Ten years after American journalist Austin Tice disappeared in Syria, his household continues to be ready for motion from the U.S. authorities.
Tice, a contract journalist for a number of information organizations together with CBS Information, The Washington Publish and McClatchy, was kidnapped close to Damascus on Aug. 14, 2012, whereas he was reporting on the Syrian civil conflict, making him one of many longest held American hostages.
A brief video launched weeks in a while YouTube and the Fb web page of supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad confirmed a distressed Tice blindfolded along with his obvious captors. It was the final time he was seen.
Although nobody has ever claimed accountability for his disappearance, Tice's mom, Debra, has by no means doubted her son continues to be alive.
"I've by no means wavered. I am not wavering now," she instructed CBS Information in an interview earlier this week. "There is not any cause to not consider that he is ready and hoping and dreaming and planning to stroll free."
As she's accomplished repeatedly for the final decade, she once more known as on the U.S. authorities to do extra to deliver her son — a Marine veteran whom she described as having "an awesome chuckle" and a "huge character" — residence.
"America authorities has labored very laborious to persuade me that they are engaged on it," she stated. "My response is: Do not inform me. Present me."
Tice's mother and father, Debra and Marc, met with President Biden on the White Home in Might after lengthy pleading for a presidential assembly. Debra Tice stated in that assembly Mr. Biden tasked his nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan and the Nationwide Safety Council to fulfill with the Syrian authorities to "work out what they need."
"The president of america stated get a gathering, hear, discover out what they need, work with them. He laid it out," Debra Tice instructed CBS Information in an interview this week.
Two Trump administration officers traveled to Syria two years in the past to attempt to negotiate Tice's launch, however the officers did not safe his freedom, and the Syrian authorities has by no means publicly acknowledged holding him captive or figuring out his whereabouts. On the time, Syrian officers instructed CBS Information that the Syrian authorities stated no dialogue may happen about hostages so long as U.S. troops have been of their nation.
"I imply, you go in and purchase a automotive, do you ever pay the sticker worth?" Debra Tice stated, explaining that she would not perceive why the U.S. hasn't negotiated. "It is so irritating to me. It was irritating to me once they left after the primary assembly and by no means went again." Debra Tice additionally stated, "I do know that america authorities has not reached out on to the Syrian authorities to request a gathering."
However the Biden administration says this isn't the case. A senior administration official instructed CBS Information the U.S. "has engaged extensively to attempt to get Austin residence, together with instantly with Syrian officers and thru third events."
"In contrast to in different conditions the place People are detained overseas, for a lot of months, the Syrian authorities has not agreed to senior-level conferences to debate Austin's case, nor has it ever acknowledged holding him," the official stated. "We'll proceed to pursue each avenue for securing Austin's launch."
The official did not say whether or not the U.S. has tried to interact with the Syrian authorities about Tice since his mother and father met with Mr. Biden, however the president publicly known as on Syria to come back to the desk in a press release Wednesday.
"We all know with certainty that he has been held by the Syrian regime," Mr. Biden stated in a press release Wednesday. "We've repeatedly requested the federal government of Syria to work with us in order that we will deliver Austin residence. On the tenth anniversary of his abduction, I'm calling on Syria to finish this and assist us deliver him residence."
Secretary of State Antony Blinken additionally stated in a press release Wednesday that Particular Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens "will proceed to interact with the Syrian authorities."
The FBI renewed its name for info on Tice's whereabouts and has provided a $1 million reward.
Debra Tice says she tries not to consider what life has been like for her son.
"An important factor for us as a household is to carry on to the truth that we are going to by no means know him imprisoned. We'll all the time know him as a free man," she stated. "I do not assume it is productive to attempt to think about one thing I can't think about."
She's had loads of time to replicate on the limitations of U.S. paperwork which have left her household feeling helpless, in addition to the remorse that she did not instantly go to Damascus when Austin disappeared.
"I've had 10 years to consider missteps," she stated, "and it is actually painful."