Ten years. An American, a veteran U.S. Marine, a person who turned a international correspondent in order that his fellow People would know what was occurring in Syria, has been lacking for 10 years.
President Joe Biden is aware of about Austin Tice. So did President Donald Trump and President Barack Obama. A few of them engaged; none of them with obvious outcomes.
Trump’s group stated it had proof Tice, who labored as a contract correspondent for McClatchy earlier than his seize, was alive and despatched its hostage envoy to Damascus to collect details about him.
Biden’s group — after some prodding — agreed to permit Austin’s dad and mom, Debra and Marc Tice, to fulfill with the president in early Could.
In that assembly, the Tices say, the president requested his group to get a gathering with the Syrians and discover out what they need and to work with them to get Austin launched. Three months later, and little has modified.
President Biden issued an announcement this week calling on Syria to convey an finish to Austin’s captivity and to work along with his administration to convey him residence.
“There is no such thing as a larger precedence in my Administration than the restoration and return of People held hostage or wrongfully detained overseas,” the assertion learn. “We should identify them, hold them in our hearts and minds, and make restoration and return a precedence.”
Statements like these are encouraging, however phrases don’t quantity to motion. We have to see actions and outcomes.
If the U.S. authorities has proof of Austin’s whereabouts and circumstances, it’s past time to tug out all of the stops to achieve an answer. That begins with direct engagement with the Syrian authorities — not working via intermediaries or again channels.
For a decade, Austin Tice has been lacking from household gatherings, from holidays and celebrations — from moments large and small. As a father and grandfather, my coronary heart breaks for Debra and Marc Tice. They deserve higher from their president, from this authorities.
