The Weekend Intelligence: The hunt for Austin Tice

The Economist's "The Weekend Intelligence" presents the first episode of a three-part investigation led by Gareth Browne into the disappearance of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria in 2012. The episode begins with the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the subsequent search for Tice, who was believed to have been held as a bargaining chip. Browne recounts his journey through Syria, detailing the atrocities of Assad's regime and the challenges in uncovering the truth. The episode explores Tice's background as a Marine-turned-journalist, his experiences reporting from Syria, and the risks he took to cover the conflict. It features interviews with individuals who knew Tice, including his Marine commander and CNN correspondent Clarissa Ward, providing insights into his character, motivations, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. The episode concludes with the emergence of a video showing Tice in captivity, setting the stage for the next installment of the investigation.