{Iran}

SPIT...

I'm glad she's freed. I just hope she's not another apologist.

The MSM will, has, and intends to fall for this shit hook, line and sinker!

CHAMPIONS of HUMAN RIGHTS!

I hope she's not another Giuliana Sgrena.

What am I missing here.
Was she sentenced to 8 years, and released after four months.

re: #5 Sharmuta

I hope she's not another Giuliana Sgrena.

You'll have to refresh my memory on that one?

Charles: You've got 8 years, she was imprisoned 4 months. 8 years is the time she was over there as a reporter I believe.

So as soon as O took office she turned into a ploy for Iran to test the new Pres.'s mettle.

re: #5 Sharmuta

I hope she's not another Giuliana Sgrena.

who knows...it would not surprise me tho, just a misunderstanding and lousy chow

I am glad she is free.

But.

re: #8 Thanos

Charles: You've got 8 years, she was imprisoned 4 months. 8 years is the time she was over there as a reporter I believe.

So as soon as O took office she turned into a ploy for Iran to test the new Pres.'s mettle.

She was sentenced to 8 years. Was in jail 4 months and just "pardoned".

re: #8 Thanos

Charles: You've got 8 years, she was imprisoned 4 months. 8 years is the time she was over there as a reporter I believe.

So as soon as O took office she turned into a ploy for Iran to test the new Pres.'s mettle.

he sentence was 8 years

re: #2 Sharmuta

I'm glad she's freed. I just hope she's not another apologist.

It is good news to see her freed.
Let's hope she is with the people of Iran who must live in that g-d awful theocracy. Let us hope she doesn't betray them.

re: #8 Thanos

Charles: You've got 8 years, she was imprisoned 4 months. 8 years is the time she was over there as a reporter I believe.

So as soon as O took office she turned into a ploy for Iran to test the new Pres.'s mettle.

/pimf nevermind; that was the sentence doh!

Which is it -- one report says the journalist was imprisoned for 4 months, and another says 8 years... (?)
.

The Iranians will think this entitles them to concessions from the US.

Unfortunately, Obama thinks that way too.

I'm glad she's been released. I'm just wondering (a) how fast they'll arrest somebody else (journalist or otherwise) on another trumped-up charge, and (b) what they'll demand "under the table" to release them?

/ I believe in their "good will" about as much as believe that they, or Cuba, belong on the UN's Human Rights Commission.

cheers

eon

re: #16 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

The Iranians will think this entitles them to concessions from the US.

Unfortunately, Obama thinks that way too.

hell yes...2+2=5

I heard on the radio this morning that she is either a former Miss South or North Dakota. That of course means that she competed in the swimsuit competition. I'll bet the Mullahs were so pleased with that.

re: #19 opnion

I heard on the radio this morning that she is either a former Miss South or North Dakota. That of course means that she competed in the swimsuit competition. I'll bet the Mullahs were so pleased with that.

They were upset she was over 12 at the time.

re: #17 eon

I'm glad she's been released. I'm just wondering (a) how fast they'll arrest somebody else (journalist or otherwise) on another trumped-up charge, and (b) what they'll demand "under the table" to release them?

/ I believe in their "good will" about as much as believe that they, or Cuba, belong on the UN's Human Rights Commission.

cheers

eon

maybe it's a catch and release scam...maybe she has a new credit card...maybe, maybe

re: #16 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I worry that we've already made a concession which is the only explanation I can think of for why she is out of jail.

re: #15 Tamron

Which is it -- one report says the journalist was imprisoned for 4 months, and another says 8 years... (?)
.

Sentence was 8 years, she has been imprisoned the last four. She's also been reporting from Iran for about 8 yrs. I know, confusing sorry for the dumb comment up top.

Iran still sees her as guilty btw, they just reduced and suspended her sentence:

An appeals court reduced her jail term on Monday to a two-year suspended sentence.

WASHINGTON (AP) - A war funding bill headed to the floor next week would provide the $50 million sought by the Pentagon to relocate prisoners from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said Monday.

Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Inouye told him that the measure would not allow money to be spent to bring accused terrorists to the U.S. before the end of the budget year on Oct. 1.

[Link: www.breitbart.com...]

Were are they going...to the French Rivera?

re: #20 DEZes

They were upset she was over 12 at the time.

Thanks DEZes now I need to clean my monitor. Great LOL

Releasing a woman they shouldn't have imprisoned in the first place, and they call it "mercy".

