McCaul Statement on AQAP Threat to Kill American Hostage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the recent threat from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), an al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, to kill American hostage Luke Somers unless the U.S. government responds to its demands. Recently, the president ordered a comprehensive review of the U.S government’s policy on such overseas terrorist-related hostage cases.

Chairman McCaul: "The Obama administration must not waiver from the United States' long-standing policy of not negotiating with terrorists. This administration has already broken this policy once with the release of the Taliban Five, and in doing so allowed dangerous terrorists to resume the fight. AQAP’s latest threat against an American hostage reflects the unrelenting and pervasive brutality of Islamist extremist groups who are at war with the West. We must send a clear message to extremists:  ‘We will not negotiate with you. We will do everything in our power to stop you and bring you to justice.'”

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