, ostensibly giving a three-day ultimatum. Paula and Jordan broke their silence and began making all the calls they’d been warned not to make. | On 4 December, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula released their first public video of Luke, ostensibly giving a three-day ultimatum. Paula and Jordan broke their silence and began making all the calls they’d been warned not to make. |
| Unbeknown to them, the US government simultaneously launched a second rescue mission. Luke, and South African captive Pierre Korkie, were killed. | Unbeknown to them, the US government simultaneously launched a second rescue mission. Luke, and South African captive Pierre Korkie, were killed. |
| For the Somers family, it was a nightmare ending to an already excruciating path. “In a way, I blame the US more than I do al-Qaida,” said Paula. “All the other [foreign] hostages in Yemen came back.” | For the Somers family, it was a nightmare ending to an already excruciating path. “In a way, I blame the US more than I do al-Qaida,” said Paula. “All the other [foreign] hostages in Yemen came back.” |
| Recent years have seen a surge in American hostage incidents abroad, most notably at the hands of the Islamic State. Along with it came a growing realization that the government’s approach has not – in its own words – “kept up” with the times. | Recent years have seen a surge in American hostage incidents abroad, most notably at the hands of the Islamic State. Along with it came a growing realization that the government’s approach has not – in its own words – “kept up” with the times. |
| In December, Obama ordered a comprehensive review of US hostage policy. Led by the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, Lisa Monaco, and Lieutenant General Bennet Sacolick, the review process consulted over 100 US officials, five foreign governments (including the UK) and 24 hostage families (of the 82 invited to participate). | In December, Obama ordered a comprehensive review of US hostage policy. Led by the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism, Lisa Monaco, and Lieutenant General Bennet Sacolick, the review process consulted over 100 US officials, five foreign governments (including the UK) and 24 hostage families (of the 82 invited to participate). |
| Among them was Nancy Curtis, whose son Theo Padnos was taken hostage in the fall of 2012 along the Syrian-Turkish border. | Among them was Nancy Curtis, whose son Theo Padnos was taken hostage in the fall of 2012 along the Syrian-Turkish border. |
| When she first got the call, she was at a loss. “[I had] no idea where to start,” she said. She tried the State Department and the FBI – who initially wouldn’t give her a callback name or number. “I just couldn’t get anywhere, ” said Curtis. “It didn’t seem to be anyone’s jobs to take care of the situation.” | When she first got the call, she was at a loss. “[I had] no idea where to start,” she said. She tried the State Department and the FBI – who initially wouldn’t give her a callback name or number. “I just couldn’t get anywhere, ” said Curtis. “It didn’t seem to be anyone’s jobs to take care of the situation.” |
| Unlike with the Somerses, however, Curtis’s interactions with the FBI eventually improved drastically. “My guys deserve medals. They went the extra mile,” she said, lauding her liaisons. She describes the primary agent on her case as a beautiful woman who knows how to wield a gun. The family affectionately likens her to Sandra Bullock, and Curtis says they stay in close touch. “The bond I feel with this woman is so strong.” | Unlike with the Somerses, however, Curtis’s interactions with the FBI eventually improved drastically. “My guys deserve medals. They went the extra mile,” she said, lauding her liaisons. She describes the primary agent on her case as a beautiful woman who knows how to wield a gun. The family affectionately likens her to Sandra Bullock, and Curtis says they stay in close touch. “The bond I feel with this woman is so strong.” |
| Curtis, however, formed no such relationship with the State Department. “We had better information than they did,” she said. From Kuwaiti sheikhs to David Bradley’s team, her family had explored a myriad of outside options. In the end, she says those third-party intermediaries paid off. “Theo was saved by David’s personal diplomacy,” she said of Bradley’s efforts to secure Padno’s release. To her delight, her “Sandra Bullock” FBI liaison was among those who met Padnos upon his release in Israel’s Golan Heights. | Curtis, however, formed no such relationship with the State Department. “We had better information than they did,” she said. From Kuwaiti sheikhs to David Bradley’s team, her family had explored a myriad of outside options. In the end, she says those third-party intermediaries paid off. “Theo was saved by David’s personal diplomacy,” she said of Bradley’s efforts to secure Padno’s release. To her delight, her “Sandra Bullock” FBI liaison was among those who met Padnos upon his release in Israel’s Golan Heights. |