Perhaps it's just me- but "mercy" usually means showing kindness to one who may not deserve it. Like- not leveling an entire country after seizing embassies- that's mercy. Letting a person out of jail when their innocent isn't.

re: #20 DEZes

They were upset she was over 12 at the time.

Probably over the hill by their standards. You know the Prophet liked them reaaaly young.

Obama will think it's a signpost on the road to dialogue too.

re: #23 Thanos

I was confused as well.

re: #22 acacia

I worry that we've already made a concession which is the only explanation I can think of for why she is out of jail.

what further concession is left to make?

Roxana was heard mumbling ...
..."And to think all I did was switch to Geico"...

re: #30 brookly red

what further concession is left to make?

Iraq

re: #25 callahan23

Thanks DEZes now I need to clean my monitor. Great LOL

Sorry about that. ;)

pimf

See? Strongly worded letters work.

Whoda thunk?

re: #24 Nevergiveup

Wouldn't that be Nice!

re: #29 DEZes

I was confused as well.

Well I shouldn't have been, there's a clear diff between sentence and time already served ":)

On the other hand, I also got it confused with the time she's been there in Iran... this is what happens when you skim.

re: #32 albusteve

Iraq

could be but I don't see it.

re: #30 brookly red

Iran has an endless appetite and we now seem to have an endless ability to appease.

re: #37 Thanos

Well I shouldn't have been, there's a clear diff between sentence and time already served ":)

On the other hand, I also got it confused with the time she's been there in Iran... this is what happens when you skim.

It was posted as imprisoned, I think Charles has fixed it.

Is there anything Obama can't do? He heals the sick, frees the captives, and keeps faith with his children in death as in life.

Who is like unto thee, allmighty Barack, source of our life, shield of our health?

re: #38 brookly red

could be but I don't see it.

it would be a cake walk tho, a halve the distance to Tel Aviv...

Did the State Department have anything to do with her release?
Anybody hear anything?

re: #36 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Wouldn't that be Nice!

Yeah, ya know maybe I would pay to see that?

re: #41 Darwin Akbar

Is there anything Obama can't do? He heals the sick, frees the captives, and keeps faith with his children in death as in life.

Who is like unto thee, allmighty Barack, source of our life, shield of our health?

I'll bet he can't take me out in a baroom brawl

They are playing Obama like a fiddle.

re: #43 opnion

Did the State Department have anything to do with her release?
Anybody hear anything?

Why did you hear a big sucking sound?

re: #30 brookly red

what further concession is left to make?

Whatever it is or may be, you can bet we'll only find out after the fact. Unless, of course, they let Joe the Mouth in on it- he'll tell us immediately just to prove he was right when he told us that The One was going to do the wrong thing, but it would really be the right thing.

That's sort of like arriving where you've already left.

Being a Douglas Adams fan helps in understanding this administration. It's very much like having breakfast at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe after doing six impossible things before 0700.

cheers

eon

re: #42 albusteve

it would be a cake walk tho, a halve the distance to Tel Aviv...

the last time they danced with Iraq they didn't like it very much...

re: #45 albusteve

I'll bet he can't take me out in a baroom brawl

He now has people.

re: #46 Ojoe

They are playing Obama like a fiddle.

cue 'Turkey in the Straw'...hahaha

re: #47 Nevergiveup

Why did you hear a big sucking sound?

Kind of.

Interesting trend, actually. Iran takes Westerners hostage, keeps them under nice conditions for awhile, then releases them saying they're being merciful. The UK sailors come to mind along with this. It's as if they're using these situations to show they can be reasonable, a nice front to cover their nihilistic ambitions. A pretty facade to fool 'peace through weakness' diplo-idiots.

re: #46 Ojoe

They are playing Obama like a fiddle.

I agree. It's like stealing someone's wallet just so you can get the reward for returning it.

re: #41 Darwin Akbar

Is there anything Obama can't do? He heals the sick, frees the captives, and keeps faith with his children in death as in life.

Who is like unto thee, allmighty Barack, source of our life, shield of our health?

Well, he has a little trouble remembering his lines...

cheers

eon

re: #41 Darwin Akbar

Is there anything Obama can't do? He heals the sick, frees the captives, and keeps faith with his children in death as in life.

Who is like unto thee, allmighty Barack, source of our life, shield of our health?

And he has quite the edgy sense of humor.

Accused Nazi guard John Demjanjuk was taken by ambulance from his Ohio home late Monday afternoon to a customs office in Cleveland and is expected to be deported to Germany by Tuesday.

