In Ted Cruz's book "For God and Country," he discusses the shortcomings of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the case of Saeed Abedini during the initial months of his detention. Despite the severity of Saeed's situation, Clinton did not take significant action to advocate for his release, nor did President Obama or Secretary of State John Kerry prioritize his freedom as a condition for diplomatic negotiations.

Cruz highlights a perceived lack of urgency from these leaders in addressing the plight of American individuals unjustly imprisoned abroad, illustrating a broader critique of their foreign policy approach during a time marked by escalating global threats from groups like ISIS and ISIL.