One week ago today marked the beginning of the fifth year of captivity for American journalist Terry Anderson. Anderson and 13 other international hostages are being held in Lebanon, and Anderson is the longest held hostage there.

Anderson, while working for the Associated Press in the Middle East, was returning home from a tennis game in March 1985 when he was seized in Moslem West Beirut, and remains there with no signs of release. A true tragedy—one we can only hope will be solved before it’s too late.

Six Western journalism organizations commemorated this horrible anniversary by issuing a “solidarity with Anderson” statement to President George Bush and his administration. Although they did what they could by issuing the statement urging Bush to fight for Anderson’s release, this is apparently not enough.

Looking back to November 1979, the publicity and pressure put on then-President Jimmy Carter to release the hostages in Iran was unstopped. How often do we hear about these 14 hostages? Is this because of the small number? One hostage, one life should be treated as would a large number. This is a crisis situation that Bush seems to be sitting on, much like former President Reagan before him.

This case needs more publicity. The Bush administration needs more pressure. It must be accountable for 41-year-old Terry Anderson and the six other American hostages in Lebanon. We need answers to questions—answers as to what Bush’s efforts have been and will continue to be.