[Link: www.foxnews.com...]

Why ain't there any evening flights?

Miss North Dakota is a free woman!

(Now, if I only had similar hopes for the two journalists NK is holding.)

re: #50 opnion

He now has people.

oh yea?...I have two armies...left armie and a right armie

re: #2 Sharmuta

I'm glad she's freed. I just hope she's not another apologist.

Is that likely? Her dad is a Persian living in North Dakota, after all. How likely is it that she's a regime booster? (I know nothing about this girl except that she was Miss North Dakota, and the arrest thing.)

Saberi, who was crowned the 1997 Miss North Dakota, moved to Iran six years ago and had worked as a freelance journalist for several organizations, including NPR and the British Broadcasting Corp.

I think being very attractive actually helped her get free. Because, fair or not, attractive people get more media attention and sympathy for their cases. The international pressure, which was partly due to her looks, paid off.

She was arrested in late January, but it was not known until Feb. 10, when she called her father in Fargo and told him she had been detained. She said it was because she had bought a bottle of wine, which is illegal in Iran but available on the black market.

All this over a bottle of wine. Unbelievable.

I think this act of selfless compassion warrants restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries! And President Obama should apologize profusely to the Iranian government for the inconvenience that the U.S. diplomats taken hostage at our embassy in Teheran caused to their captors! And of course, President Obama should express his gratitude that Iran financed and trained those who attacked the U.S. military in Iraq and elsewhere with IED and similar devices. (I won't even mention Iranian support for Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas.)

I mean, why can't we be friends?///

re: #59 albusteve

oh yea?...I have two armies...left armie and a right armie

Slap that sucker so many times, make him think that he's surrounded!

I would dearly love to see Obama get into a dialogue with The Crocodile over Twelver theology.

/Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor

re: #22 acacia

I worry that we've already made a concession which is the only explanation I can think of for why she is out of jail.

Doubt it. Hope not. They were going to give her back as a gracious gesture at some point, I just thought it would take longer.

Good

re: #61 zombie

99 hezbollahs of wine on the wall,
99 hezbollahs of wine,

re: #53 Sharmuta

Interesting trend, actually. Iran takes Westerners hostage, keeps them under nice conditions for awhile, then releases them saying they're being merciful. The UK sailors come to mind along with this. It's as if they're using these situations to show they can be reasonable, a nice front to cover their nihilistic ambitions. A pretty facade to fool 'peace through weakness' diplo-idiots.

I see it as a rather juvenile PR scam...if anyone is fooled they would have to be very stupid...no one is fooled, it's a game

re: #44 Nevergiveup

Yeah, ya know maybe I would pay to see that?

They could go into a new line of work, as automobile ... "refinishers".

re: #68 albusteve

I see it as a rather juvenile PR scam...if anyone is fooled they would have to be very stupid...no one is fooled, it's a game

The UN is a daycare center.

re: #61 zombie

She's definitely hot, but she works for NPR, and she likes cheap wine. That's a turnoff for me. ;-)

Lieberman knocks Cheney: 'We're not less safe'

Is Cheney the only politician who's still in possession of his balls?

re: #61 zombie

All this over a bottle of wine. Unbelievable.

She is very pretty.

I've been watching a lot of Iranian movies recently. One film in particular was relevant to this case, because in one scene, a wealthy Iranian (the son of expats who returned to manage a business) entertains ladies at his apartment and has many bottles of imported wine. Apparently, it's quite easy to get and is commonplace -- if you have enough money.

re: #63 opnion

Slap that sucker so many times, make him think that he's surrounded!

use 'im for a speed bag!...

re: #72 unrealizedviewpoint

Lieberman knocks Cheney: 'We're not less safe'

Is Cheney the only politician who's still in possession of his balls?

basically

re: #72 unrealizedviewpoint

Lieberman knocks Cheney: 'We're not less safe'

Is Cheney the only politician who's still in possession of his balls?

Ah Yes.

This is probably something Ahmadinejad and the mullahs wanted to get out of the way before the elections next month. They were probably afraid that Saberi, who is an Iranian citizen, was gaining domestic sympathy with her hunger strike. I doubt if Obama did much of anything because he's waiting for the elections next month as well.

re: #70 Sharmuta

The UN is a daycare center.

there you have it!...good one

re: #75 zombie

I've been watching a lot of Iranian movies recently. One film in particular was relevant to this case, because in one scene, a wealthy Iranian (the son of expats who returned to manage a business) entertains ladies at his apartment and has many bottles of imported wine. Apparently, it's quite easy to get and is commonplace -- if you have enough money.

so is the wine...

re: #73 buzzsawmonkey

She's an NPR reporter. Don't get your hopes up.

