Diane Foley, the mother of James Foley who was executed by ISIS, criticizes former President Barack Obama's hostage policy in her new book, American Mother.

In her heart-wrenching memoir, Diane Foley delves into the harrowing experience of her son, James Foley, a freelance journalist who was tragically executed by the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2012.

The book, co-written with Irish author Colum McCann, not only narrates the ordeal of James' abduction and the subsequent grief of his family but also casts a critical eye on the U.S. hostage policy under former President Obama's administration, as Newsmax reported.

Family's struggle to bring James home

Diane Foley's journey from a hopeful mother to a critic of government inaction forms the core of the book.

Her son spent nearly two years in captivity, during which she left no stone unturned, reaching out to various U.S. government departments, seeking help to bring James back home.

Her recounts in the book and during an interview with AFP in Paris depict a mother's desperation, met with a bureaucratic maze and unfulfilled promises.

Diane Foley stated:

I was very naive. I didn't know anything about government really. I just assumed that people were trying to help. And the reality was there was no one whose job it was to bring Jim home.

The book sheds light on the frustrating experience with the U.S. government, in which Diane felt her pleas were met with lies, dismissive attitudes, and a rigid adherence to a policy that prohibited negotiations with hostage-takers.

In contrast, it points out that other countries, like France, allegedly managed to secure the release of their nationals through clandestine ransom payments, a claim consistently denied by the governments involved.

Confrontation with former President Obama

In a poignant account, American Mother describes Diane Foley's confrontation with President Obama, three months after James' tragic death.

She challenged the then-president on the government's inaction and felt that her son, along with other U.S. hostages, was essentially abandoned.

President Obama's response, or lack thereof, to her statement that James had been his "number one priority," left her deeply unsatisfied and questioning the sincerity of his administration's efforts.

Despite the deep-seated grief and frustration, Diane Foley acknowledges a glimmer of change in the U.S. hostage policy that her son's death precipitated.

The Obama administration, in 2015, slightly shifted its stance by allowing negotiations with kidnappers, stopping short of ransom payments, and established crisis units to liaise with families. By 2020, a special envoy for hostages was created, marking a significant policy change, though the effectiveness and consistency of these measures remain subjects of debate.

Questioning the U.S. approach to hostage situations

The book also highlights the complexities and contradictions in the U.S. approach to dealing with international hostage situations.

While the official policy refrained from negotiations, the reality on the ground often presented a different picture, with the U.S. sometimes deferring to its allies to negotiate the release of hostages before attempting any rescue operation.

The failed rescue attempt for Foley and other hostages in July 2014 underscores the challenges and risks inherent in such operations.

The poignancy of Diane Foley's narrative is further accentuated by her criticism of President Obama's handling of the situation, especially his gesture of presenting condolences while on vacation, followed by a seemingly insensitive act of going golfing.

This, in her view, symbolized a disconnect and a lack of genuine empathy from the highest echelons of power.

The collaboration with Colum McCann

The choice of Colum McCann as the co-author brings a unique dimension to the book.

McCann, known for his best-selling book Apeirogon about peace activism emerging from personal tragedy, was drawn to the story due to a personal connection.

James Foley, during his life, was photographed reading one of McCann's books, and this symbolic link brought the Irish writer closer to the Foley family's story.

McCann's perspective enriches the narrative, adding layers of journalism, compassion, forgiveness, and the complexity of human emotions in the face of loss and violence.

"It's an important story. About journalism... about compassion, about forgiveness, about losing a son. A story about anger, too, and violence," McCann told AFP.

As American Mother is set for release in the United States and the United Kingdom, readers are given a chance to look into the depths of a mother's love, her relentless fight for her son, and the broader implications of government policies on individual lives.

Diane Foley, through her vivid recounting and unyielding spirit, not only memorializes her son but also ignites a conversation about the moral and strategic contours of U.S. foreign policy.

Conclusion

• American Mother is Diane Foley's heart-wrenching memoir, co-written with Colum McCann, about her son James Foley's execution by ISIS and her struggle with the U.S. government's hostage policy.
• The book criticizes the Obama administration's rigid hostage policy and the lack of sincere efforts to rescue U.S. hostages, highlighting the contrast with other nations' approaches.
• Diane Foley's confrontation with President Obama and her criticism of his response and actions add a poignant layer to the narrative.
• The collaboration with Colum McCann brings depth to the story, intertwining themes of journalism, compassion, and the complexity of human emotions in the face of loss and violence.
• The book not only serves as a tribute to James Foley but also prompts a reflection on the ethical and strategic dimensions of national policies on international hostage situations.