Taliban Video of American Hostage Caitlin Coleman, Her Canadian Husband and Their Two Children: We Find Ourselves in a "Kafkaesque Nightmare"

The Taliban recently released a video of American hostage Caitlin Coleman, held in Afghanistan since 2012, along with her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle, and their two children, one born in captivity. In it, Coleman, who says that the video was shot on December 3, addresses Obama and Trump about their legacies and urges the governments "to reach some agreement to allow us freedom." Joshua Boyle, holding the two toddlers, addresses "whichever State Department official has to watch this video," adding cynically that "we both know the president is not going to see it." He asks that they meet their captors' demands, adding: "You probably underestimate the arrogant ignorance that pervades these people." The video was posted on YouTube on December 19, 2016.

Caitlin Coleman: "Today is December 3, 2016. We have waited since 2012 for somebody to understand our problems, the Kafkaesque nightmare in which we find ourselves. We understand both sides hate us and are intent to leave us and our two surviving children in these problems. But we can only ask and pray that somebody will recognize the atrocities these men carry out against us as so-called retaliation, in their ingratitude and hypocrisy. My children have seen their mother defiled. We ask quickly, in our collective 14th year of prison, urge the governments on both sides to reach some agreement to allow us freedom. Obama, your legacy on leaving office is probably important to you and our lives and the lives of our children are important to us. So please don't become the next Jimmy Carter. Just give the offenders something so they and you can save face and we can leave the region permanently. Donald Trump, the legacy of a millennia of demon worship in this country is that those who speak high and noble of Islamic ideals are not going to simply release our family easily because it is correct. They want money, power, friends. You must give them these things before progress can be made. A five-year hostage taking is too long and indicates failure on every side. Believe us, we have tried to explain the irony in sin to these men, but to no avail. We need you and the government to step up and do us a favor here and solve the problems. We are told there are Afghans who are prisoners in Kabul that these men care about, and they do not want to be punished. Indeed they threaten to retaliate against our family. That their group will do us harm and punish us, so we ask that you are merciful to their people and God willing, they will release us."

Joshua Boyle: "And to whichever state department official has to watch this video, we both know the president's not going to see it, or the coming president. And that the decision probably ultimately lies with you, but there's no point explaining that to our captors. And I'm sure you think that my family could get out of this if we wanted and I can only promise you that we can't. You, like us, probably underestimate the arrogant ignorance that pervades these people and don't understand that we're dealing with people who think that America killed all the monkeys in their country and the drones are listening to them sleep at night. There is no point explaining to them that we are the worst bandees to try and have a prisoner exchange with. They really will not settle this until they get what they are demanding, so I can only ask that you will please quickly try to resolve this for our sake and the sake of our children. And we can talk about compensation later. But it has been more than four years and so I do plead with you to please be quick."

On-screen text:"This is a clear message!! The release of the couple and their children will not come into realization until all our demands are met! We advise you against any evasiveness and any attempt of provocation because this is of no benefit to you! For if you agree to our demands then we will release your citizens but if not then you will face dangerous consequences. Do not even dare to try us with our patience because we know very well how to respond to the oppressors and arrogates. Know that the failure is destined for the one who does not know how to respond in a given situation."