I hope the Iranians treated her with respect during her captivity...F'g Bastards

re: #79 buzzsawmonkey

Are you whining about the wine?

re: #79 buzzsawmonkey

Cheap wine is better than no wine at all.

Boone's Farm made a fortune on just such a premise.

re: #62 quickjustice

I think this act of selfless compassion warrants restoration of full diplomatic relations between the two countries! And President Obama should apologize profusely to the Iranian government for the inconvenience that the U.S. diplomats taken hostage at our embassy in Teheran caused to their captors! And of course, President Obama should express his gratitude that Iran financed and trained those who attacked the U.S. military in Iraq and elsewhere with IED and similar devices. (I won't even mention Iranian support for Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas.)

I mean, why can't we be friends?///

I do believe that we are cretins for not having a staffed Embassy in Tehran. We are depriving them of the opportunity to capture the Embassy & humiliate the U.S while holding our people hostage.
As I recall last time, they really liked it.

was gaining domestic sympathy with her hunger strike.

Does my freedom make me look fat?

/sorry, that was cheap.

Posted this earlier today, worth a second shot...

"Despite how the conflict has been portrayed by our glorious media, if you gave any U.S. soldier a gun with two bullets in it, and he found himself in an elevator with Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Osama bin Laden, there's a good chance that Nancy Pelosi would get shot twice, and Harry Reid and bin Laden would be strangled to death."

-CBS Sports golf analyst David Feherty

Yeah, he's apologized.

re: #74 SanFranciscoZionist

She is very pretty.

pffft!...I like homely womens...course I'm blind in one eye and don't see outa the other

re: #75 zombie

Carmen Bin Laden said the same thing about the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prohibiting intoxicants always gives rise to a black market.

re: #75 zombie

I've been watching a lot of Iranian movies recently. One film in particular was relevant to this case, because in one scene, a wealthy Iranian (the son of expats who returned to manage a business) entertains ladies at his apartment and has many bottles of imported wine. Apparently, it's quite easy to get and is commonplace -- if you have enough money.

There's a scene in one of the Persepolis graphic novels, where the main character's uncle is having illicit parties with homemade wine. His cleaning lady stomps the grapes for him, reluctantly, because she's very devout.

re: #85 Nevergiveup

Crab Apple Cove! Baby!

You get BoA fixed? I remembered the term I was trying to think of to help you out.

Did she apologize profusely for the inconvenience she caused her captors?

re: #86 opnion

I do believe that we are cretins for not having a staffed Embassy in Tehran. We are depriving them of the opportunity to capture the Embassy & humiliate the U.S while holding our people hostage.
As I recall last time, they really liked it.

It did keep Carter in the White House and out of the public eye also?

re: #86 opnion

I do believe that we are cretins for not having a staffed Embassy in Tehran. We are depriving them of the opportunity to capture the Embassy & humiliate the U.S while holding our people hostage.
As I recall last time, they really liked it.

That will be the next idea for unclenching the fist. . .give them more hostages. . .I mean reopening the embassy. . .

It would be nice to see everyone removed from Evin Prison, and then it be flattened. The legacy goes back to the Shah's Secret Police.

One of the interseting notes to this case is this woman knows both Khameini and Ahmadinejad. Neither were informed that she was to be arrested. Neither was happy about it. Country is filled with religious and paranoid loons.

re: #93 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Crab Apple Cove! Baby!

You get BoA fixed? I remembered the term I was trying to think of to help you out.

The money is in my account so I guess so. I am sure I will never get an explanation.

re: #68 albusteve

I see it as a rather juvenile PR scam...if anyone is fooled they would have to be very stupid...no one is fooled, it's a game

Have you looked at State and the White House lately?

It's no great trick to fool people who;

A. Think they're the Smartest People In The Entire History Of Creation, and

B. Really, really want to believe in what the huckster says, because they want to prove everybody who ever disagreed with their worldview wrong, and rub their noses in it.

In fact, people like that are past masters at fooling themselves. So it doesn't even take a particularly good con man to scam them. They do most of the actual work on their own.

cheers

eon

re: #98 pat

One of the interseting notes to this case is this woman knows both Khameini and Ahmadinejad. Neither were informed that she was to be arrested. Neither was happy about it. Country is filled with religious and paranoid loons.

