How Somali Pirates could Take Obama Hostage (Viewpoint Essay‪)‬

Editor's Note: The fate of Americans imprisoned abroad has always been a highly emotional and politically explosive issue. This essay, based on a presentation at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and originally posted on the FPRI web site (http://www.fpri.org), argues that American idealism, desire for retribution, and concern for national honor in POW and hostage situations can lead to actions and policies that are harmful to U.S. interests, and it suggests ways to minimize this risk.--Ed. In April 2009, the story of Richard Phillips' capture by Somali pirates, and his dramatic rescue by Navy Seals, became one of the major news stories. The incarceration of Americans by foreign actors, as hostages and prisoners of war, has incredible emotional and political power, and often garners profound media scrutiny.