Lawmakers from both parties defended the Obama administration 's attempt to rescue American journalist Luke Somers early Sunday morning , even though the dangerous mission did not result in saving Somer 's life . `` It was an unfortunate outcome , '' House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers , a Republican , told Candy Crowley on CNN 's `` State of the Union . '' `` But I do believe you have to make these kinds of decisions . '' Rep. Adam Schiff , D-California , who also serves on committee , said on `` CNN Newsroom '' on Sunday , `` Obviously we would have loved to be able to rescue these hostages and preserve their lives . '' `` But I think it was the right decision to make ... The President made the call , the tough call that it was worth the risk . And I think he was exactly right , '' he said . American photojournalist Luke Somers and South African Pierre Korkie , a teacher who was reportedly set to be released on Sunday , were fatally shot in the compound by terrorists as the secret mission unfolded , a U.S. official said Sunday . Some critics have argued , in light of recent hostage killings , the administration should reconsidered its policy not to negotiate ransoms with terrorist organizations . But in a visit to Afghanistan Sunday , Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel defended the administration 's policy , while also acknowledging that the Pentagon needs to be careful in how it conducts raids . `` There 's an immense amount of focus and time and review that goes into these operations , '' Hagel told reporters , according to a pool report . `` So , I do n't think it 's a matter of going back and having a review of our process . Our process is about as thorough as there can be . '' `` Is it imperfect ? Yes . Is there risk ? Yes . But we start with the fact that we have an American that 's being held hostage , and that American 's life is in danger . That 's where we start , and then we proceed from there , '' said the outgoing secretary . Both Rogers and Schiff also defended the administration 's hostage policy -- and like Hagel -- they acknowledged that improvements need to be made to U.S. rescue operations . `` When you pay ransom , you get more kidnappings . That 's certainly what we saw across Africa . We 're certainly seeing it in Yemen as well , '' Rogers said . `` If we 're going to be extorted into paying ransom to al Qaeda so that they can rape women and blow up buildings and kill civilians , men , women and children , that 's a pretty bad plan to start with . I agreed with the President 's decision . '' Schiff reinforced Roger 's position that paying ransoms only fuels more violence . `` I think you end up funding other hostage taking and the cycle just perpetuates itself , so I think our decision is the right one , '' he said . `` Rather , try to rescue our hostages than pay ransoms , and , of course , prospectively trying to keep our people out of harm 's way . I think that is really the right policy , as painful as it is , and as enormously agonizing as it is for the families of these hostages . ''
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle defended the Africa administration 's Yemeni rescue attempt . A failed effort led to the deaths of hostages Pierre Korkie , an South African journalist , and Luke Somers , a South African teacher . The Yemen should n't pay ransoms to terrorists , the lawmakers said .