And those are the sane one!

re: #83 HoosierHoops

I hope the Iranians treated her with respect during her captivity...F'g Bastards

In Evin Prison?
Why, of course they did!

/

re: #97 pre-Boomer Marine brat

It would be nice to see everyone removed from Evin Prison, and then it be flattened. The legacy goes back to the Shah's Secret Police.

I'd rather leave some of the personnel inside.

re: #89 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
YEA! BUT IT WAS FUNNY!
You gotta admit...

re: #100 eon

Have you looked at State and the White House lately?

It's no great trick to fool people who;

A. Think they're the Smartest People In The Entire History Of Creation, and

B. Really, really want to believe in what the huckster says, because they want to prove everybody who ever disagreed with their worldview wrong, and rub their noses in it.

In fact, people like that are past masters at fooling themselves. So it doesn't even take a particularly good con man to scam them. They do most of the actual work on their own.

cheers

eon

Especially when you walk around with a sign on your back-"Kick Me"!

re: #98 pat

One of the interseting notes to this case is this woman knows both Khameini and Ahmadinejad. Neither were informed that she was to be arrested. Neither was happy about it. Country is filled with religious and paranoid loons.

Might have been a diss to them, rather than/as well as Obama.

re: #102 pre-Boomer Marine brat

In Evin Prison?
Why, of course they did!

/

Yeah- sheesh, it's not like there have anything like GITMO there. . ./// Only we are the evil torturing bastards. . .///

re: #96 DisturbedEma

That will be the next idea for unclenching the fist. . .give them more hostages. . .I mean reopening the embassy. . .

I think that he will.

re: #94 quickjustice

Did she apologize profusely for the inconvenience she caused her captors?

not to be a spoiler but I wager there is alot more to this bullshit than we'll ever know...I doubt she was mistreated and I bet she cut several deals along the way...I just don't think it's all legit...but whatever, I'm glad she was released with her head still attached

re: #98 pat

One of the interseting notes to this case is this woman knows both Khameini and Ahmadinejad. Neither were informed that she was to be arrested. Neither was happy about it. Country is filled with religious and paranoid loons.

Who drove the arrest and prosecution? The Guardians Council?

re: #98 pat

One of the interseting notes to this case is this woman knows both Khameini and Ahmadinejad. Neither were informed that she was to be arrested. Neither was happy about it. Country is filled with religious and paranoid loons.

Khameini and Ahmadinejadgee?, what if she really was a spy?

re: #95 Nevergiveup

Headline TV News during the last year and a half of the Carter Administration: "The Iranian Hostage Crisis: Day 365" The evening news every day. It murdered Carter politically. And within hours of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. It was as if the Iranians were taunting Carter's weakness.

re: #80 KingKenrod

This is probably something Ahmadinejad and the mullahs wanted to get out of the way before the elections next month. They were probably afraid that Saberi, who is an Iranian citizen, was gaining domestic sympathy with her hunger strike. I doubt if Obama did much of anything because he's waiting for the elections next month as well.

As a result of that line somewhere Avanti is feeling a strange urge to turn on his computer and post.

re: #109 opnion

I think that he will.

notice no sarc from me. . .do we have a symbol for "holy shit this just might happen"?

re: #103 SanFranciscoZionist

I'd rather leave some of the personnel inside.

*looking away*
*twiddling fingers*
*whistling softly*

/*grinning*

re: #113 quickjustice

Headline TV News during the last year and a half of the Carter Administration: "The Iranian Hostage Crisis: Day 365" The evening news every day. It murdered Carter politically. And within hours of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. It was as if the Iranians were taunting Carter's weakness.

Yup

She got arrested over a bottle of wine in Iran.

How is she different than a person being arrested for marijuana possession in the United States?

Don't get me wrong- glad, she's freed. But I'm curious over the parallel.

re: #113 quickjustice

Headline TV News during the last year and a half of the Carter Administration: "The Iranian Hostage Crisis: Day 365" The evening news every day. It murdered Carter politically. And within hours of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. It was as if the Iranians were taunting Carter's weakness.

or respecting President Ronald Reagan's promise of quickjustice.

re: #108 DisturbedEma

Yeah- sheesh, it's not like there have anything like GITMO there. . ./// Only we are the evil torturing bastards. . .///

And we're the only one with a Hotel California.
/people disappear into Evin

re: #107 SanFranciscoZionist

yup

re: #118 Sharmuta

I know Islam prohibits consumption of alcohol, which is why secular Saudis have "tea parties". This smells like someone was looking for a pretext to bust her.

re: #118 Sharmuta

She got arrested over a bottle of wine in Iran.

