Kerry ‘Taken Aback’ By James Foley’s Mother’s Reaction To Handling Of Case

[Purveyor]

CNN) — The U.S. government Friday defended its handling of James Foley’s case after the slain journalist’s mother told CNN that officials suggested the family could be charged if they tried to raise money to free him.

Saying everything possible had been done to bring the journalist home, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters officials worked very closely with Foley’s family and with his employer, GlobalPost CEO Philip Balboni.

-- clip
Secretary of State John Kerry told reporters Friday: “Let me just say that I am really taken aback — surprised, I guess, is the word, by this comment with respect to the Foley family.”

“I can tell you that I am totally unaware and would not condone anybody that I know of within the State Department making such statements,” Kerry told reporters in Turkey, where he was working to build a coalition to battle ISIS.

more...

http://kfor.com/2014/09/12/kerry-taken-aback-by-james-foleys-mothers-reaction-to-handling-of-case/

[liberal_at_heart]

1. That's a public relations statement if ever I've heard one not to mention that I doubt everything

possible had been done to bring the journalist home. If he had been someone important to the government they would have brought him home alive.

[Spider Jerusalem]

9. Everything possible within limits *was* in fact done

including a Special Forces rescue mission that was unfortunately unsuccessful. "Paying ISIS the $132 million ransom they were asking for" is not something that was possible, because it is the policy of the US government to not pay ransom to terrorists.

[CJCRANE]

2. The two videos are the equivalent to the two towers

in the first GWOT.

They weren't just two journalists, they were exploited by the terrorists to be two media spectaculars to provoke a casus belli.

[Sopkoviak]

3. He could have just stopped at "I'm totally unaware".

I've never been impressed and now I'm disgusted with Kerry.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Kerry's defending the State Dept.'s role in this matter--that's his job.

Also, Kerry is a decent guy, and obviously wanted a successful return of hostages--he feels bad, I'm sure. You are hearing from an angry, grieving family, and there is certainly a lot more to this situation that cannot be made known. It's very likely that nothing the US government could have said or done would have made them happy, because they didn't get their son back.

[LittleBlue]

8. He's a fantastic hairdo warming a mediocre brain

He screwed us in 2004 when Chimpy strategically outmaneuvered him. That's all you need to know.

[elfin]

5. I think she is a bit wacko

Got that impression in their first televised response to the horrific event. Her mood seemed just a bit "off" to me. Too smiley. Her family and the government had successfully managed to help James out of Libya. Then he turns around and goes back to the worst parts of the region with what I think was a false and a bit naive trust that he was somehow invulnerable.

Once again all hands on deck to get him back, even with a risky and expensive rescue mission that failed. How can she complain of our efforts? She seems to expect the US to pay ransom or to help her family somehow in a ransom effort, which is against US policy.

I have no doubt if Richard Engle was captured, NBC would fork it over ( and perhaps did when he was briefly held). but that is different than the government breaking its policy.

From the televised responses and the looks on the faces if Susan Rice and John Kerry, I bet they nonplussed at her complaints.and probably angry.

To me, she seems to be enjoying the attention in a weird way.

[chrisa]

6. Your post is really messed up. She lost a son.

Someone who has a son captured and slated for execution isn't going to exactly act normal.

[elfin]

7. Yes, I agree and should have included that truth

But she is going out of her way to diss the government very publicly when she knows they did everything possible without breaking the no ransom policy.

The media is assisting with her delusions or as some would characterize it, her breakdown.

I noticed neither her husband or other sons were by her side as before. She needs help IMO and I hope she gets it.