The King of Illyria had been the supporter of American foreign policy through the administration of six presidents of the United States. America needs his country's oil. At home, he has jailed and killed those who have not supported him for the past thirty years. He fled to the United States for political asylum and medical treatment for his cancer after he was overthrown. In turn, his supporters are now being jailed and killed. The people of Illyria hold America responsible because the CIA helped the King gain power through a coup against their wishes. HOSTAGE SIMULATION

…continued… A group of 450 students demonstrate against their former leader. They take over the American Embassy and seize sixty-six Americans as hostage. They demand the return of the King. The Illyrian government initially tries to persuade the students to release the Americans. It supports international law that diplomats cannot be held for any reason. This is very unpopular with the Illyrian people. As a result, a new government takes power that shares the demands of the students: "Return our former leader or else!"

You are the President of the United States. What are you going to do about this crisis? Choose one of these five options for the situation and explain your choice. Option 1: Return the leader to the Illyrian students. This action all but ensures the violent death of the leader. Explain - Why did you reach this decision? What are your risks in returning the leader? Option 2: Wait and hope the Illyrians will back down. Explain - Why did you reach this decision? What are your risks in waiting? Option 3: Engage in a military strike against the Illyrian students. Note this is a high -risk situation militarily. Difficult and dangerous terrain and climate isolate the regime. No bordering country will let you operate a base. Explain - Why did you reach this decision? What are your risks in using the military? Option 4: Implement a secret rescue mission of the hostages. Explain - Why did you choose this option? What are the risks involved in a covert rescue mission? Option 5: Engage in a trade embargo against Illyrian. Explain - Why did you choose this option? What are the risks in starting a trade embargo?

OPTIONPROSCONS #1 – Give the King Back #2 – Wait and Hope #3 – Military Strike #4 – Secret Rescue Mission #5 – Trade Embargo

In 1979, Iranian revolutionaries led by the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, an anti-American Moslem cleric, overthrew the Shah. When he fled to the United States, where President Carter admitted him to receive medical treatment, student mobs stormed the American Embassy in Teheran. They took hostages and demanded the return of the Shah to stand trial. While the Iranians eventually released most of the women and African Americans, the remaining fifty-two Americans were held as hostages pending the return of the Shah, and his assets, to Iran. The revolutionaries claimed the assets were stolen from Iran with the help of the United States. These fifty-two American prisoners were held for more than a year; they suffered solitary confinement, beatings, and terrifying mock executions. THE REAL SITUATION

THE REAL SITUATION …continued… During the year of captivity, Carter, who had refused to return the Shah to Iran or apologize for past U.S. aid to his regime, was unable to gain the hostages' release through diplomatic means. He attempted to isolate Iran economically, freezing Iranian assets in the United States and urging other nations to sever trade ties to Iran. Carter's standing in the opinion polls sank as the crisis continued. In desperation, he mounted a rescue raid which failed and embarrassed him. The political reaction led to congressional votes for increased military expenditures and a presidential election campaign issue that helped doomed Carter's reelection efforts. Carter continued his intense efforts to free the hostages and finally succeeded in late 1980, too late to benefit his presidential election effort. In fact last minute delays, and perhaps deliberate stalling, prevented the hostages from actually being freed until some minutes after Ronald Reagan was inaugurated.

Did Carter make similar or different decisions from you? Compare your decision to Carter’s; explain their similarities and differences. Would you change your mind knowing what you do now about the outcome? Is it possible for a President to go back and change his/her mind? What are the difficulties involved in making such an important decision? QUESTIONS TO PONDER