Ten years ago, former FBI agent Robert (Bob) Levinson was taken as a hostage in Kish Island, Iran, after serving our country for so long. While efforts have been made to find out more regarding his disappearance, the fact that he has still not been brought home means that more can and should be done.
Recently, the Levinson Family (wife Christine, and kids Dan, Susan, Sarah, David, Stephanie and Doug) announced that they are suing Iran, claiming, “it had used a campaign of deception and lies to conceal its role in his imprisonment.” (New York Times) They are also suing under the Foreign Immunities Act, stating that there have been injuries caused due to Iran’s hostage situation, including torture, etc. There are high hopes that these claims will improve efforts to bring him home and end this ten-year long nightmare that the Levinson family (including Bob) has had to endure.
In the past, the Obama administration had emphasized the importance of bringing Levinson home, however it has clearly not been emphasized enough. We, as a country, should be much more aggressive with Iran and make it a higher priority to bring Levinson back to his family and friends. Many people are saying that President Trump is skilled enough with deal-making to bring him home and hopefully this is true. There is anticipation that President Trump will have no problem being strong, forceful and persistent while communicating with Iran and making a deal. In a recent press release, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said that the Trump administration “remains unwavering in our commitment to locate Mr. Levinson and bring him home…” and that “we want him back, and we will spare no effort to achieve that goal.” (Fox News) This promise that President Trump has made to the Levinson family is not one he should idly dismiss. The FBI has said time and time again that Levinson was captured by Iranians, regardless of Iran’s claims opposing this. It is way overdue for the United States Government and the Trump Administration to do everything in their power to bring him home.
Levinson is officially the longest held hostage in American history and it has been ten years too long. There are absolutely no words to describe how unfair it is that the Levinson family must go through this awful experience and that Bob Levinson has been taken for that long. Just last year, a prisoner exchange with Iran was agreed upon, however it did not include Levinson. His wife, Christine, made sure to make her frustration at this point quite clear with the public and rightfully so. The Levinson family was left feeling aggravated and disappointed, to say the least. “Once again, he’s been left behind” said Dan (Levinson’s son). (Fox News)
No family should ever have to suffer through what the Levinson family has suffered through, especially for as long as they have. There is no way to prepare or cope for this type of traumatic situation. While it is mostly up to President Trump and his administration to make sure this happens, it does not end there. It is important for any and all people to not only be aware of Levinson’s hostage situation, but to also call as much attention to it as possible. We should not stop until Bob Levinson is brought home.