Our process is about as thorough as there can be . '' Lawmakers on both sides of the debate defended the Obama administration 's Yemeni rescue efforts . A failed effort led to the deaths of hostages Luke Smith , an American journalist , and Pierre Korkie , a South African teacher . The US should n't pay ransoms to terrorists , the lawmakers said .
Lawmakers on both sides of the debate defended the Obama administration 's Yemeni rescue efforts . A failed effort led to the deaths of hostages Luke Smith , an American journalist , and Pierre Korkie , a South African teacher . The US should n't pay ransoms to terrorists , the lawmakers said .