Prisoner Deals Stoke Fears of Perverse ‘Incentive’ to Grab Americans
The New York Times
Hostile governments like Russia and Iran are often involved, and practical alternatives are hard to come by, experts say.
Behind the jubilation over the latest release of Americans unjustly imprisoned abroad are growing concerns that a new era of hostage diplomacy has emerged, with U.S. adversaries concluding that it pays to arrest innocent Americans and trade them for convicted smugglers, hackers, spies — and even killers.
While loath to criticize any specific swap, current and former U.S. officials worry that strongmen like President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia are exploiting America’s willingness to horse-trade for its citizens. Among those returned to Moscow on Thursday in a deal involving 24 prisoners and seven nations was a Russian assassin serving a life sentence in Germany for gunning down a Kremlin enemy in a Berlin park.
“I worry about the incentive this gives nations to abduct Americans,” said Adam Hickey, a former deputy assistant attorney general in the national security division of the U.S. Justice Department. Speaking of the trend toward hostage trades generally, he added: “I don’t see how this doesn’t lead to an escalation or increase” in the practice by foreign governments.
But practical alternatives are hard to come by, Mr. Hickey and other experts concede.
In response to Thursday’s deal, former President Donald J. Trump suggested that President Biden had set a “bad precedent” by paying too high a price to Mr. Putin.
Yet Mr. Trump offered no evidence that he could have struck a better deal, apart from a false claim that he had given up “NOTHING” as president to win the release of Americans imprisoned abroad. In fact, Mr. Trump traded prisoners with U.S. adversaries, including Iran and the Afghan Taliban, on at least four occasions.
In recent years, more homes have added air-conditioning, something that may come in handy this week as some areas are expected to see temperatures 40 degrees above normal.
After speaking alongside city officials in Paterson, N.J., Leqaa Kordia, who was recently released after a year in ICE detention, led a crowd in chants of “globalize the intifada.”
After a seven-ton fireball exploded above the Cleveland area, a group of meteorite hunters descended too, in the name of science — and possibly cash.
Washington’s floods in December broke records set just four years before, but as farmers, tribes, fishermen and governments search for solutions, a quick fix, dredging, seems to stand in the way.
The show, about John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, has fans flocking to restaurants and stores the couple visited during their romance.
The president has been known to disparage foes after their deaths. His response to Mr. Mueller’s death drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats.
While some Jewish students and faculty members have applauded the Trump administration’s renewed push against antisemitism, others believe the government has different motives.
The president issued a threat to deploy ICE agents in an apparent attempt to force Democrats to approve a new budget for the Department of Homeland Security.
A glassy-eyed and slurring Mr. Timberlake alternates between disbelief, annoyance and occasional humor during his 2024 arrest in Sag Harbor, N.Y.
Agronomists at Washington State University are unveiling a new apple, the Sunflare, which they say tastes as good as their Cosmic Crisp but can withstand unpredictable weather.
The war has complicated the Republican message on affordability. Democrats see an opportunity to drive their economic message while tying President Trump to an unpopular overseas conflict.
The removals followed a New York Times investigation that revealed Chavez sexually abused women and girls.
Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont will headline a rally in the Bronx next weekend meant to increase pressure on Gov. Kathy Hochul to raise taxes on the rich.