Anna Corbett, the wife of Ryan Corbett, a Livingston County man wrongfully detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly a year and a half, will attend the State of the Union address. The Corbetts, who moved to Afghanistan in 2010 to make a positive impact, found themselves in a dire situation following the American troops’ withdrawal and the Taliban’s resurgence. Despite being granted a business visa for his contributions to the Afghan economy, Ryan was detained during a trip in August 2022, and efforts to secure his release have been ongoing.
Ryan, who has been allowed minimal contact with his family, remains in a basement cell, raising concerns about his deteriorating health. The State Department, NSA, and bipartisan members of Congress, including Rep. Claudia Tenney, who invited Anna as her guest, are working to negotiate his release. The family’s ordeal highlights the complexities of diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, with Rep. Tenney emphasizing the importance of securing Ryan’s freedom without concessions.
Anna hopes her presence at the State of the Union will intensify efforts to bring her husband home, especially with significant family milestones approaching, such as their daughter’s high school graduation. The Corbett family’s struggle underscores the personal toll of geopolitical conflicts and the urgency of diplomatic solutions for detained Americans abroad.
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