Chuck Holton
Politics • Culture • News
America’s Hostages: Strength Is the Only Solution
February 02, 2025
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Thousands of American citizens are held in foreign prisons, but only a small number are political hostages—used as bargaining chips by hostile regimes and terrorist organizations. According to the Foley Foundation, which tracks wrongful detentions, there are 46 American nationals currently unjustly imprisoned across 16 countries, with most held for over five years. The key to bringing them home lies in decisive leadership and a foreign policy that projects strength.

The Reality in Gaza

Recent hostage releases in Gaza highlight the stakes. Keith Siegel, a 65-year-old American-Israeli occupational therapist, was freed after 484 days in captivity. Hamas abducted him and his wife during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. His wife was released earlier, but Keith remained in captivity for over a year. Meanwhile, several other American citizens remain missing or confirmed dead, including Adon Alexander (21) and Nam Sagui Deen (35). Reports indicate at least seven American hostages have died in Hamas custody, further emphasizing the urgency of strong leadership.

Trump’s Diplomacy in Action: Venezuela Hostage Release

President Trump’s no-nonsense approach to hostage situations has already yielded results. His envoy was recently sent to Venezuela to secure the release of six American hostages held by the Maduro regime. These individuals had been detained under the Biden administration with little progress toward their release. However, Trump’s firm stance and direct diplomatic intervention led to a breakthrough, once again proving that adversaries only respond to strength.

Speaking the Only Language Hostile Actors Understand

History has shown that hostile governments and terrorist groups only respect force, not diplomacy filled with empty promises. A story from Iraq illustrates this well: when U.S. Army Rangers faced resistance in a hostile city, their commander warned the locals that any attack would be met with overwhelming force. The first time they were fired upon, they leveled the area, sending a clear message. From that point on, the Rangers patrolled without incident.

This is the exact approach America must take regarding hostage situations. The U.S. government should immediately and aggressively respond whenever an American is taken.

The Path Forward: Strength, Not Weakness

President Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela send a powerful message—hostage-taking will not be tolerated. This kind of deterrence is the only way to protect American citizens abroad. The U.S. must adopt an ironclad stance:

  • Immediate retaliation for wrongful detentions
  • Strong diplomatic pressure backed by military might
  • No appeasement, only action

Trump’s decisive moves contrast sharply with the Biden administration’s passive approach, which left many American hostages forgotten. The world’s bad actors are taking notice—when America speaks with strength and conviction, hostages come home.

The lesson is clear: if America wants to prevent future hostage crises, it must ensure that taking an American is a costly mistake for any regime or terrorist group.

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Deafening Silence: Over thirty nations once condemned Israel for alleged strikes on hospitals, calling for investigations and labeling the actions potential crimes against humanity.

Today, that same outcry is notably absent after an Iranian missile struck Soroka Hospital wounding patients, medical personnel, and children at the heart of the facility.

Countries such as Russia, Turkey, and China, along with the United Nations and major human rights organizations, were previously vocal in their criticism. Now, there are no statements, no emergency sessions, no international response.

This is not merely a missed news story - it reflects a glaring double standard.

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You Are the Target: How Foreign Powers Are Weaponizing Influence to Destroy the MAGA Movement

Today I want to expose something most Americans don’t even realize: You—especially if you’re a Christian conservative or part of the MAGA movement—are under attack. Not just by political opponents at home, but by foreign powers around the globe.

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First, the War You Know…

Yes, the Israel-Iran conflict is still heating up. Today, Iran struck a kindergarten in Be’er Sheva—adding to the long list of civilian targets after yesterday’s hospital strike. President Trump surprised everyone by saying he’s giving Iran “two weeks” to come back to the negotiating table.

But here’s the deal—he could still strike this weekend. I wouldn’t be surprised if the “two weeks” is a strategic head-fake.

Still, the memes are already out there: “Trump: Two Weeks” vs. “Trump: Too Weak.” That’s what happens when leadership hesitates. Whether or not you think we should get involved, there’s no question that inaction comes with its own risks.

But that’s not the main story today.

 

 


Now, the War You Don’t See…

Foreign governments are targeting you. Yes, you. The MAGA voter. The Christian mom. The military vet. The trucker. The homesteader. The man who still believes in truth, strength, and freedom.

And they’re doing it by weaponizing money, media, and manipulation.


Exhibit A: Qatar

  • In 2025, Qatar hired a D.C. PR firm called Lumen8 Advisors. They paid them $180,000 per month to polish their image in American media.

  • One of their objectives? Set up an interview between Tucker Carlson and Qatar’s prime minister.

  • After the interview, Tucker’s rhetoric on Iran—and Israel—started to shift. Coincidence?

  • There’s no confirmed payoff, but the optics are terrible.

  • Meanwhile, Al Jazeera (Qatar’s state-run media) floods Western media with polished content—while its Arabic version openly supports jihadist groups.

Qatar is funneling billions into U.S. universities, conservative outlets, and think tanks. And it’s not just America. QatarGate is unfolding in Israel, with two Netanyahu aides arrested for taking money from Qatar-linked operatives.


Exhibit B: Russia & Iran

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Title: Iran's Missing Uranium and the Coming Storm: Are We Days Away from War?

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Coming to you today from Vanadzor, Armenia—right in the heart of the Caucasus—where I'm tracking what might be the biggest flashpoint the Middle East has seen in decades. And yes, it’s escalating fast.

So let me ask you this: what if I told you that Iran’s enriched uranium—over 400kg of near-weapons-grade stuff—is missing, and no one knows where it is? Not the IAEA. Not the inspectors. Not even the satellite guys. The storage facility might’ve been bombed. It might’ve been moved. It might’ve been smuggled out. And if the rumors are true, China may be involved.

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What Just Happened?

  • Iran fired 30–40 ballistic missiles into Israel this morning.

  • One missile struck the Saroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva. Miraculously, nobody died—because that wing had been evacuated just hours earlier.

  • 137 wounded. Civilian targets. Medical facilities. This is deliberate, folks.

  • Israel’s response? Massive. Dozens of high-value Iranian military sites were bombed overnight. Over 100 munitions dropped.

  • And yes, the IDF says they’ve destroyed two-thirds of Iran’s launchers.

     

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Rockets vs. Missiles:
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The answer lies in a critical distinction—one that’s often overlooked in media coverage: the difference between rockets and missiles.

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