Severe Risk to Americans Overseas
Following Prisoner Trade for
US Hostage Bowe Bergdahl

The exchange of five Guantanamo detainees for Bowe Bergdahl dramatically increases the threat to all Americans around the world who are leading targets for al-Qaeda and their affiliates. Western nationals have been specifically identified on 26 Apr. 2014 by al-Qaeda Emir Ayman al-Zawahiri as a prime target to secure the release of jihadi prisoners. By exchanging five detainees the US has handed jihadist groups a first ever success to obtain the release of prisoners for an American hostage in the middle of the most focused campaign ever by jihadist groups to take Westerners for this specific purpose.

In addition to significantly increasing the kidnapping threat to all Americans, it further complicates the situation for all other American hostages currently being held around the world by jihadist and other groups.

Prior to today there has been one constant. The US does not negotiate with terrorists. Kidnapping an American to obtain the release of terrorists does not work. After today the calculation for terrorist planners is not only it might work, it has worked.

Americans overseas are at a significantly greater risk of being kidnapped due to the current campaign by al-Qaeda and its affiliates to kidnap Westerners and now their first success with an American hostage trade.

To view a report on American hostages still being held around the world, click here.

To view an interactive map of significant hostages currently held around the world, click here.

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