| Whether a hostage family’s experience fell on the Curtises’ end of the spectrum or the Somerses’ appears to be largely dependent on the luck of the draw. It’s this inconsistency that Obama says his “new paradigm” of engagement is aimed at addressing. | Whether a hostage family’s experience fell on the Curtises’ end of the spectrum or the Somerses’ appears to be largely dependent on the luck of the draw. It’s this inconsistency that Obama says his “new paradigm” of engagement is aimed at addressing. |
| The administration says the fusion cell (headed for the first three years by FBI veteran Michael McGarrity) and the family engagement coordinator are already in place. More appointments are expected soon, such as an intelligence manager whose duties will include more rapid declassifying of information for families. In a nod to the need for third-party collaborations, the government will also award a $200,000 grant to an outside victims support organization. | The administration says the fusion cell (headed for the first three years by FBI veteran Michael McGarrity) and the family engagement coordinator are already in place. More appointments are expected soon, such as an intelligence manager whose duties will include more rapid declassifying of information for families. In a nod to the need for third-party collaborations, the government will also award a $200,000 grant to an outside victims support organization. |
| Facing the government again, even for the purpose of a review on hostages policy, was at first unfathomable for the Somerses. With some urging from others, though, they softened their stance. “How are things going to change if we don’t?” Paula explained. | Facing the government again, even for the purpose of a review on hostages policy, was at first unfathomable for the Somerses. With some urging from others, though, they softened their stance. “How are things going to change if we don’t?” Paula explained. |
| Jordan only expected his call with Lieutenant General Sacolick to last a few minutes. An hour later he was still talking, and Sacolick was still listening. The Somerses then flew to Washington, where they first met President Obama, and then had another hours-long meeting with the hostage review team at the National Counterterrorism Center. “They were responsive,” said Jordan. “They seemed sort of emotionally devastated by this.” | Jordan only expected his call with Lieutenant General Sacolick to last a few minutes. An hour later he was still talking, and Sacolick was still listening. The Somerses then flew to Washington, where they first met President Obama, and then had another hours-long meeting with the hostage review team at the National Counterterrorism Center. “They were responsive,” said Jordan. “They seemed sort of emotionally devastated by this.” |
| “This is an ongoing process,” said one senior administration official, acknowledging that parts of the directive are still classified. Regardless, he’s not sure if it’ll be enough. “I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to completely rebuild that trust and confidence.” | “This is an ongoing process,” said one senior administration official, acknowledging that parts of the directive are still classified. Regardless, he’s not sure if it’ll be enough. “I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to completely rebuild that trust and confidence.” |
| Perhaps predictably, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle blasted the results of the reform. “Wholesale changes are needed, but what’s being put forward is nothing more than window dressing, I fear,” said Representative Duncan Hunter, a Republican member of the House armed services committee, in a statement. | Perhaps predictably, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle blasted the results of the reform. “Wholesale changes are needed, but what’s being put forward is nothing more than window dressing, I fear,” said Representative Duncan Hunter, a Republican member of the House armed services committee, in a statement. |
| Concerns linger for the families as well. There hasn’t been enough progress made on how families might be involved in discussions about rescue attempts. Some were also hoping to see Obama appoint a top-level “hostage czar”. And while the government emphasized that no family has ever been prosecuted for paying private ransom, the broader issue was never on the table. | Concerns linger for the families as well. There hasn’t been enough progress made on how families might be involved in discussions about rescue attempts. Some were also hoping to see Obama appoint a top-level “hostage czar”. And while the government emphasized that no family has ever been prosecuted for paying private ransom, the broader issue was never on the table. |
| “It’s a good start [though],” said Nancy Curtis. At the very least, she saw the trip to Washington as a way to connect with other families. The Somerses were also extremely grateful for the expanded support network, though more skeptical of the review itself. | “It’s a good start [though],” said Nancy Curtis. At the very least, she saw the trip to Washington as a way to connect with other families. The Somerses were also extremely grateful for the expanded support network, though more skeptical of the review itself. |
| “It’s all about trust,” said Jordan. His message: “Prove it.” | “It’s all about trust,” said Jordan. His message: “Prove it.” |