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Warren Weinstein

{{Short description|American contractor and economist (1941–2015)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Warren Weinstein

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|7|3}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/bergdahls-release-u-s-citizens-held-overseas|title = After Bergdahl's release, what about other U.S. Citizens held overseas?| website=PBS |date = 27 June 2014}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|1|15|1941|7|3}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/world/asia/2-qaeda-hostages-were-accidentally-killed-in-us-raid-white-house-says.html|title=Obama Apologizes After Drone Kills American and Italian Held by al Qaeda|newspaper=The New York Times|date=23 April 2015|last1=Baker|first1=Peter}}

| death_place = Waziristan, Pakistan

| nationality = American

| other_names =

| alma_mater = Columbia University

| occupation = Aid worker

| years_active =

| known_for = contributions to the field of economic development

| notable_works =

}}

Warren Weinstein (July 3, 1941 – January 15, 2015) was an American contractor, and director in Pakistan for J.E. Austin Associates,{{cite news|last=Alexander |first=Harriet |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8699426/American-aid-worker-Warren-Weinstein-kidnapped-in-Pakistan.html |title=American aid worker Warren Weinstein kidnapped in Pakistan |publisher=Telegraph |date= 2011-08-13|accessdate=2011-12-03 |location=London}} a firm which increases business competitiveness and growth in developing economies.[http://jeaustin.com/ J.E. Austin Associates, Inc. website]

He was kidnapped by eight al-Qaeda members on August 13, 2011, in Lahore, Pakistan.{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2011/08/201181311749660529.html |title=US aid official kidnapped in Pakistan - Central & South Asia |publisher=Al Jazeera English |accessdate=2011-12-03}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/la-xpm-2011-aug-14-la-pakistan-kidnapping-20110814-story.html |title=American kidnapped in Pakistan - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2011-08-14 |access-date=2011-12-03 |first1=Alex |last1=Rodriguez |first2=Nasir |last2=Khan}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=233629 |title=US citizen kidnapped by unknown assailants in Pakistan |publisher=Jpost.com |date=2011-08-13 |accessdate=2011-12-03}} He was unintentionally killed in a January 2015 US drone strike on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, as announced by U.S. President Barack Obama at a White House press conference on April 23, 2015.{{cite web|author=ADI |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/23/politics/white-house-hostages-killed/ |title=President Obama Comments on Death of Hostages |date=23 April 2015 |publisher=CNN.com |accessdate=2015-04-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/23/politics/white-house-hostages-killed/index.html|title=U.S. drone strike accidentally killed 2 hostages|author=Jeremy Diamond, with reporting Jim Sciutto, Elise Labott, Pamela Brown, Jamie Crawford, Jim Acosta and Gloria Borger, CNN|date=23 April 2015|work=CNN|accessdate=23 April 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/warren-weinstein-who-was-american-al-qaeda-hostage-killed-u-n346911|title = Warren Weinstein: Who Was the American al Qaeda Hostage Killed in U.S. Op?| website=NBC News | date=23 April 2015 }}

Life

He earned an MA in international relations, and a PhD degree in international law and economics, from Columbia University.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/08/13/us-citizen-kidnapped-in-pakistan-6/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118030410/http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2011/08/13/us-citizen-kidnapped-in-pakistan-6/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2012 |title=US Citizen Kidnapped in Pakistan « VOA Breaking News |publisher=Voice of America |access-date=2011-12-03}}

In the 1970s, he was a professor in the political science department at the State University of New York at Oswego, leaving in 1979 to work on economic development with USAID.{{cite web|author=Robert A. Baker |url=http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/former_suny_oswego_professor_r.html |title=Former SUNY Oswego professor reported kidnapped in Pakistan |date=8 September 2011 |publisher= The Post-Standard|accessdate=2011-12-03}}{{cite web|author=Nia Towne|url=http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1195145#.VTkOUiHBzGc|title=American killed in U.S. counterterrorism operation was former SUNY Oswego professor|publisher=CNY Central|date=23 April 2015|accessdate=23 April 2015}}{{cite press release |author= |title=SUNY Oswego president expresses sadness on loss of Dr. Weinstein |url=http://www.oswego.edu/news/index.php/site/news_story/weinstein_statement |location=Oswego, New York |publisher=State University of New York at Oswego |date=2015-04-23 |access-date=2015-04-23 |archive-date=2015-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629195630/http://www.oswego.edu/news/index.php/site/news_story/weinstein_statement |url-status=dead }} In the 1980s, he was the Peace Corps director in Togo.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/14/magazine/the-killing-of-warren-weinstein.html?_r=0|title= The Killing of Warren Weinstein| author = Daniel Bergner|date = February 11, 2016 |work = The New York Times }}

