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But hopeful trends do little to help the remaining hostages. Some Administration officials are pessimistic about the prospects for a deal as long as one of Hizballah's priorities remains the release of 15 members of a closely affiliated Shi'ite fundamentalist group called Al Dawa (the Call). The 15 are imprisoned in Kuwait for a series of 1983 bomb attacks on the U.S. and French embassies there. Kuwait has stoutly refused Al Dawa's demands for the release of the prisoners, some of whom are relatives of Hizballah leaders. Said a close Bush adviser: "There's a family tie there, so I would be surprised if anyone could cook a deal that could get all our hostages released."
In the end, even agility, patience and firmness may not be enough to thread a way through the thicket of obstacles that block freedom for the hostages. For all George Bush's best efforts last week, the only things certain for now are that he has headed off another terrible execution and heard some encouraging words from Iran's new leaders. Yet after a decade of outrage and frustration, the President and the American public may be willing to settle for such small steps while they strain to see, through the latest signals from Tehran, at least a glimmer of hope.
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