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US 'hikers' leave Iranian jail, head to airport
reuters ^ | 09/21/2011

Posted on 09/21/2011 11:37:39 AM PDT by Mount Athos

Two US men who have been held as spies in Iran for more than two years left their Tehran jail on Wednesday, accompanied by Omani officials who, according to a diplomatic source, drove them to an airport.

Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal have been in Iranian custody since their arrest on July 31, 2009 on the border with Iraq where they say they were hiking.

The deal to release them was delayed because the judge in charge of the trial - who had to sign off on the agreement - was on vacation until yesterday. The judiciary had said on Tuesday that their release was not imminent, reflecting a rift between the country's ruling and hard-line elites.

Lawyer Masoud Shafie had said last week that the men would be released on $500,000 bail each. A third American, Sarah Shourd, was arrested with the men but was allowed home on $500,000 bail in September 2010.

Shourd's release was similarly delayed for several days by the judiciary after it had been announced.

Washington has denied the three Americans were spies and their supporters complain that no evidence against them has been made public. Their trial took place behind closed doors.

Ahmadinejad's announcement, to US media, that the men would be freed was seen by analysts as a bid to improve his international standing ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting which starts on Wednesday.

Neighboring Iraq said it has helped to mediate the release.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hikers; iran
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1 posted on 09/21/2011 11:37:48 AM PDT by Mount Athos
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To: Mount Athos

Who paid the bail (which I presume will be forfeited)?


2 posted on 09/21/2011 11:39:22 AM PDT by NeilGus
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To: NeilGus

I think I heard on CNN that the nation of Oman was footing the bill for this escapade.

Note to hikers: War zones are not tourist destinations.


3 posted on 09/21/2011 11:41:41 AM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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To: Mount Athos

One of the recently released hikers was overheard saying to the other that he had already booked their hiking trip to North Korea for the Christmas holiday.


4 posted on 09/21/2011 11:45:40 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Lazlo in PA

LOL!

Wait. You ARE kidding, aren’t you?


5 posted on 09/21/2011 11:50:29 AM PDT by American Quilter (aka American Hobbit)
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To: Lazlo in PA
Fortunately for them that trail has been paved with TANK KILLER MINES.

You can't miss them.

So, does this mean we let Ahmanutjob LEAVE the country alive after his visit? Or is the game on anyway?

Anyone heard?

6 posted on 09/21/2011 11:51:32 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Mount Athos

First thing they’ll do when they get home will be to kiss the runway.

Second thing they do will be to go to Best Buy to purchase a GPS.


7 posted on 09/21/2011 11:53:30 AM PDT by Da Bilge Troll (Defeatism is not a winning strategy!)
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To: American Quilter

Yes I am. It wouldn’t surprise me though to hear this actually will happen.


8 posted on 09/21/2011 11:57:52 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Mount Athos

Note Bene: Only the first three dumbasses get book and movie deals.


9 posted on 09/21/2011 12:01:19 PM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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To: muawiyah

The first thing these idiots will do is apologise to Achmadenejob for the United States mistreating the Iranian people and then burn the American flag !! These people are nothing and this country would be better off if Iran had kept their sorry A$$ over there.


10 posted on 09/21/2011 12:08:28 PM PDT by bestrongbpositive
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To: NeilGus

Who paid the bail/ransom (which I presume will be forfeited)?

Next time maybe these guys will hike Yellowstone and save their families a half million bucks apiece.


11 posted on 09/21/2011 12:10:42 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: NeilGus
"Who paid the bail"

It was only $1M. Buffett paid it out of his pocket. . . . . .
He said Jimmy would sing a song about it, to cover it.

12 posted on 09/21/2011 12:11:07 PM PDT by DeaconRed (Cold War Veteran. . . . US Army Security Agency 1964-1968)
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To: bestrongbpositive

Why do you think they’d do that?
I don’t know much about them


13 posted on 09/21/2011 12:12:02 PM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: Mount Athos

Just a couple of Obambi liberals along with that gal that was with them. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were not snooping around over there on some kind of Government grant. There has to be more to their story than we have heard.


15 posted on 09/21/2011 12:27:37 PM PDT by bestrongbpositive
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To: Mount Athos

This is zero’s Iranian hostage crisis moment. He’s still trying to replicate the Carter era. It’s about the only thing he’s good at.

What are the odds that zero will be hammering plywood in three years?


16 posted on 09/21/2011 12:27:57 PM PDT by cicero2k
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To: cicero2k
What are the odds that zero will be hammering plywood in three years?

You mean getting hammered at Man's Country, 0bambi's favorite homosexual hangout on the outskirts of Chicago:

His favorite activity? Fellating older white men.

17 posted on 09/21/2011 12:36:32 PM PDT by twister881
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To: Mount Athos

Reuters, a purported “News” organization, uses scare quotes around “Hikers” to make sure it follows the Iranian propoganda line.


18 posted on 09/21/2011 12:38:10 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Gore Lauds Romney on Climate Position; 0bamaCare was based on RomneyCare.)
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To: NeilGus

yes, i’d like to know who paid $1 million.


19 posted on 09/21/2011 1:09:59 PM PDT by ken21 (ruling class dem + rino progressives -- destroying america for 150 years.)
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To: SJSAMPLE

Still, I am thankful that they have been released


20 posted on 09/21/2011 1:42:36 PM PDT by eccentric (a.k.a. baldwidow)
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