Diane Foley, the mother of murdered journalist James Foley, speaks in Washington DC as a report is released into the treatment of families of Americans held hostage abroad. AP
Diane Foley, the mother of murdered journalist James Foley, speaks in Washington DC as a report is released into the treatment of families of Americans held hostage abroad. AP
Diane Foley, the mother of murdered journalist James Foley, speaks in Washington DC as a report is released into the treatment of families of Americans held hostage abroad. AP
Diane Foley, the mother of murdered journalist James Foley, speaks in Washington DC as a report is released into the treatment of families of Americans held hostage abroad. AP

US must communicate better with hostage families, report says


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The United States must do a better job of communicating with families of American hostages held abroad, including telling “hard truths” to loved ones about the chances for rescue.

It should also clarify Washington's position on ransom payments to captors, found a new report by the James W Foley Legacy Foundation.

Another finding of the report is that hostages who do make it home need more support, including for financial and mental health problems, and that Americans unlawfully detained by foreign governments should get the same level of attention from the US as hostages held by terrorist groups.

The foundation is named after James Foley, a journalist from New Hampshire in the United States who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 and killed by ISIS two years later.

Its study is the first non-government effort to measure the successes and shortcomings of changes to the hostage recovery process enacted by the Obama administration and left in place by US President Donald Trump.

Actions in 2015 included the creation of an FBI-led intra-government fusion cell that works full-time on hostage cases and the appointment of a State Department presidential envoy to handle diplomatic negotiations.

The changes were meant to streamline the hostage recovery process after complaints from American families that the government had failed to prioritise the rescue of their loved ones and communicate with them effectively.

Researchers conducted interviews with 27 people connected to hostage cases, including former hostages themselves and loved ones.

Their findings make clear that those changes have led in some instances to better interactions between government officials and hostage families but that challenges still remain.

Among its main recommendations is that the US should communicate more honestly and regularly with hostage families, and be straightforward about capabilities and limitations in recovery efforts as well as the outcome of each case.

“Families asserted that they want to be spoken to directly and not placated; to be told hard truths and not how to feel,” the report says. One anonymous family member is quoted in the report as saying “the US government should not make assumptions on what I can and cannot handle.”

The report also suggested that the US improve its communications of laws and policies to families.

The Obama administration in 2015 reaffirmed its position that while the government would not make ransom payments, it would also not prosecute families who did so and would support families who were trying to negotiate their loved ones’ release.

“Nonetheless, given the complexity revolving around negotiations and private payments of ransoms, confusion among hostage families persists,” the report states.

Left unclear, for instance, is how far immunity from prosecution extends and whether friends and acquaintances could be prosecuted for contributing to a ransom fund.

The 2015 actions were meant to cover hostages – people held by an individual or group looking to extract concessions as a condition of release – “but only optionally and partially” apply to cases in which an American is held overseas and is acknowledged to be detained by a foreign government, the report said.

“The US government, and more importantly the State Department, must ensure that cases in the second category also benefit from the June 2015 reforms,” the report says. “This includes an increase in information sharing and US government support for families, both foreign and domestic.”

The report acknowledged that additional support for the thousands of Americans held by a foreign government would require additional personnel and resources.

Among those who could stand to benefit is Paul Whelan, a Michigan man held in Russia on espionage charges that he and his family say are baseless.

His lawyer told The Associated Press news agency this month that he would like to see his client receive support similar to that given to hostages.

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES

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Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails

Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies

Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

The details

Heard It in a Past Life

Maggie Rogers

(Capital Records)

3/5

Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.