NCJ Number
87152
Date Published
1982
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper suggests some rules government officials should follow when communicating with terrorists involved in political kidnappings.
Abstract
Officials must keep in mind that their communications are being heard by numerous parties in the conflict (the public, the local government, the terrorists) and that their messages may therefore be confusing and conflicting. These problems are compounded by distance (if an American embassy is involved) and by hoax calls and claims. There are no general rules to solving these dilemmas; each case is unique. Generally, the less said in public the better. Off-the-cuff remarks should be avoided; the government must speak with a single voice, and the various audiences should be considered. The government's public response should be kept low-key; messages should be blunt and simple. Policy ought not to equate communications with negotiations and concessions, and intermediaries should be carefully handled. No references are cited.