At The New Ledger: On the New Hostage Diplomacy

I have a new piece up at The New Ledger:

As President Barack Obama basks in the adoration of the media, the captivity of three of their colleagues — one in Iran and two in North Korea — now looks very much like a calculated test of whether terrorism will be restored to its former place as a tolerated method of diplomacy. The new administration’s reaction thus far has seemed paralyzed and unprepared for the test that Joe Biden, after all, foretold months ago. Behind the gauzy curtain of atmospherics, apologies, and sanguine rhetoric about outreached hands, the fists of the thugs who mean us harm remain firmly clenched when they are not grasping for new weapons to use against us.  [Me, The New Ledger]

A few more interesting items on this.  First, I’m happy to report that President Obama has at least expressed concern about Laura Ling and Euna Lee, even if I wish (a) the language had been stronger and (b) he’d have done it before I submitted the piece for publication.  Oh well.

Here’s a passionate message from the fiancee of the Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi, who now sits in Evin Prison, the graveyard of dissenters.

Also at the New Ledger, this very insightful piece by Ted Bromund on the opposed ideological forces within the new administration that could paralyze it.