About this episode

Stan Christensen interviews Roger Carstens about high-stakes hostage negotiations and the complexities involved in persuading adversaries.

Stan talks with Roger Carstens, former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and ex–Army Ranger/Special Forces officer, about high-stakes hostage negotiations and the realities of persuading adversaries. Carstens explains how the hostage office was created after U.S. failures in Syria, argues engagement is essential despite “we don’t negotiate” rhetoric, and reports his team helped bring home 65 Americans and over 250 non-Americans. He details preparation methods, identifying true decision-makers, and the often tougher “interagency combat” inside Washington. Case discussions include Russia prisoner swaps involving Viktor Bout, expanding negotiations into a multi-country deal, efforts to include Alexei Navalny, and the importance of allies. He describes President Biden’s deep involvement with Gaza hostage families, contrasts Iranian tactics with other states, and emphasizes trust, empathy, transparency, intuition, and creativity. 01:55 Military Roots of Negotiation 02:57 Special Forces Mindset 05:22 Hostage Envoy Office Origins 07:21 Why You Must Engage 09:38 Inside a Russia Swap Prep 10:50 Finding the Real Decision Makers 14:50 Interagency Friction and Resilience…

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