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Cicippio, Joseph (1932– )———95

short-range and ineffective missiles at a U.S. Army campus for months. On the morning of September 12,
base on the island of Okinawa. In 1986, the group gunmen, in well-orchestrated moves, grabbed Cicippio
made a similar attack during the G7 trade summit; at just outside the university building where he lived.
that time, experts estimated that the missiles had a Cicippio recalls that his kidnappers, posing as students,
two-mile range. In the G7 incident and several similar called out to him by name before taking him. His
attacks, however, the aim appears to have been prop- broken glasses and traces of his blood were the only
erty damage rather than casualties. evidence of his abduction.
Since 1986, Chukahu-ha has confined its activities Little was heard about Cicippio until August 1989,
mostly to protests, propaganda, and threats, while when a group of Shiite Muslim extremists called the
directing its violence toward members of rival groups. Revolutionary Justice Organization announced that he
Chukaku-ha is still an active political force within was to be executed in retaliation for the arrest of Sheik
Japan, however, and concerns about the group’s con- Abdul Karim Obeid. But instead of being executed,
tinued terrorist capabilities led to a police crackdown Cicippio spent the next five years in captivity, tethered
and increased security during the March 2000 G8 by a three-foot chain.
summit. Many initiatives for freeing the hostages con-
verged in late 1991. The militants released Thomas
Further Reading Sutherland and Terry Waite on November 19, and on
November 20, Abbas Musawi, a Hezbollah leader,
Jameson, Sam. “Millions Stalled as Japanese Radicals
Sabotage Government Owned Rail Lines.” New York announced that the fate of the remaining American
Times, November 29, 1985, 5. hostages was no longer tied to the Arabs held by
Rapoport, Carla. “Saboteurs Hit Japan Railways.” Israel, thus removing a political obstacle to freeing
Financial Times, November 30, 1985, 3. the hostages. Iran, the principal sponsor of many of
Sato, Shigemi. “Police Crack Down on Japanese Radical the radical Shiite groups, was using its influence to
Leftists Ahead of G8 Summit.” Agence France Presse, free the hostages, in hopes of eliminating the U.S.
March 22, 2000. trade sanctions that were strangling its economy.
Stokes, Henry Scott. “Rival Youth Gangs Blamed for Meanwhile, Giandomenico Picco, the special Middle
Japan’s Rising Violence.” New York Times, November 5, East envoy of the U.N. Secretary General, was also
1980, A5. nearing success in his negotiations with the Syrian
Utting, Gerald, and Joel Ruimy. “Terrorists Fire Rockets as government.
Tokyo Summit Opens.” Toronto Star, May 5, 1986, A1.
Watts, David. “Japanese Radicals Terrorize Backers of The Revolutionary Justice Organization released
Railway Sell-Off.” The Times (London), September 3, Cicippio on December 2, 1991, after 1,908 days of
1986. captivity. He was reunited with his Lebanese-born
wife, Elham, in Damascus, Syria. U.S. military physi-
cians found that Cicippio was in fair health, the con-
ditions in which he was kept would affect him for life.
CIA. See CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.
He suffered occasional dizziness from a blow that had
left him both unconscious and with a dent in his skull,
as well as permanent frostbite in his fingers from two
CICIPPIO, JOSEPH (1932– ) winters spent on a partly enclosed balcony.
Cicippio returned to the United States with no job
and little money. Their life savings had been
Joseph Cicippio was one of the last U.S. hostages depleted when his wife paid ransom to conmen.
to be released by the militant Islamic group that had Cicippio and fellow hostage David Jacobsen sued
taken him captive in Lebanon. Iran for $600 million in U.S. courts. The civil suit
When he was abducted in 1986, Cicippio was included claims of kidnapping, physical abuse, false
the acting comptroller of the American University in imprisonment, inhumane medical treatment, loss of
Beirut. Muslim extremist groups had already abducted job opportunities, and pain and suffering, as well as
a handful of American University professors and staff. a claim that Iran kept the Western hostages as lever-
Because of the increasing danger to all Westerners age to free billions of dollars in assets frozen by the
in Beirut, Cicippio had not ventured outside of the United States—Cicippio and Jacobsen deemed