Critical Juncture 6: Hostage Taking (Resolution)
Your team must wait until there’s at least 2mins left before confirming its decision.
*** US Security Assessment ***
The US Consulate has confirmed the captors’ location from strategic national security imagery sources. The Amazon Basin Alliance is holding the hostages in a hideout in proximity to an austere airfield adjacent to the town of BALBINA, 160 km NORTHEAST of MANAUS.
- numerous small and medium sized buildings situated around the 7.5 acres compound making it more difficult to positively identify the location of the hostages
- compound is a ‘complex’ target location that could be fortified for defensive purpose
- compound is well isolated within the forest, ~3 km from the town of BALBINA
- proximity to the austere airfield near BALBINA offers additional tactical insertion and medical evacuation options
- 1 x paved road EAST-WEST towards the airfield and 1 x dirt road moving NORTH-SOUTH from the area
- Ingress/egress points to the compound likely to be under adversary control
- limited access facilitates early warning and a high level of control and constant monitoring by the captors
- compound is visible from the air supporting aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes
- dense forest / canopy all around makes ground surveillance very difficult, but facilitates covered approaches on foot for close surveillance and rescue operations
>>> This new information has now set the conditions for a broader range of options to consider (see options below).
Notwithstanding the initial steps you’ve taken to the hostage-taking, the crisis has taken a turn for the worse. The captors have escalated their actions in response to what they describe as complete disrespect and inaction, and have caused serious harm to one of the Americans. The situation is deteriorating, and immediate action is required to ensure the safety of the hostages.
The captors’ demands are now $10M USD in exchange for the release of the hostages.
Looking to de-risk their involvement, and the certain media backlash as the situation spirals out of control, the Brazilian and American governments have put the ball squarely back in your court.
Your team must now decide how to resolve the situation.
Task
Choose the best option to resolve the crisis while ensuring the safety of the hostages.
Options
Discuss and fully consider the options below with your team members.
Decide to give in to the captors’ demands by exchanging money from Amazonia’s operating budget for the hostages.
- Advantages: Potential for immediate hostage release; avoidance of further violence.
- Disadvantages: Setting a precedent for capitulation; potential long-term consequences.
Request an Intelligence Gathering Operation from the Brazilian Government to develop a clearer picture of the hostage takers and their capabilities.
- Advantages: Gather critical intelligence about hostage takers; make informed decisions.
- Disadvantages: Additional time to resolve incidents; potential for information leaks.
Hire a local Private Military Contractor (PMC) to resolve the situation.
- Advantages: Knowledge of local area; swift response
- Disadvantages: Level of specialized training; risk to hostages & high financial costs
Request the regional police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team to resolve the situation.
- Advantages: Local knowledge & expertise; potential for decisive action.
- Disadvantages: Risk to hostages; potential escalation of violence.
Request US Special Forces conduct a Hostage Rescue mission.
Advantages: Expertise in high-stakes situations; decisive action
Disadvantages: Diplomatic & jurisdictional issues; time to deploy & execute
Request a joint Hostage Rescue mission by US and Brazilian Special Forces.
- Advantages: Combined resources and expertise; coordinated international response
- Disadvantages: Complex coordination; time to deploy & execute with interoperability challenges
Decision
After carefully assessing all of the options above, choose the best option (select below) to respond to the new hostage taking crisis.
