Should the united states goverment deal with hostages situation

Over the past decade, we have witnessed a significant shift in hostage-takings by terrorist organizations and criminal groups that has challenged the ability of the U. S. Government to secure the safe recovery of U. S. nationals taken captive. The wanton and brutal murder of several Americans held hostage over the past year lays bare the magnitude of this challenge. Other less publicized cases of Americans held hostage overseas, including several who remain in captivity, are no less tragic and have presented the U. S. Government with a similar set of difficult choices. The Government's response to hostage-takings must therefore evolve to account for this new reality. Moreover, the Government's handling of these hostage cases - and in particular its interaction and communication with families whose loved ones have been taken hostage - must improve. To that end, in December 2014 President Obama directed a comprehensive review of U. S. policy toward overseas hostage-takings.