At the time of his kidnapping, Weinstein was living in Lahore, Pakistan and working as a Country Director of Operations for the Virginia-based development company J.E. Austin Associates. His work reportedly involved supervising a four-year $11-million "competitiveness project", funded by the American government, which was involved in dairy, horticulture, furniture and medical equipment projects. He spoke six foreign languages and had 25 years of experience in international development projects.{{cite news|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/230576/us-citizen-kidnapped-in-lahore/|title=Pre-dawn abduction: American 'aid expert' kidnapped in Lahore|work=The Express Tribune|date=14 August 2011}}

Eight armed kidnappers arrived at his house on the morning of August 13, 2011, just when his guards were having food and starting their Ramadan fasting. According to one of them, the kidnappers knocked and when he opened the door, he saw three men standing; they offered meals to him and when he politely refused, five more men stormed the house from the back door and overpowered all the guards, tying their hands behind their backs. They then made Weinstein's driver knock on his bedroom door, and grabbed Weinstein when he opened it.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8699426/American-aid-worker-Warren-Weinstein-kidnapped-in-Pakistan.html|title=American aid worker Warren Weinstein kidnapped in Pakistan|date=13 August 2011}}

Kidnapping for ransom is common.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-15996128 |title=BBC News - Al-Qaeda says it kidnapped Warren Weinstein in Pakistan |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date= 2011-12-01|accessdate=2011-12-03}}

Three guards and his driver were being held.{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hD5NS-nrvl-qhKKKdBNQ9sJeyRPA?docId=CNG.37f490980793ed822010b69c4858a6ab.ad1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618095321/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hD5NS-nrvl-qhKKKdBNQ9sJeyRPA?docId=CNG.37f490980793ed822010b69c4858a6ab.ad1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2012 |title=AFP: Month on, fears grow for kidnapped American in Pakistan |date=2011-09-12 |accessdate=2011-12-03}}

On November 1, 2011, arrests were made in the case.{{cite web|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=75537&Cat=5 |title=Police claim arrest of kidnappers of Taseer's son |publisher=Thenews.com.pk |date=2011-11-01 |accessdate=2011-12-03}}

On December 1, 2011, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed to be holding him.{{cite web|author=AFP |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/301043/al-qaeda-holding-us-aid-worker-warren-weinstein-in-pakistan-site/ |title=Al Qaeda claims kidnapping of Weinstein in Pakistan – The Express Tribune |date=December 2011 |publisher=Tribune.com.pk |accessdate=2011-12-03}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna45513674 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202000328/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45513674/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/#.TtgSnGN4MjU |url-status=live |archive-date=2011-12-02 |title=Al-Qaida says it is holding US hostage - World news - South and Central Asia - Pakistan - msnbc.com |publisher=MSNBC |date=2011-08-19 |access-date=2011-12-03}}{{cite news|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/01/al-qaeda-leader-al-zawahiri-claims-responsibility-for-kidnapping-american/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111202155741/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/01/al-qaeda-leader-al-zawahiri-claims-responsibility-for-kidnapping-american/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2011 |title=Al Qaeda leader al-Zawahiri claims responsibility for kidnapping American – This Just In - CNN.com Blogs |publisher=News.blogs.cnn.com |date= 2011-12-01|accessdate=2011-12-03}}{{cite news| url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/1202/Is-kidnapping-older-unarmed-civilians-all-that-s-left-for-Al-Qaeda|title=Is kidnapping older, unarmed civilians all that's left for Al Qaeda?| author=Dan Murphy| work=The Christian Science Monitor| date=December 2, 2011}}

