The parents of Prescott native Kayla Mueller, who was killed while being held captive by the Islamic State, are criticizing the Obama administration’s handling of her case. In an interview with the “Today Show,” Carl Mueller said the administration put its policy of not negotiating with terrorists ahead of his daughter’s life.
“We understand the policy about not paying ransom but, on the other hand, any parents out there would understand that you would want anything and everything done to bring your child home,” Carl said.
In a segment of the interview broadcast on NBC’s "Meet the Press" Sunday, his wife Marsha said she thinks the administration would have liked to have paid the ransom for her daughter.
“I think they wanted to, but I think again, the policy and I don’t think anyone had any idea this group would be as powerful as they were,” Marsha said.
The Muellers said they asked the administration to pay the more than $6 million ransom but were rebuffed. While they said they understand the policy, they added any parent would want anything and everything done to bring their child home.
During a summit on fighting violent extremism last week, President Obama urged the world to broaden its response beyond the military and said the United States has one thing going for it that Europe doesn’t: a long tradition of warmly embracing its immigrants, including Muslims.