Success of Waite’s Efforts to Free Hostages Predicted

Anglican envoy Terry Waite, who vanished while negotiating the release of hostages in Lebanon, will succeed in his efforts, former hostage David Jacobsen predicted Thursday in Garden Grove.

“I know that Terry Waite, even though he is a guest of the Islamic Jihad that held me captive, is continuing to negotiate for the release of all hostages,” Jacobsen said. “I’m confident he will succeed.”

Waite disappeared Jan. 20 after leaving his Beirut hotel to meet with the Islamic Jihad, a Shiite Muslim extremist group.

Ransom Omission Noted

Jacobsen said he referred to Waite, a special emissary of the Archbishop of Canterbury, as a guest because no ransom had been demanded.

Jacobsen read a prepared statement to several business and professional leaders attending a creative management symposium at the Crystal Cathedral.

The former hostage credited Waite for his release, calling him an “independent humanitarian.” And he again denied what he called unreliable rumors that Waite paid ransom for Jacobsen’s release.

“I have every reason to believe I was not released for money. . . . Rumors have become a national pastime for Lebanon,” he said.

Jacobsen, who lives in Huntington Beach, was an administrator at the American University Hospital in Beirut when he was kidnaped in May, 1985. He was freed last Nov. 2 after 17 months in captivity.

Jacobsen confined his comments about Waite to his written statement, explaining: “I always want to be very careful of what I say. I’m not going to add to the speculation.”

He didn’t want to risk misinterpretation of his comments since his former captors still hold fellow hostages Terry Anderson and Thomas Sutherland, he said.

He said he was frustrated by recent abductions in Lebanon, especially those of four Beirut University College employees.

“I’m angry that those men chose to stay in Lebanon despite the warnings,” he said. “They shouldn’t have been there.”

Reasons Understandable

He added, however, that he could understand the reasons they may have chosen to stay.

“Their kidnaping has complicated an already confusing and dangerous situation,” Jacobsen said.

And while he is very concerned, he said he is optimistic “because if the Lord has created angels, he’s created one in Terry Waite.”

He added: “People have asked me what Terry Waite has to offer to the captors. Is it arms? No. Is it money? No. Terry Waite has something that is priceless. Terry Waite is able to offer the concern of the Christian community for peace and justice.”