Iran Jails American Hikers For 'Spying'

Skynews ^ | 08/20/11 | skynews

[winoneforthegipper]

Two American hikers who were detained in Iran have been sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of "illegal entry" and "espionage," the state TV website says.

[kearnyirish2]

“No doubt, but I must confess that I have no sympathy for Berkeley students who go out hiking in these of all places secure in the knowledge that if anything were to happen, the United States military would put themselves at risk to save their Peace Studies butts.”

It is so stupid for them to be there that they probably were spying, though I have no idea who they work for. American 15 year-olds know it is too dangerous to be there (even on the “right” side of the border).

[PaleoBob]

Nuke their sorry asses off the face of the earth unless they release them. Give them ten minutes. It’s a win-win.

[Vaquero]

these were lefty troublemakers...let them rot.

[jesseam]

In 2005 I was in a Blackhawk that flew over the Iraqi side of the border in that area and even though we were armed to the teeth, increased stress was there. I can’t imagine any one hiking on those trails.

[kearnyirish2]

“During Vietnam, communist sympathizers hiked across the border from Cambodia to show “solidarity” against the oppressive American regime.”

The Khmer Rouge did the same thing to journalists dying to get the story (literally).

[Vaquero]

Nuke their sorry asses off the face of the earth unless they release them. Give them ten minutes. It’s a win-win.

WHO??? Barack Hussein zer0bama???

you gotta be kidding? we ARE in the lead of Islamic Extremism...

Still too many people, even here in FR, who think Zer0bama is bad, but not evil...he is evil and out to destroy all things American..

[b4its2late]

It’s like deja vu all over again.

[Chode]

feh... lets hope this is a learning experience for them not to play with fire, something their parents obviously never taught them but should have

[Abigail Adams]

I’m wondering if the harsh sentence will make the Iranians look more magnanimous when they release them during rama-dama-ding-dong?

[odds]

Iraq is not safe. In July, I heard Iranian Revolutionary Guards attacked a Kurdish (Iranian) Opposition grp, which also operates out of Iraq (PJAK) - they are not militant Kurdish ones like PKK (mostly in Turkey). Fact is that Iraq isn’t safe for much, including hiking. And, holding a US passport won’t help much. Iraq is increasingly under the Iranian mullah regime’s influence.

winoneforthegipper: I thought those American hikers were jailed months ago.. old news?

[americanophile]

This is such an outrage. These are just some innocent, well-meaning kids. This president is absolutely impotent.

[americanophile]

I have to say, I'm shocked by the callous, smug remarks on here. These were simply idealistic young people with a passion for the environment, hiking, photography, and an interest in foreign cultures; at worst, these kids were foolish, which is hardly a crime. They are American citizens, with families, who have been abducted for purely political reasons and badly mistreated by that monstrous regime. Shame on some of the people on this site who said they get what they deserve - no innocent American citizens deserve to be abducted, imprisoned and brutalized.

[Kevin in California]

What would drive a person(s) to decide to go hiking in a country as unstable as Iran? What did you expect? There’s plenty of places to hike in the US alone.

Like the saying goes, “you can’t fix stupid!”

[treetopsandroofs]

“I have to say, I’m shocked by the callous, smug remarks on here. These were simply idealistic young people with a passion for the environment, hiking, photography, and an interest in foreign cultures; at worst, these kids were foolish, which is hardly a crime.”

The people who are posting the “callous, smug remarks” simply are not believing Big Media’s line that they “were simply idealistic young people with a passion for the environment, hiking, photography, and an interest in foreign cultures.”

[Liberty Valance]

You might be right. If so, releasing them could take place next October. Would that surprise anyone? I think Iran would love to see Obama re-elected.

[americanophile]

So what were they? Spies? LOL!

[winoneforthegipper]

They were jailed. A few weeks ago they held their kangaroo court and today released the sentence.

[Retired Greyhound]

These were simply idealistic young people with a passion for the environment, hiking, photography, and an interest in foreign cultures;

Hahahaha. Good one.

These kids spent four years at Berkeley listening to and participating in America-hatred. They were taught (and believed) that America was the big evil in this world, and that if they only go to Iran, they can maybe apologize for big bad America and show the Iranians that, "see, all Americans aren't evil".

These kids had an agenda, and it backfired on them.

It's similar to Rachel Corrie and the Italian guy that went to Gaza in solidarity, only to find himself beheaded.

I don't think these kids are much different than John Walker Lindh.

[Bulwyf]

You make excellent posts, just one thing I disagree on. Canada has the world’s best trails and scenery. When God made the world, after he had everything down perfect, he made British Columbia heh. Cheers!

[americanophile]

They were hiking in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq. They have disputed that they ever entered Iran, much less did so intentionally for the purposes of 'spying.' Many tourists go to the Kurdish region, it's really not as unusual as it once was. Moreover, many people, including Americans, routinely travel to Iran, including tourists. I don't think anyone on this forum should be siding with the Iranian government or claiming justification for abducting our citizens and trying them on trumped up charges. We're Americans, we have the right to travel to other friendly countries - including an Iraq we've spent billions to liberate - without fear of being molested by the criminal Iranian government.