Send in Bill Murray. 
Posted on 08/02/2009 3:22:11 PM PDT by Cheap_Hessian
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An American linguistics student traveling in northern Iraq didn't go on an ill-fated hiking trip because he had a cold—a twist of fate that prevented him from mistakenly wandering into Iran where his three friends were reportedly detained.
The Swiss Embassy in Tehran was working Sunday to learn more about the Americans' fate through its contacts with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, spokeswoman Nadine Olivieri said. Switzerland represents U.S. interests in Iran.
Shon Meckfessel sat out the hike because he had a cold, his grandmother, Irene Meckfessel, told The Associated Press from her home in Carmichael, Calif. He called her Saturday from the American Embassy in Baghdad, she said.
The four had traveled to Turkey, then entered Iraq on Tuesday and traveled to Sulaimaniyah, according to the Kurdish regional government. On Thursday, one stayed behind while the other three took a taxi to the resort town of Ahmed Awaa, it added.
The regional government's statement said the three got lost during an excursion and were detained by Iranian authorities at the border.
The area where the three disappeared is a popular hiking destination known for a picturesque waterfall and rocky scenery as well as a thick growth of fruit and nut trees.
Camping equipment and two backpacks apparently belonging to the Americans were found in the area and it seemed they were hiking above the waterfall when they accidentally crossed the border, a Kurdish security official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Is this the same Shon Meckfessel that wrote “Shuffle How it Gush: A North American Anarchist in The Balkans?”
Who in the world schedules day treks in Iraq?
If you are not there at the request of the U.S. Government then you are on your own. Don’t ask the Military or State Department to waste resources on your clearly invulnerable butt...
apparently the three are peace activists. Shane Bauer went to UC Berkely and his girlfriend that was with him describes herself as an activist on her Facebook page.
exactly! your on your own IDIOTS.
Their “hiking trip” story was so thin, flimsy and CRAZY that I honestly thought they must be our spies. But nooo~~~~!
Yes, libs reall ARE this stupid..!
I honestly think we should do NOTHING to help them. Their own capture might even be an orchestration that they INTENDED.
To move heaven & earth to get them back would be foolish and encourage others.
Too many American travelers naively believe that our State Department will jump through diplomatic hoops to dig American citizens out of jams of their own making. These folks are about to learn different.
There's plenty of Americans rotting away in foreign jails who our consular officials have all but washed their hands of. We have drummed into our heads whenever we pull into a foreign port. "Get in trouble here, you're on your own."
I, for one, vote that we jeer and add insult to injury. Maybe we can send this thread to their jailers...?
Send in Bill Murray.
The San Francisco byline raised my suspicions.
It's a fairly common Irish name. I'm sure it must be someone else.
How fortunate for him to miss the hike!
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