How is she different than a person being arrested for marijuana possession in the United States?

Don't get me wrong- glad, she's freed. But I'm curious over the parallel.

Was the wine sold in Iran?

re: #79 buzzsawmonkey

liberal whine costs a lot more

re: #118 Sharmuta

She got arrested over a bottle of wine in Iran.

How is she different than a person being arrested for marijuana possession in the United States?

Don't get me wrong- glad, she's freed. But I'm curious over the parallel.

We usually don't arrest people for pot, then put them in San Quentin, and accuse them of espionage.

The original arrest charges may well have been true, and if so, were a dumbass mistake on her part. The rest...

re: #113 quickjustice

The Iranians knew what Reagan would do...
Wish he had done it too...

re: #113 quickjustice

Headline TV News during the last year and a half of the Carter Administration: "The Iranian Hostage Crisis: Day 365" The evening news every day. It murdered Carter politically. And within hours of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. It was as if the Iranians were taunting Carter's weakness.

If the same thing happened today, the MFMSM would do everything to blame it on Bush. If they had to blame it on Obama, we'd barely hear about it.

re: #120 pre-Boomer Marine brat

And we're the only one with a Hotel California.
/people disappear into Evin

yep. . .

re: #113 quickjustice

Headline TV News during the last year and a half of the Carter Administration: "The Iranian Hostage Crisis: Day 365" The evening news every day. It murdered Carter politically. And within hours of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. It was as if the Iranians were taunting Carter's weakness.

I prefer to think that the prospect of what Reagan would do to Iran scared the snot out of them.

re: #118 Sharmuta

She got arrested over a bottle of wine in Iran.

How is she different than a person being arrested for marijuana possession in the United States?

Don't get me wrong- glad, she's freed. But I'm curious over the parallel.

and whatever happened to the person that sold it to her?...probably craned him

re: #104 buzzsawmonkey

Fort Apache. And for someone who wasn't sure of the movie...you had the lines down perfectly!

At least she was not raped like the Italian and Canadian women journalists. Knowing Ahmadinejad had at least one benefit.

re: #126 buzzsawmonkey

It is particularly foolish to knowingly flout the laws of your host country if that country has an innately brutal and arbitrary legal system.

yes...something is very fishy about the whole story imo...she holds dual citizenship...wth?

re: #131 Son of the Black Dog

I prefer to think that the prospect of what Reagan would do to Iran scared the snot out of them.

Which raises the question, if Carter had been reelected how long would the Iranians have continued to hold the hostages?

I don't know the current situation in Iran, but I'm told that half the population is under 25, and very pro-Western. Contraband must be commonplace. To bust someone for that, and then try her for espionage, suggests a pretext. It could have been jockeying among the power elites, or just a test of the U.S. government.

Now we know that the Iranian power elites love Obama./

re: #125 SanFranciscoZionist

re: #126 buzzsawmonkey

Yes, very dumb.

And that should be enough to make most people discount her reporting.

re: #133 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Fort Apache. And for someone who wasn't sure of the movie...you had the lines down perfectly!

I was going to say that...he did

re: #132 albusteve

and whatever happened to the person that sold it to her?...probably craned him

I'm given to understand that you can buy your way out of a lot.

re: #137 opnion

Which raises the question, if Carter had been reelected how long would the Iranians have continued to hold the hostages?

It could have been a long, long time.

re: #137 opnion

Which raises the question, if Carter had been reelected how long would the Iranians have continued to hold the hostages?

You think we got's problems now...Yikes! If he had won...who knows where we'd be today.

Iran has the highest rate of drug addiction of any country on earth. The Ayatollah Khomeini did not thinks drugs were prohibited under sharia.

re: #135 buzzsawmonkey

Probably a member of the Thought Police, just like the fellow who rents Winston Smith the room above his antique shop.

if they had been watching her closely she was either spying or not...if so they would have iced her for sure...seems like anyway

re: #134 pat

At least she was not raped like the Italian and Canadian women journalists. Knowing Ahmadinejad had at least one benefit.

From my research, Ahmadinejad is "merely" a politician.
"Merely" means that the reins of power lie in others' hands.
In essence, he serves at the pleasure of the Expediency Council.

/that's NOT to absolve him of ANYTHING, it's to state political reality

re: #145 pat

Iran has the highest rate of drug addiction of any country on earth. The Ayatollah Khomeini did not thinks drugs were prohibited under sharia.

