The parents of U.S. journalist Austin Tice, kidnapped two and a half years ago in Syria, told MSNBC Wednesday they have not heard directly from President Obama and described communications with the U.S. government as “exquisitely horrible.”
Just one day after the death of American hostage Kayla Mueller was confirmed, and moments after President Obama described his push for fresh authorization to fight ISIS in Iraq, Debra Tice, Austin’s mother, told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner that government officials “are very reluctant to share their information with us. And while we have been tremendously supported — especially by the State Department, certainly by our senator, John Cornyn, our congressman, Al Green — the communication has been exquisitely horrible, honestly.”
Her husband Marc confirmed they had not spoken directly with President Obama, by phone or by other means of communication.
President Obama told Buzzfeed on Tuesday, “It’s as tough as anything I do — having the conversation with parents who understandably want by any means necessary for their children to be safe,” adding, “We will do everything we can short of providing an incentive for future Americans to be caught.”
Tice’s parents said they do not know who is holding their son. However, they do not believe he is being held by ISIS or the Assad government.
Joshua Chaffee