IMPLEMENTING OUR HOSTAGE STRATEGY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00004R000300140031-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 2, 2012
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: April 24, 1987
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/02 : CIA-RDP90M00004R000300140031-6 ;
-~EeR~T
THE WHITE HOUSE
April 24, 1VI RE
w I/
MEMORAN~~ FOR THE HONORABLE GEORGE P. SHU1kt PI #
The Secretary of State
THE HONORABLE JAMES A. BAKER III
The Secretary of the Treasury
THE HONORABLE CASPAR W. WEINBERGER
The Secretary of Defense
THE HONORABLE EDWIN NEESE III
The Attorney General
THE HONORABLE JAMES C. MILLER III
The Director, Office of Management
and Budget
THE HONORABLE ROBERT GATES
The Acting Director of Central Intelligence
ADMIRAL WILLIAM J. CROWE, JR.
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
THE HONORABLE WILLIAM H. WEBSTER
The Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation
SUBJECT: Implementing Our Hostage Strategy (U)
Implementing the decisions of the February 24 NSPG, the President
has directed that the following be the overall strategy for
dealing e:ith public affairs aspects relating to hostages and for
VSG dealings with hostage families. This strategy should be
carried fprward in the event of future hostage seizures and in
the handling of any release of hostages currently held. It
should also be followed in current and future dealings with
families of hostages. (S)
The b;isic element behind this strategy is to persuade hostage
holdexs that we will not make concessions to effect the release
c4f hostages. We must also make a concerted effort to reduce the
Value of taking hostages and holding them in the eyes of
kidnappers present and future. The USG will make all appropriate
efforts to secure the release of its citizens held hostage.
I ECRET
c a;isify: OADR
RET
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We x+11$ continue to be prepared to speak to anyone, any group or
any %oNe4fnment about the safety and well-being of our hostages.
1. 1le#l#ng with public aspects of hostage-taking and hostage
re leq,sc.
an
Future Seizures: Our approach will be to indicate our
concern, but not preoccupation at the highest levels of
government. Reactions at the Department of State and
the White House should touch on the following themes:
0 We are seriously concerned at this latest outbreak
of lawlessness.
o Kidnappers are criminals. Their actions against
innocents can only bring discredit to their cause.
o Our sympathies go out to the victims and their
families.
o Those holding these hostages and all others should
release them unharmed and at once.
o We hold the kidnappers responsible for the safety
of their hostages.
b.
o While we will not forget our fellow citizens held
captive and will pursue all means consistent with
the interests of the nation as a whole to secure
their release, we will not make concessions since
this would only encourage future acts of
hostage-taking.
If future seizures take place in Lebanon where we have
warned Americans not to travel, and if otherwise
appropriate, the following should be added to the above
points:
o It is most unfortunate that the individuals now
taken hostage chose not to heed their government's
warning of imminent peril to American citizens
traveling to, within or through Lebanon.
c:. A second important element in the above strategy is the
treatment of hostages when released by their captors.
Again, we should show our concern for the health and
welfare of the hostages without creating a major media
event.
SECRET
SECRET
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ot4KET
We would ordinarily fly returning hostages and
their immediate families to a reception site, e..
the Air Force Hospital in Weisbaden or other g
for the Latin erica and the
there, the hostages would receive:
o medi 1
c
o be easily accessible to the families between the weekly
calls;
kly
o arrange for briefings for family members who come
Wa,gh ington; to
a /psychological examinations
counseling on how to cope with their return to
freedom;
? an opportunity to meet with or avoid the press;
While returning hostages are at a center
croup led by the State Department would debriefethemn
for intelligence and evidentiary information.
After the debriefings, we should limit United States
Government involvement to arranging Military, transportation directl commercial, not
]it,et.Ips for the hostages and i y to homes in the United
riot ;arrange special treatment once the individuals leave the
e,nroiiraged to come onTheyhewiuld be flown to Washington nor
returned hostages should be consistent Uwithooourcoverallthe
apprgach. (S)
2? Dea].ir,,g with hostage families and USG contacts with
familiees.
those
The State Department should continue its system for
hostage fa,pilies that dealing with
confinnati,pn to the family vides for notification of or
the facts. State desigesignatessasspecified the Department is sure of
of cfact ,t for the officer who is the
Department should: family. Using this system the State point
? make weekly contact with the families to provide them
wh,at:eyer information is available;
with
o make sure the point of contact is currently informed
on
events and knows the history of the event and the region;
SECRET
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SECRET . VLV'Kt I
e consult as necessar
families might be counseledstohassisttthes
current developments. m in to how the
dealing with
? asspre the fto spring the families ilie iststtall Possible efforts will
arrgst warrants, justice be made.
rr sure, and examininjng extradition., g~ through issuing
fs) 9 possible apgjng diplomatic'
private legal action)
3-`
As pert of our efforts
host p to reduce the
our
=anilg
,s should our public affairs plan as it apolitical value of
Questi ,n be relatively passive, Inpresponding to hostage
4 which inevitably
terrocisr~ and cvnterrri arise when dealin to the
ref ort the dhemu er 1 - statements andPspeechy *sho
a. and b. above. (S) Pces should
FOR Tiev
Frank C. Carlucci
SDCAXT
SECRET
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