In January 2012, he was reported held in North Waziristan, by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.{{cite web | url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/01/25/136926/al-qaida-still-holding-elderly.html#storylink=cpy | title=Al Qaida still holding American contractor hostage in Pakistan | work=McClatchy Newspapers | date=January 25, 2012 | accessdate=February 17, 2012 | author=Hussain, Tom}}{{cite web | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2012/0125/Kidnapped-US-aid-contractor-reportedly-held-by-militants-in-Pakistan | title=Kidnapped US aid contractor reportedly held by militants in Pakistan | work=The Christian Science Monitor | date=January 25, 2012 | accessdate=February 17, 2012 | author=Hussain, Tom}}

In May 2012, al-Qaeda released a proof-of-life video of Weinstein.{{cite journal|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2012/0507/US-hostage-Warren-Weinstein-makes-plea-to-Obama-in-Al-Qaeda-video-video|title=US hostage Warren Weinstein makes plea to Obama in Al Qaeda video (+video)|author=The Christian Science Monitor|journal=The Christian Science Monitor|date=7 May 2012|accessdate=23 April 2015}} Two more followed that September,{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-hostage-appeals-to-netanyahu-for-help/|title = Jewish hostage held in Pakistan appeals to Netanyahu for help| website=The Times of Israel }}{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-hostage-us-idUSBRE88C13Z20120913 | work=Reuters | title=U.S. hostage urges Jewish groups to work for his release | date=2012-09-13}} and a fourth was released in December 2013.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/kidnapped-american-asks-us-to-negotiate-with-al-qaeda-for-his-release/2013/12/25/8b0f7912-6dcd-11e3-b405-7e360f7e9fd2_story.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Ernesto | last=Londoño | title=National Security | date=2013-12-26}}

Death

On January 15, 2015, Weinstein was accidentally killed in one of a series of unmanned aircraft strikes in Waziristan, Pakistan, along with an Italian hostage, Giovanni Lo Porto, and American al Qaeda leaders Ahmed Farouq and Adam Gadahn, the White House announced on April 23, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/23/obama-us-hostages-killed-al-qaeda/26232205/|title=Obama: 2 hostages accidentally killed in drone strike|website=USA Today}} The White House said it was unaware that any of the victims were present at the sites targeted. They were killed by a "signature strike", one that is launched based on behavioural evidence around a site suggesting a high-value target is inside, without knowing who is actually inside.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/warren-weinstein-adam-gadahn-killed-u-s-operation-n346861|title=Warren Weinstein, Adam Gadahn Killed in U.S. Drone Strikes|work=NBC News|date=23 April 2015 |accessdate=23 April 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Kim|first1=Susanna|title=Warren Weinstein: A Look Back at the Life of the American Hostage Killed During Counterterrorism Operation|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/warren-weinstein-back-life-american-hostage-killed-counterterrorism/story?id=30529569|accessdate=23 April 2015|work=ABC News|date=April 23, 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Fantz|first1=Ashley|title=Al Qaeda hostage, American Warren Weinstein, killed in operation|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/23/world/warren-weinstein-al-qaeda-hostage-death/index.html|accessdate=23 April 2015|work=CNN|date=April 23, 2015}}

Following the announcement, his wife, Elaine, called the government's assistance during Weinstein's years in captivity "inconsistent and disappointing", echoing criticism similar to that expressed by the parents of other killed prisoners, including James Foley and Kayla Mueller. "We hope that my husband’s death and the others who have faced similar tragedies in recent months will finally prompt the U.S. Government to take its responsibilities seriously and establish a coordinated and consistent approach to supporting hostages and their families," she said in a media statement.[http://forward.com/news/world/306648/warren-weinstein-kidnapped-jewish-aid-worker-killed-in-american-air-strike/ "Warren Weinstein's Wife Slams Government After Hostage Dies in American Air Strike", Reuters, via Jewish Daily Forward]

