Roger Carstens’ first job at the State Department covered Austin Tice’s strange disappearance in Syria. Austin, a former Marine, had been kidnapped in 2012 as a journalist covering the Syrian civil war. When Damascus fell on December 8, 2024, the prisons began to empty, and there was some hope that Austin might be found. Roger talks about the search for him in late December; about the evidence of Austin’s escape attempt in 2012 or ’13, and what the chances are now of finding him alive.
Roger served as SPEHA under two presidents — a Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs — so we talk about his role at the State Department for the first few minutes of the show. He was re-hired by President Biden after his appointment by President Trump, and he’s been a fine example of consistent, nonpartisan hostage policy under the newish framework designed by President Obama.
Resources:
The family of Austin Tice, their official website
The Unforgotten, Mike’s essay about Austin for New Lines, republished on Radio Free Mike
Part 3 of a very good Economist podcast about Austin’s case
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