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over in iron to come backan to come back home. he thought he was going to see a family member a grandmother, and here he sits in a president. >> -- in a prison. >> the family amir put his life on the line for both of us and for the rest of the nation. >> it is frustrating. a good friend of mine someone i've known for years in the state of wisconsin, kevin was one of the youngest people the youngest marine held hostage for 444 days in iran a generation ago. and now you think about sergeant hekmati being held even longer obviously much longer than that. and for something, again, where he clearly, from what i talked to his family about, they walked me through how he had done all the paperwork. he checked out. he was going to see family at
over in iron to come backan to come back home. he thought he was going to see a family member a grandmother, and here he sits in a president. >> -- in a prison. >> the family amir put his life on the line for both of us and for the rest of the nation. >> it is frustrating. a good friend of mine someone i've known for years in the state of wisconsin, kevin was one of the youngest people the youngest marine held hostage for 444 days in iran a generation ago. and now you think about sergeant hekmati being held even longer obviously much longer than that. and for something, again, where he clearly, from what i talked to his family about, they walked me through how he had done all the paperwork. he checked out. he was going to see family at
here's the thing, greta. we went to great expense, the united states, to bring home sergeant bo bergdahl in a situation like this when he was held captive. what about this decorated marine? >> that's the e-mail sent in from a lot of people. not just this marine is there a pastor being held there because he is a christian. i don't doubt the u.s. wants him home. the problem is that they are not successful. we need success. so whatever strategy they're employing so far is a big zero. it's just not working. if the state department and the white house and everybody else can't seem to keep these parents from being so frustrated, a lot is because they are not communicating with them. these are very good americans. they just want their son to come home. there is "the washington post" reporter on our screen right now. that is another situation wrongfully imprisoned. amir hekmati has been tortured
danger and served a tour in iraq, when he has done something extra for the rest of us, i want to do something extra back. i didn't serve. this is the least i can do is use my platform to put a spotlight on it. >> that is admirable. what can viewers do? people are thinking to themselves, what can we do to help increase awareness about sergeant hekmati and the others being held? >> you can tweet about it. put it on facebook. take clips from what we'll put out after the show at 7:00 p.m. put a giant spotlight on it. that's our best weapon. finally, there is enough pressure on the government to change its tactics. i'm saying they don't care. whatever they are doing isn't working. they need to care enough so they change their strategy and try something new. this is not easy dealing with these people. these are horrible. this is a rogue nation. this is a terrible nation that's done terrible things. we don't trust them. we are in the midst of a complicated nuclear weapons
there. we don't know where levinson is former fbi. we know the pastor has been tortured. he has terrible health problems. what we know is that the administration has had a big zero when it comes to getting them home. >> and to top it off with sergeant hekmati his father is battling cancer. he wants to see his son come home. >> 63-year-old man came to this country, absolutely loves the united states. all he wants to do is bring his son home and he can't. it's one of those heartbreaking stories. i suppose there are lots of americans with similar situations. when it's a u.s. marine for some reason i just want to push a little harder. it doesn't mean i don't think we should bring our christian pastor home we should. the fact he is being held for his beliefs is atrocious. when someone put himself out in
regime in iran, sergeant amir hekmati, thrown into prison in 2011 while visiting his grandmother in iran. his family forced to go through back channels as they fight for his release. our own greta van susterenat greta van susteren has been following his story. great to have you back on "the real story." last week we were talking about the four americans we know of that are still being held in iran, and you said well maybe if i haven't heard from these families because i'm so used to spearheading movement to try to help them maybe if i haven't heard from them they are part of the nuclear negotiations. what do you think about it now? >> i don't think there are any parts of it -- it's very complex. everyone in the united states wants to get these four home. the families are so discouraged because their loved ones are not home. so now they are coming forward a little bit. state department says it's doing what it can. the families feel abandoned.