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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFrank Figliuzzi: Hostage Survival Tips for Drs. Fauci and Birx
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/survival-tips-for-drs-fauci-and-birx-from-a-former-fbi-hostage-negotiatorHostage Survival Tips for Drs. Fauci and Birx
Trump has them in his power. But they have what Trump wantscredit, adulation, the appearance of scientific expertise. And their survival means our survival.
By Frank Figliuzzi
March 30, 2020
Survival Tips for Drs. Fauci and Birx From A Former FBI Hostage Negotiator
Dear Dr. Deborah Birx and Dr. Anthony Fauci,
If you are reading this, you are now entering your third month as members of President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force. As you attempt to infuse presidential decision-making with medical and scientific knowledge, those of us who have experienced successful hostage resolution [The author oversaw an FBI squad that responded to kidnappings of Americans throughout Latin America and ran another squad that addressed kidnappings in northern California] are seeing some uncanny comparisons to siege scenarios. In order for all of us to survive the next month and beyond, youll both need to understand how similar your predicament is to a hostage standoff, and how you can employ kidnap and ransom negotiation techniques to overcome the challenges of your figurative captivity. Since you just bought us all another month of smart social distancing, there are already signs that you are applying some of these proven methods even if you dont fully grasp them as such. But this can go south quickly, and were counting on you to get it right.
These techniques wont work as well if the hostage-taker becomes aware of them, but based on available intelligence about your captor, he wont likely read this. First, successful hostage negotiators must understand the kidnappers motivation. In most kidnappings, the captor wants money, but publicity, political demands, and yes, even ego, can drive ransom demands. This means that you both retain your value if you can remain alive; in your case that means not being kicked off the task force. Since the president has kept you in place thus far, he seems to understand that he needs you around, even if hes growing weary of your incessant talk of science and epidemiological modeling. This mutually dependent dynamic gives you the leverage and influence needed to shape outcomes. You control what the president wants: public adulation, credit for mitigating a deadly virus, and the appearance that he understands complex medical concepts. You must delicately and subtly message the president that if he harms the hostages (you and us), he wont get what he wants. This can be fraught with peril.
Kidnappers can quickly come to regret taking hostages because, quite honestly, their care and feeding becomes almost unbearable. Thats when some hostages find themselves dumped alongside a road or come to an even worse fate. So, you must avoid upsetting the president to the point that he neutralizes you. Youve already had success in convincing the president to back off the indefensible assertion that the nation can return to normal on Easter Sunday. Dr. Fauci, your minimizing of Trumps nonsensical notion as simply aspirational was masterful in that it helped him to save face and to view you as less of a threat. Bravo. Similarly, Dr. Birxs praise of the president as attentive to the scientific literature and the details and the data may have stroked the presidents planet-sized ego to buy you some time.
Second, hostage negotiators must prepare for the abductors initial ransom call. Maybe thats already happened. Maybe that first demand was to reopen the economy by Easter. If so, you handled it well. But more demands are coming. In fact, expect to see that first demand repeated. Thats why successful negotiators select a primary communicator to engage the captor. Two physicians coming at the president at once wont work. The communicator must present a previously agreed upon message but maintain limited authority. In other words, lets say you select Dr. Birx (the president seems to view her as less of a threat). Dr. Birx should already secretly know what Dr. Faucis position on things is, but when negotiating with the president, should always say, Let me make sure we have Dr. Faucis opinion, or, Ill have to get back to you after I consult the team. This allows for the negotiator to establish a requirement for what hostage negotiators call a reasonable delay. In life or death hostage crises, reasonable delays can make the difference between the abductor doing something rash and emotional, or doing the right thing.
Third, a real hostage communicator is never a debater but more of an influencer and persuader. Hostage communicators maintain some control by scheduling set times to speak with the abductor. This also allows them to develop their objectives and rehearse responses with their larger team. Hostage negotiators work from a quiet, tucked away negotiation operations center. They plot out anticipated demands and scripted responses on white boards around the room. They have a plan even when the captor doesnt. Got it? Drs. Fauci and Birx, we need you to have a plan. Our survival may depend on your survival. In a sense, were all being held hostage, and you are negotiating for our safe release. Hostages sometimes develop Stockholm syndrome when they start identifying with their captor and his causes as a survival mechanism. Dont let that happen to you. Dont let that happen to us.
