At one time it appeared that the Trump administration might make the aggressive defense of these citizens a signature of its foreign policy. Take the cases of Mostafa Kassem and Ahmed Etiwy, two of the U.S. citizens held by Egypt. In the case of Turkey, Trump has tried and failed. But Turkey, like Egypt, is an ally, and the administration has stopped short of using tools that might create more leverage. How about suspending U.S. military aid and sales to Egypt and Turkey until innocent Americans are released?

Source: Washington Post December 25, 2017 00:22 UTC