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.

[Allegra]

Hiking in Iran while American. What could go wrong?

Well, they actually started their little hiking adventure in Iraq.

Equally as stupid.

[Allegra]

Well, I have sympathy for these guys simply because I'm sure Iranian prisons make ours look like country clubs. And I feel for their families. The compassionate side of me hopes they can appeal this and be released, although it doesn't look good.

I do, however, have to question what on earth these people were thinking hiking in Iraq (and then "straying" into Iran???)

The Kurdistan region of Iraq is not as insane as Baghdad, Basra, Anbar Province and well....the rest of Iraq. But it certainly isn't a safe place and has not been for a long time - especially for Americans.

If these people wanted some hiking adventure somewhere, they could have gone to Nepal or Argentina or any number of other places that could be considered somewhat "exotic."

Why on earth they would choose Iraq is beyond me and they should have had some expectations of something along these lines happening.

So, I hope they can get out of Iran, but they shouldn't have been playing around that area of the world in the first place.

[xp38]

Thanks

[cashless]

I really don't give a rip about the hikers, why they were there or whatever. What I do know is that Ronald Reagan would have had a five minute address to the nation and would have told the Iranians that they had two choices and they should make the right choice or the bombing would start in 30 minutes. We rely way too much on protocol and back door negotiations. One well placed Cruise middle would have guaranteed their release the day after their capture was announced. The Iranians know the Dip$hit in Chief would never attack his Muslim brothers. The rest of the world know he'd rather bow than bomb. Our weakness is being exploited.

[TigersEye]

Looks like a complete idiot festival happened in your keyword section.

[10thAmendmentGuy]

Can’t wait to hear the hypocrisy from some on the left who will now call for the U.S. to intervene and rescue them. I’m sure the U.S. would if they had been kidnapped, but all indications are that they were in fact trespassing in Iran, and that’s a pretty dumb thing to do, considering the nut-job in charge there.

[americanophile]

Their actions were foolish, not criminal. They don’t deserve 8 years in prision for hiking near the border, and in my opinion every American citizen wrongfully incarcerated deserves the support of his countrymen. I’m old fashioned that was I guess, but my country, right or wrong.

[JudgemAll]

Yeah, in the words of Bill Clinton, we are crazy, until hikers like him find themselves stuck with the thugs. Then right wingers are called for help.

Is there a method to this liberal madness, slave driving us and keeping the leaders at the leash?

[driftdiver]

Ah so they were hiking in Iraq, thats different now.

[driftdiver]

“Why does it matter what school they went to?”

They are American citizens who willingly placed themselves in a war zone. Why should someone else risk their lives to rescue these people?

I love hiking, there are safer places to go hiking. If they were researching family roots they picked a bad time & place for it.

[driftdiver]

These aren’t kids who got into trouble while kayaking. They walked into a war zone and into the hands of America’s enemies.

So you’ll risk your childs life to go rescue these idiots?

[driftdiver]

Nobody is siding with Iran on this forum. These ‘young kids’ made their bed and now they can sleep in it.

I’d feel sorry for them if they were there supporting a charity or actually helping people. No, they were there for a vacation.

[driftdiver]

“Americans should not fear to travel abroad because of their nationality’

Says who, that is the most naive thing I’ve seen on here in a long time. Heck I avoid parts of THIS country because I fear for my safety.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Why does it matter what school they went to? They’re American citizens abducted/kidnapped by Iran"

They are soft headed lefties who put their heads deliberately into the lions mouth and got bit.

The smartest one of the three was the girl. She phonied up a medical story and was able to get out of there.

Smart enough not to go back and stand trial either.

[driftdiver]

I have a friend who works in Iraq. He’s a civilian but doesn’t go anywhere without an armed team to protect him.

[winoneforthegipper]

Yeah I typed in jsut Iran....lol

Not sure what happened there?

[TigersEye]

That’s some speshul nonsense there. lol :)

[Bulwyf]

I never said it was criminal, just meant what I said about the action/reaction thing. If I walk up to a grizzly and try to hand feed the bear, it might eat what I give it, but it might eat me too, it’s a risk you take. I use that analogy because I’m near the Rockies heh.

From a soldier’s point of view, this mission is a no go, I would not risk my men’s lives for sheer stupidity.

[Bulwyf]

So, without fear, because I want to, I should travel to cambodia, burma, north korea, you name the craphole country, I should travel without fear, because it’s my right to do so? At some point common sense has to kick in, which these two people have zero of.

[winoneforthegipper]

Yeah it got a WTF out of me and i am not talking winning the future either....lol