If you are reading this, you are now entering your third month as members of President Donald Trumps coronavirus task force. As you attempt to infuse presidential decision-making with medical and scientific knowledge, those of us who have experienced successful hostage resolution [The author oversaw an FBI squad that responded to kidnappings of Americans throughout Latin America and ran another squad that addressed kidnappings in northern California] are seeing some uncanny comparisons to siege scenarios. In order for all of us to survive the next month and beyond, youll both need to understand how similar your predicament is to a hostage standoff, and how you can employ kidnap and ransom negotiation techniques to overcome the challenges of your figurative captivity. Since you just bought us all another month of smart social distancing, there are already signs that you are applying some of these proven methods even if you dont fully grasp them as such. But this can go south quickly, and were counting on you to get it right.
These techniques wont work as well if the hostage-taker becomes aware of them, but based on available intelligence about your captor, he wont likely read this. First, successful hostage negotiators must understand the kidnappers motivation. In most kidnappings, the captor wants money, but publicity, political demands, and yes, even ego, can drive ransom demands. This means that you both retain your value if you can remain alive; in your case that means not being kicked off the task force. Since the president has kept you in place thus far, he seems to understand that he needs you around, even if hes growing weary of your incessant talk of science and epidemiological modeling. This mutually dependent dynamic gives you the leverage and influence needed to shape outcomes. You control what the president wants: public adulation, credit for mitigating a deadly virus, and the appearance that he understands complex medical concepts. You must delicately and subtly message the president that if he harms the hostages (you and us), he wont get what he wants. This can be fraught with peril.
Kidnappers can quickly come to regret taking hostages because, quite honestly, their care and feeding becomes almost unbearable. Thats when some hostages find themselves dumped alongside a road or come to an even worse fate. So, you must avoid upsetting the president to the point that he neutralizes you. Youve already had success in convincing the president to back off the indefensible assertion that the nation can return to normal on Easter Sunday. Dr. Fauci, your minimizing of Trumps nonsensical notion as simply aspirational was masterful in that it helped him to save face and to view you as less of a threat. Bravo. Similarly, Dr. Birxs praise of the president as attentive to the scientific literature and the details and the data may have stroked the presidents planet-sized ego to buy you some time.
Second, hostage negotiators must prepare for the abductors initial ransom call. Maybe thats already happened. Maybe that first demand was to reopen the economy by Easter. If so, you handled it well. But more demands are coming. In fact, expect to see that first demand repeated. Thats why successful negotiators select a primary communicator to engage the captor. Two physicians coming at the president at once wont work. The communicator must present a previously agreed upon message but maintain limited authority. In other words, lets say you select Dr. Birx (the president seems to view her as less of a threat). Dr. Birx should already secretly know what Dr. Faucis position on things is, but when negotiating with the president, should always say, Let me make sure we have Dr. Faucis opinion, or, Ill have to get back to you after I consult the team. This allows for the negotiator to establish a requirement for what hostage negotiators call a reasonable delay. In life or death hostage crises, reasonable delays can make the difference between the abductor doing something rash and emotional, or doing the right thing.
Third, a real hostage communicator is never a debater but more of an influencer and persuader. Hostage communicators maintain some control by scheduling set times to speak with the abductor. This also allows them to develop their objectives and rehearse responses with their larger team. Hostage negotiators work from a quiet, tucked away negotiation operations center. They plot out anticipated demands and scripted responses on white boards around the room. They have a plan even when the captor doesnt. Got it? Drs. Fauci and Birx, we need you to have a plan. Our survival may depend on your survival. In a sense, were all being held hostage, and you are negotiating for our safe release. Hostages sometimes develop Stockholm syndrome when they start identifying with their captor and his causes as a survival mechanism. Dont let that happen to you. Dont let that happen to us.
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Frank Figliuzzi: Hostage Survival Tips for Drs. Fauci and Birx (Original Post)
babylonsister
Mar 2020
OP
spanone
(135,831 posts)1. ⭐️⭐️K&R⭐️⭐️
dem4decades
(11,288 posts)2. I worry Brix may have already started down the Stockholm syndrome road.
BigmanPigman
(51,590 posts)4. She is definitely one of the pod people
and has been. I muted the presser as soon as she came on, that's what I think about her. I do NOT trust them or the CDC at this point.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)3. Learned counsel from FF