Works

  • Warren Weinstein, John J. Grotpeter, The pattern of African decolonization: a new interpretation, Program of Eastern African Studies, Syracuse University, 1973, {{ISBN|978-0-915984-07-7}}
  • Chinese and Soviet aid to Africa, Praeger Publishers, 1975, {{ISBN|978-0-275-09050-0}}
  • Warren Weinstein, Robert A. Schrire, Political conflict and ethnic strategies: a case study of Burundi, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, 1976
  • Soviet and Chinese aid to African nations, Praeger, 1980, {{ISBN|978-0-03-052756-2}}
  • A sea of troubles: decolonization in Burundi, 1958-1962, University Microfilms International, 1985
  • Ellen K. Eggers, Warren Weinstein, Historical dictionary of Burundi, Scarecrow Press, 1997, {{ISBN|978-0-8108-3261-9}}

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • {{cite web|url=http://www.wtop.com/?nid=807&sid=2499658|title=WTOP.com - Washington, DC News, Traffic & Weather|work=WTOP|accessdate=23 April 2015}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.wtop.com/?nid=41&sid=2496317|title=WTOP.com - Washington, DC News, Traffic & Weather|work=WTOP|accessdate=23 April 2015}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/08/warren-weinstein-american-contractor-abducted-in-pakistan-65090.html|title=Warren Weinstein, American contractor, abducted in Pakistan|work=WJLA|date=13 August 2011|accessdate=23 April 2015|archive-date=5 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105151816/http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/08/warren-weinstein-american-contractor-abducted-in-pakistan-65090.html|url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/warren-weinstein-abduction-pakistan-police-release-kidnapping-suspect/story?id=14332931#.TtD8_mN4MjU|title=Warren Weinstein Abduction: Pakistan Police Release Kidnapping Suspect Sketch - ABC News|author=ABC News|work=ABC News|accessdate=23 April 2015}}
  • http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-13/world/pakistan.kidnapping_1_security-guards-lahore-police-embassy?_s=PM:WORLD {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825190607/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-13/world/pakistan.kidnapping_1_security-guards-lahore-police-embassy?_s=PM:WORLD |date=2011-08-25 }}
  • http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-23/world/pakistan.american.kidnapped_1_security-guards-senior-lahore-police-kidnapping?_s=PM:WORLD {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913074415/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-23/world/pakistan.american.kidnapped_1_security-guards-senior-lahore-police-kidnapping?_s=PM:WORLD |date=2011-09-13 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20111121082314/http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/08/19/7417629-us-remains-puzzled-by-abduction-of-popular-development-expert MSNBC]
  • {{cite web|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/al_qaeda_stockp.php|title=Al Qaeda Stockpiling Toxin; Warren Weinstein Kidnapped in Pakistan; Health Care Bill Hiccup|author=Nick Greene|date=13 August 2011|work=Runnin' Scared|accessdate=23 April 2015|archive-date=19 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419000512/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/08/al_qaeda_stockp.php|url-status=dead}}
  • {{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/25/warren-weinstein-pakistan_n_936028.html|title=Warren Weinstein, American Abducted In Pakistan, Still In Captivity (VIDEO)|work=The Huffington Post|accessdate=23 April 2015}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/rev_summary.php?id=22632|title=Revolving Door: Warren Weinstein Employment Summary - OpenSecrets|work=opensecrets.org|accessdate=23 April 2015}}
  • {{cite web|url=http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=53264&pageid=17&pagename=News|title=The Cutting Edge|work=thecuttingedgenews.com|accessdate=23 April 2015}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weinstein, Warren}}

Category:1941 births

Category:2010s missing person cases

Category:2015 deaths

Category:Accidental deaths in Pakistan

Category:American expatriates in Pakistan

Category:American people of Jewish descent

Category:American people taken hostage

Category:Columbia University alumni

Category:Deaths by American drone strikes in Pakistan

Category:Foreign hostages in Pakistan

Category:Missing person cases in Pakistan

Category:Missing American people

Category:Terrorism deaths in Pakistan

Category:Victims of Islamic terrorism

Category:21st-century American businesspeople