[lentulusgracchus]

The truth of the matter is, you are all too happy to have two of your fellow citizens imprisoned and brutalized for five years on phony espionage charges in a criminal regime because you don't agree with the views they hold according to their First Amendment rights.

Whatever you think of the criminal regime, it has the right and power to police its borders by its own lights. The hikers disrespected that power and now they're paying. And we're supposed to get all jingo-y about these morons?

[americanophile]

"Whatever you think of the criminal regime, it has the right and power to police its borders by its own lights."

And whatever you think of the hikers, they are American citizens with natural human rights. Does the right of Iran to police it's borders, in your estimation, extend to coming across the Iraqi border and abducting people and incarcerating them on false charges, which is the orginal allegation made by the hikers?

"The hikers disrespected that power and now they're paying."

Why so eager to believe Iran? Do you belive them on anything else?

"And we're supposed to get all jingo-y about these morons?

Perhaps we could just limit the alternating levels of delight and indifference on this thread.