And if I lived in Iran, I'd be doing drugs too.

re: #139 Ojoe

I have a friend who was a journalist in Moscow before the fall of communism. She said it was commonplace for the KGB to lure reporters by approaching them with offers to exchange money illegally, or buy their denim jeans, also illegal. They'd then make the arrest, and extract something of value from their employers or the U.S. government for their release. She said shrewd and experienced journalists could sense and avoid these traps.

re: #142 buzzsawmonkey

Those two films blur in my mind. I sometimes get the impression Ford shot the two of them at the same time, and cut them up into separate features.

The followup is great, too: Fonda says to McLaglen, "Destroy it [the whiskey." "Destroy it, sir?" asks McLaglen. "You heard me," says Fonda. McLaglen takes out a cup and says to his mates, "Well, boys, it's a man's work we have ahead of us."

VM was the very best at that role...it was always written for him...loved him dearly...and don't forget his powerful performance in the "Quiet Man"...just awsome

re: #151 buzzsawmonkey

I'll try to find it...thanks

re: #149 quickjustice

I have a friend who was a journalist in Moscow before the fall of communism. She said it was commonplace for the KGB to lure reporters by approaching them with offers to exchange money illegally, or buy their denim jeans, also illegal. They'd then make the arrest, and extract something of value from their employers or the U.S. government for their release. She said shrewd and experienced journalists could sense and avoid these traps.

Young Bill Clinton went to Soviet Russia during has sojourn at Oxford.
Ever wonder what the KGB had on him?
And who got access to it after the fall of the Soviet Union?
Chicoms, maybe?

re: #113 quickjustice

Headline TV News during the last year and a half of the Carter Administration: "The Iranian Hostage Crisis: Day 365" The evening news every day. It murdered Carter politically. And within hours of Reagan's inauguration, the hostages were released. It was as if the Iranians were taunting Carter's weakness.

I remember Reagan's inauguration. The network I watched had Reagan taking the Oath on one side of the screen, and the hostage's plan taking off leaving Iran on the other side. The two events were simultaneous. In the media's mind (and in reality) Carter's dismal presidency and the hostage crisis were one and the same thing. Carter leaves; hostages freed.

Never underestimate the political machinations of the Iranians...and the willingness of some in the US to buy into the intended propaganda goal.
They arrange a bogus arrest, subject her to a Kangaroo court, imprison her for four months, and then release her.
And suddenly numerous journalists are saying it's a thaw in relations.

Well, at least they didn't rape and torture her to death like they did Canadian journalist, Zahra Kazemi .

Be sure to see what Ledeen says about this.

Why does the Mafia release hostages? Because they have collected the ransom. So to all those who are looking for subtle reasons for the Saberi release, take it from someone who has been there. Iran collected its ransom. The mullahs aren't subtle, they're mafiosi. We probably won't know for a while what they got, who delivered it, and who worked the deal. But anyone familiar with the workings of the Islamic Republic has to assume that there was a payoff.

when the bill comes due for this act of "mercy," you can be sure that Israel will be the payment. Hhere's one scenatio: iran releases this woman and in return, Obama tells iran that Israel will not open up a can of whoop ass on their nuke facilities.

I don't care about one sole capture in Iran.

I care about capturing the whole future of the free world by nuclear Iran. I'm terrified with the thought USA no longer will rule the Western civilized hemisphere.

Maby, baby, moving to Australia for the next 30 years is the right thing to do.

re: #22 acacia

I'm sure Iran got something . I worry what it might be. They didn't release her out of the goodness in their hearts. We'll find out what it was eventually. Like Benjamin Franklin said: "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead."

You gotta wonder, what did the Mullahs get from the US of Obama.

I don't much care what the diplomatic machinations were that resulted in this release, but I'm thrilled that this young lady has been released by the savage Iranian system.
In the long run it probably means very little in terms of the greater issues, but at least the gal is now headed back home where she belongs.

All this talk about Obama being "fooled" by Iran, etc., is just stupid.

Are we forgetting that Iran itself has set two preconditions for talks with the US?

In an exclusive interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency, [Iran's vice president] said as long as U.S. forces have not left the Middle East region and continues its support [sic] for the Zionist regime, talks between Iran and U.S. is [sic] off the agenda.

Obama is not going to abandon Israel, and unless you count the still-to-be-accomplished "withdrawal" from Iraq, our forces aren't going anywhere.

So with Iran refusing to talk to us, where is this grand betrayal going to come from?

