1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov August 31, 2015U.S. Hostage Policy: Recent DevelopmentsOn June 24, 2015, President Barack Obama issued Executive Order (EO) 13698, Hostage Recovery Activities, and Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 30, U.S. Nationals Taken Hostage Abroad and Personnel Recovery Effor
2、ts. The President also announced the release of an interagency Report on U.S. Hostage Policy, which reviewed U.S. responses to overseas hostage-takings and identified two dozen key findings and recommendations. Some security observers see these documents as reflecting a shift in the nations hostage
3、policy. Background EO 13698, PPD 30, and the Hostage Policy Report were the culmination of a review ordered by President Obama, following the video-captured beheadings of U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by the Islamic State in late August and early September 2014. Subsequent high-pro
4、file incidents further revealed challenges in current hostage policy, including the deaths of U.S. humanitarian aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller, who were killed while detained by the Islamic State; U.S. photojournalist Luke Somers, who was killed during a mission to rescue him from Al Qae
