American James Foley's execution by Islamic is a chilling wake-up call for American and European policymakers, as well as U.S. news outlets and aid organizations. It is the clearest evidence yet of how vastly different responses to kidnappings by U.S. and European governments save European hostages but can doom the Americans. Hostages and their families realize this fully — even if the public does not.
"I wish I could have the hope of freedom and seeing my family once again, but that ship has sailed," Foley said moments before he was killed in a craven video released by the militant group on Tuesday. "I guess, all in all, I wish I wasn't American." Foley clearly spoke under duress. But his regret at being an American captive reflected grim fact.
This spring, four French and two Spanish journalists held hostage by the Islamic State extremists were freed — after the French and Spanish governments paid ransoms through intermediaries. The U.S. government refused to negotiate or pay a ransom in Foley's case or for any other American captives — including my own abduction by the Taliban five years ago.