Bill would create a US ‘hostage czar’

Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) on Friday introduced a bill that would create a new, high-level administration official responsible for leading U.S. efforts to find and recover American hostages.

The push to create a “hostage czar” comes after American Warren Weinstein was killed in a U.S. drone strike while a captive of al Qaeda.

{mosads}“The tragic loss of Dr. Warren Weinstein should be a call to action, because our hostage rescue operations have to improve,” Delaney said in a statement.

“I firmly believe that improvement starts with a new Hostage Czar who can direct and coordinate our efforts across agency lines, a high-level official who can leverage all our relevant agencies in the service of one goal.” 

The legislation would create an interagency panel headed by the czar to help coordinate federal actions, direct the czar to develop strategies for bringing hostages back to the U.S., and make the official in charge of all direct communication with the families of hostages overseas.

“Under the leadership of a Hostage Czar, we can improve coordination, cut through the bureaucracy, and better communicate with families,” according to Delaney.

The U.S. needs a “new member of the National Security Council who wakes up every morning focused solely on bringing American hostages home. With a Hostage Czar our world-class security, intelligence, diplomatic and defense personnel will be empowered to get the job done and bring our hostages home,” he added.

At the same time, there is debate in Washington over whether the U.S. should pay hostage ransoms or at least assist in raising funds. 

Five months ago, the Obama administration began a review of its policies on handling U.S. hostages being held abroad in the wake of the beheading of American captives by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The White House floated the idea of an interagency panel that could improve coordination between the government and the hostages’ families, who have complained about poor communication.