...

crickets

It's not a matter of being fooled by Iran, the Iranians had just sentenced this American journalist to I think 8 years and now presto chango she's released? Something was given up, and I think we may get a clue when Netanyahu comes to DC in June. Obama could care less about Israel, he doesn't give rats ass about Americans if they disagree with him. Just as Judge Bybee.

or for that matter, the bond holders of Chrysler who wouldn't cave, or Joe the plumber, or Limbaugh, or the banks who want to pay back TARP money but can't, welcome to US of thuggery.

Have fun with your ODS.

re: #149 quickjustice

I have a friend who was a journalist in Moscow before the fall of communism. She said it was commonplace for the KGB to lure reporters by approaching them with offers to exchange money illegally, or buy their denim jeans, also illegal. They'd then make the arrest, and extract something of value from their employers or the U.S. government for their release. She said shrewd and experienced journalists could sense and avoid these traps.

re: #156 clgood

Seems like there's a lot of rumor and speculation about this case, but these two posts seem to have the ring of truth to them. We may never know what really happened.

Still it brings back some vague memories of H Ross Perot, who went to extreme lengths to rescue some of his employees. I forget the full story, but I think it was even from Iran.

Lastly, it seems like this woman would be an ideal person for the CIA to try to recruit. The fact that Obama said she wasn't a spy only makes me even more suspicious.

I added this link to the headline but wanted to make sure it came to everyone's attention, it's deserving of our memory.
From [Link: www.jewishjournal.com...]

Recalling Elghanian’s Execution 30 Years Later
By Karmel Melamed

"Thirty years ago this week, philanthropist Habib Elghanian became the first Jew executed by Iran’s radical Islamic regime after he was falsely charged and convicted of spying for Israel..."

The word on the street is that President "O" blinked and soon some very important Iranian folks, currently in U.S. hands in Iraq, will be traveling back to their homeland.

It's an oft played game called switchy which is very popular in the leftist summer camps.

Here's how it's played: You take your right forefinger and put it in your mouth. Then you take your left forefinger and shove it deep up where the sun don't shine.

When a fellow camp member named Hugo, Fidel, Mahmoud (Ahmadinejad) or Bashar (al-Assad) YELLS "switch", you change your finger's places and smile.

This jolly good game was invented by some British chap named Neville Chamberlain.

re: #43 opnion

Did the State Department have anything to do with her release?
Anybody hear anything?

No. They'd be trumpeting it all over the media if they had been involved in anything that could be called successful.

re: #163 jmmejzz

It's not a matter of being fooled by Iran, the Iranians had just sentenced this American journalist to I think 8 years and now presto chango she's released? Something was given up.

Probably not. I was predicting her near-immediate release just a few weeks ago; her value as a propaganda tool had a short shelf life, and beyond that she became more and more of a liability. She was sentenced largely as a campaign stunt by Stimpy, and has now served that purpose. Her release is simply more of the same, with the Iranian government claiming to be merciful and just.

It's all for the home crowd. No need to invoke any shadowy deals. It's nothing more than what it appears to be - an mini-hostage crisis being spun for political purposes within Iran.

More interesting may be her own story. As an NPR reporter, I'm not getting my hopes up. But NPR and other international news organizations pretty much hung her out to dry, and mounted no tangible support for her release. We'll see what the mugged liberal has to say shortly.

Iran needs to be stopped. It’s within your power to help.

Right now Iran is in trouble economically, mostly due to the recent collapse in the price of oil. Now is the time to hit them in their wallets.

* Get in touch with every business you know of that is doing business with Iran and let them know that they’ve lost you as a customer until they cease their connections with Iran.
* Boycott every business that does business with Iran.
* Send copies of your correspondence to the media and your favorite blogs.
* Get the word out - Forward this to as many people as you can, post this on websites, blogs, facebook, etc.

Go here for a list of businesses working with Iran

Lets stop Iran now!

DoubleTapper

re: #60 SanFranciscoZionist

Is that likely? Her dad is a Persian living in North Dakota, after all. How likely is it that she's a regime booster? (I know nothing about this girl except that she was Miss North Dakota, and the arrest thing.)

One of the outlets she reported for was NPR. A lot of these reporters go to places like Iran because they want to show that Iran (or some other tyranny) really isn't all that different from us.

Just a guess.

Associated Press writer Ali hu Akbar Dareini

When they call out this guys first and middle names people probably dive for cover.

Ali ooop

How can State allow dual citizenship with Iran?