White House Rebuffs Reed on Hostage Dealings

The White House on Monday rebuffed former hostage Frank H. Reed’s appeal for the United States to negotiate for the freedom of the remaining 16 Western hostages in Lebanon.

White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said that Reed “obviously has been through a torturous and brutal ordeal.” He suggested that Reed’s comments stemmed from “the frustration and anger” of his more than three years in captivity.

Reed said that his kidnapers beat him severely, broke his jaw, his nose, some ribs and his feet after two unsuccessful escape attempts. He said it was the duty of the U.S. government “to negotiate even if you have to get in bed with the devil” to win the freedom of the six Americans and 10 other Westerners still held in Lebanon.

The 57-year-old educator was released April 30 and spoke at a news conference on Sunday.

Asked about Reed’s statement, Fitzwater said:

“It reminds us once again just how barbaric it is to be kidnaped off the street and to be held as a private citizen for political ransom. But it also reminds us why there can be no deals for hostages. Terrorists cannot be rewarded for the blows they strike at Frank Reed’s body, nor can they believe that taking more hostages will yield negotiations and political benefit.”

The White House spokesman reiterated that the United States sought the “unconditional release” of all hostages. He said that U.S. relations with “terrorist countries,” which he did not name, would not improve “until our hostages are released.”

Bush, who met with Robert Polhill, another just-released hostage, is willing to meet with Reed, at Reed’s convenience, Fitzwater said. Reed is undergoing treatment at the U.S. Air Force hospital at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington.