Earlier this month, the National Security and U.S. Foreign Relations Law LLM Program hosted Lieutenant Colonel Retired (LTC (R)) Jason Amerine, a decorated Army veteran who played key roles in liberating Afghanistan from the Taliban and improving U.S. government policies in rescuing prisoners of war and hostages in the War on Terror.
In his presentation, “Internal Federal Agency Conflicts Regarding Personnel Recovery Efforts Retrieving U.S. Nationals Held Hostage Abroad: Bringing Back Bowe Bergdahl and Others," LTC (R) Amerine explained how the United States government's approach to rescuing Americans held captive in Pakistan and other countries became dysfunctional because of power struggles and difficult interactions among the FBI, Department of State, and Department of Defense (DoD).
In 2014, frustrated that the DoD lacked the necessary resources and authority to free American captives, LTC (R) Amerine provided information to Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) so that Congress could prepare legislation to improve the situation. In what was later described as a retaliatory response, the FBI initiated complaints to the Army that LTC (R) Amerine had made impermissible disclosures to Rep. Hunter. Following a lengthy investigation, which brought great hardship on LTC (R) Amerine, the Army concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated. On the contrary, the Army awarded LTC (R) Amerine the Legion of Merit, one of the nation's highest awards, for his military service. LTC (R) Amerine's efforts ultimately led to major reforms in federal agency rescue procedures to secure the freedom of U.S. nationals hostages held abroad.
In speaking to the students, LTC (R) Amerine provided information regarding the rescue of Sergeant Bergdahl, who disappeared in 2009 and was held captive until 2014. While this effort to bring an American home was successful, LTC (R) Amerine expressed regret and frustration that the U.S. Government was unable to secure the release of other Americans still wrongly held by terrorist organizations.
LTC (R) Amerine's efforts ultimately led to major reforms in federal agency rescue procedures to secure the freedom of U.S. nationals hostages held abroad.
Lieutenant Colonel Amerine is no stranger to difficult situations. Lieutenant Colonel Amerine was a Special Operations Forces team leader during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. His team assisted the future president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, in organizing Pashtun fighters and defeating the Taliban in southern Afghanistan. During the last day of the battle for Kandahar, an errant airstrike wounded LTC (R) Amerine and killed members of his team. Though injured, LTC (R) Amerine helped lead difficult rescue efforts for the other victims, and subsequently was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his actions.
After recovering, LTC (R) Amerine completed a master's degree in international affairs with an emphasis in national security at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, and subsequently taught Social Sciences and then Arabic at West Point.