(3 of 8)
Although the kidnaping was a success, two days later the larger plan appeared to be backfiring. Recognizing that the U.S. could be more easily pressured than Israel by threats against its hostages, a Hizballah front group calling itself the Organization of the Oppressed on Earth vowed to kill Colonel Higgins unless Obeid was released. Israeli Cabinet officials convened an emergency meeting to formulate a counteroffer. Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin proposed an exchange of Obeid and the estimated 150 Lebanese Shi'ites held in Israeli prisons for the release of the three Israeli soldiers and all the Western hostages.
When Israel sought Washington's approval for Rabin's idea, Bush gave thinly veiled encouragement. On Monday, before the announcement of Higgins' killing, Secretary of State James Baker instructed the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, William Brown, to pass on the message that the U.S. would not "object" to the proposed swap. Though it was a pale green light at best, the Israelis recognized it as a sufficient O.K. But by the time the Israelis announced their offer, videotapes of Higgins' hanging body were already being distributed by Hizballah.
Israeli officials insist they had indeed considered the possibility of a backlash by Hizballah. Rabin told the Knesset on Wednesday that the government had taken into account all possible outcomes, "including the event that took place, and worse." He did not say whether it had concluded that an American hostage might be executed or whether it had anticipated the U.S. public outcry over the Higgins outrage.
Soon after the videotape was broadcast, minority leader Robert Dole took to the Senate floor to make an unusually harsh assessment of Israel's actions. He charged that Israel had "struck out alone, free-lancing," with no regard for the American hostages. Said Dole: "Perhaps a little more responsibility on the part of the Israelis would be refreshing."
Israel was also widely criticized for not informing Washington about its plans to seize Obeid, though advance consultation would have made the U.S. an accomplice to Israeli actions, further alienating Arab nations from the U.S. Some in both houses of Congress came to Israel's defense, stressing that to drive a wedge between the U.S. and its closest Middle East ally would merely serve the interests of the kidnapers. For its part, the White House called pointedly throughout the week for the release of all hostages -- presumably including Obeid.
At the first reports of Higgins' murder, the President cut short a Western- states speechmaking trip to return to Washington. He quickly conveyed his sorrow and outrage in a phone call to Higgins' wife Robin, a Marine public affairs officer. But throughout the week Bush was careful to apply a lesson that had been painfully learned by Jimmy Carter: never let a hostage crisis appear to consume the presidency. The President went to unusual lengths to create what might be called a mood of concerned normalcy, acting as host at a barbecue for members of Congress, playing tennis, even attending a ball game between the Baltimore Orioles and his son George's Texas Rangers.