Roger Carstens
The Diplomat
People, composure and the difficult conversation held well.
Roger Carstens is an ambassador focused on resolving sensitive international issues, particularly regarding the release of wrongfully detained individuals. This interview reveals his commitment to empathy and human connection in diplomacy, showcasing his ability to navigate complex political landscapes while prioritizing the needs of families and individuals.
“A hard thing about that title, though, is that I've been surprised that some of the people I've met with would meet with me. Because as we're planning to go meet someone and say Venezuela or pick your country, we're wondering if that title hostage will actually bother them because most of these countries start from the position that the p…”
“I was reading the newspapers, news week and time It's funny. I did all that too before you know at night I'd throw the newspaper out on the carpet and I'd lay down on my stomach and just read. And, you know, as I read all this stuff, I thought surely someone is going to save the day here, that someone's going to stop this.”
“So rather than maybe answering whether the president says no or not or ever, what I can say is he said yes a lot. And as a result, there are 50 Americans that have come home that have been specifically on my desk.”
“It's better to say here's, I'm going to tell you what I can. And by the way, we're declassifying some information so I can give you a better brief in a few weeks because we want them to know the families don't leak. You know, they have a vested interest in safeguarding that information.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Ep. 594 — Amb. Roger Carstens
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