Interesting Wikipedia trivia involving Syria, a USN pilot shot down by the Syrians, and Obama’s pastor of 20 years:
While on a bombing mission, the two-man crew from Attack Squadron VA-85 was hit by an infrared homing missile (SA-7 or SA-9) into the engine nozzle upon dropping its bomb-load, while still in a dive through 1,800 feet (554 m) AGL. The fuselage and a wing were immediately engulfed in flames, and then the right side engine erupted.
The pilot, United States Navy Lieutenant Mark Lange, a Naval Aviator, tried to control the aircraft in order to safely eject the crew. After a rapid, low-level descent, the Intruder was seen to pull up and likely stalled, resulting in a crash on a 1,000 AGL [clarification needed] hill, above a village surrounded by Syrian Anti-aircraft artillery positions. Lange ejected both himself and Goodman in the final moment, but his parachute failed to properly deploy by the time he hit the ground. Lange’s left leg was severely injured and he died shortly after capture by Syrian troops and Lebanese civilians. Goodman, rendered unconscious, broke three ribs, injured a shoulder and a knee during the landing, but was otherwise stable. He was captured and awakened by the Syrians and taken to Damascus.
Captivity[edit]
Goodman was held for more than a month, during which the U.S. government made numerous attempts to free him. He had a few visitors, including Ambassador Robert Paganelli who brought him Christmas dinner.
Freedom[edit]
In January 1984, Jesse Jackson travelled to Libya and Syria within a party of approximately 20 volunteers including; Wyatt T Walker, Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakhan. The mission’s peaceful purpose was accomplished, as they secured the release of Goodman.[2][3]
———http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Goodman
Wiki’s sources :
2. Walters, Ronald (2007). Freedom Is Not Enough: Black Voters, Black Candidates, and American Presidential Politics (American Political Challenges). Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, p. 34. Excerpt at Google Books.
3.Jump up ^ Martin, Roland (10 April 2008). “New Details Emerge on Polygamy Raid; McCain Makeover?”. Election Central (CNN). Retrieved December 9, 2008. “the fact that it was Reverend Wright who accompanied Reverend Jackson to get a Navy pilot, Goodman, out of Syria, who also was on that trip with Louis Farrakhan. Reagan praised that mercy mission for getting the pilot back.”
-——http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Goodman
/snip
How trustworthy the sources are, I don’t know, but various regimes have a habit of releasing hostages or POWs to American leftists whose political status in the US they wish to raise for these regimes’ own purposes and future benefit. We’re always glad to get our people back, but be aware the regimes do not release hostages/prisoners to just anyone... they do it to get the most bang for their buck.