Report: Iran Sentences US Hikers to 8 Years for Spying
- Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:24am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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American hikers Shane Bauer, left, and Josh Fattal, center, and their translator attend the first session of their trial at the revolutionary court in Tehran February 6, 2011. (Reuters/Press TV)
Two American hikers held in Iran since 2009 have each been sentenced to eight years in prison for spying, the state television station reported Saturday.
Lebanese outlet the Daily Star:
“According to an informed source with the judiciary, Shane Bauer…and…Josh Fattal, the two detained American citizens, have been each sentenced to three years in prison for illegal entry to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the website reported.
It further said that the two have separately been “sentenced to five years in prison on charges of espionage for the American intellgience [sic] agency.”
It is unclear if the sentences will include time served. Bauer and Fattal have 20 days to appeal.
According to CNN, the Tehran prosecutor’s office has said it has “compelling evidence” that Bauer, Fattal and fellow hiker Sarah Shourd were cooperating with U.S. intelligence agencies.
Shourd was released in September for medical reasons after spending 410 days in solitary confinement. She has said the group did not know they crossed the border into Iran while hiking.
The U.S. has repeatedly called for the hikers’ release. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a recent statement Bauer and Fattal, both 28, “have been imprisoned too long, and it is time to reunite them with their families.”
Last month, a lawyer for Bauer and Fattal said he expected they might soon be freed.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated since it was first published.
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Comments (257)
bullcrapbuster
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:14amNow Iran will let them go home.This will show how compassionate Allah is.
Report Post »rflussier
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:55amAFTER they get some sweet concessions from the west…the US.
Report Post »Predator
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:10amI feel bad for them, but seriously, the next time you want to go hiking in the desert, go to freaking Arizona. If you are goign to hike along the IRANIAN border, whether you crossed over or not, you are just ASKING for trouble.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:13amquestion. why would any american be stupid enough to hike anywhere in the middle east???
Report Post »Roberto G. Vasquez
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:16amAnyone stupid enough to go hiking illegally in Iran deserves what ever happens to them!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:31amI too have had a hard time feeling sorry for these people.
Report Post »Bet they thought they were ‘cool’, pushing their luck by hiking over there.
Wonder what they think now!
They have probably learned their lesson, maybe, and I hope they get to come home.
Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:09pm.
Confessions?
Why not?
I know when I go hiking, my first thought and
favorite scenery is on the border of Iraq and Iran.
Okay it’s damn near impossible to get to,
and it’s nothing but rocks, and it’s dangerous as hell,
so why wouldn’t you want to go there?
This time Iran got it right, they were spies.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:16pmIf you are going to spy for the US then sometimes you will pay a high price.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:25pmWhat kind of dim wit goes on a trip to Iran? Would it not be insane to show compassion for these people? How can you be so carefree and naive???
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:45pm… happy trails, you silly hikers!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:10pmI too have NEVER understood why ANYONE would go anywhere near IRAN … ????? Seriously they are either the dumbest people on earth or were up to no good. Sorry but they are lucky to get out alive if they do.
TEA!
Report Post »Chrono_Sleuth
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:31pmDoesn’t anyone remember when the blaze posted a story about how it was proven the hikers never crossed into Iran, which indicates Iranian patrols go into Iraq on purpose to find people they can kidnap, and low and behold, the perfect targets, three Americans.
Secret, I do hope that last line is pure sarcasm. Iran never has evidence of any wrong doing, ever. That is not how these regimes work. It’s like the Spanish Inquisition, or Stalin’s Secret Police, or Hitler’s SS. You need a guilty party, you find someone who fits what you need, in this case Americans, then you create false charges and pressure them with torture of some form until they “confess” or offer some level of compelling evidence, or finally submit and sign a “confession.”
These three were definitely not working with the CIA, or any US intelligence agency. No one working with the CIA hikes near or into enemy territory. The CIA has drones, spy planes, and satellites to do that for them.
Report Post »becker88
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:44pmYeah that Allah is a peaceful guy sure..
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »becker88
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:45pmAllah peaceful… Yeah right.
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »Jefferson
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:17pmHow do you folks even KNOW they were “hikers”? All you know is what you’re told by the MSM. You just gobble it up like it is the truth. Just like Pat Tillman, Jessica Lynch, WMD’s and whatever other BS you are fed. NOM NOM NOM…mmmmm…BS….TASTY!!
Quit being lemmings and have some independent thought, FOR ONCE!!
Has it ever crossed your mind that they could be CIA (who has been meddling in that country since 1953) or Mossad? Or BOTH?
Oh….Iran is the big bad wolf….They hate “hikers”.
What freakin’ benefit would it have for Iran to imprison HIKERS for 8 years? If they were TRULY HIKERS, common sense would tell me that they would let them go.
Who the hell goes HIKING in IRAN anyway??
Some of you folks need to have your heads examined. The idiotic comments I read on here, just blows me away sometimes.
Report Post »kindling
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:17pmArizona is probably more dangerous near the border. At least they are still alive. I don’t think much of their situation. they, as Obama would say, “Acted Stupidly” and are suffering the consequences as they should. I just wonder what they have learned from this? Perhaps to love Middle Eastern Food. Lets hope it is a love for the freedoms they had when they were here. They might take that back to Berkley and turn that school around.
Report Post »logictrumps
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:24pmWow talk about how history repeats
In 1979 we had the Carter Malaise Economy
Loss of respect for America & its people due to a weak capitulating naive peacenik for President who was “shocked and disappointed when Russia invaded Afghanistan”
Anti-American leftist infestation of the white house (boxes of the book rules for radicals were found during the Reagan Carter transition)
Inflation
Americans held hostage in Iran
In 2011 we have
Obama disaster economy
Rampant inflation from irresponsible money printing (Quantitative Easing)
19% true unemployment with an administration that claims “food stamps stimulate the economy & create jobs”
Loss of respect for American and its people due to a left wing Marxist who after becoming POTUS went on an American apology tour for his first two years in office including bowing to the Saudi, Japanese & Chinese leaders and a photo op with Chavez.
Anti-American leftists have infested our highest branches of gov, public sector unions, media and academia
Americans held hostage in Iran
Talk about cyclic behavior – This is what happens when you allow emotional liberalism to grow unchecked and infect a healthy productive society.
Yes I realize the Iran hostage crisis under carter was from the Islamic revolution and differs from stupid hikers wandering across a border. However there is a underlying theme, a President with intestinal fortitude would have those Americans home in a matter of w
Report Post »In The Right
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 4:32pmAt least one nation on this Earth enforces their immigration and border policies unlike Obama and the Liberals in the USA. If these modern-day hippies and collegiate elitists who believe in “open borders” used a compass and a map along w/GPS they wouldn’t have strayed into Iran. I hope they’re sentenced to hard labor breaking boulders and digging ditches.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:17pmAch, I’m A Dinner Jacket needs to stepped on and dropped on by an elephant.
Report Post »tarbush
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 6:19pm@chrono
This form of justice you describe will be coming to a neighborhood near you soon
Report Post »Do you think these communists that are currently in power are going to give up control now that they have it? The election will be falsified if it is allowed to happen. This kind of justice is the kind of change Obama is talking about.
M 4 Colt
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:13pmHiking ya right that’s the official story but come on does anybody really believe this story????? I mean come on just think about it for minute, it’s a war zone over there so lets look at the facts. I for one don‘t think the state department is just going to hand out visa’s to was zones to non military personal so this just doesn’t work for me.
Now don’t get me wrong the Iran government could be lying they have many times in the past and the hikers could be “just hikers” who lost there way but IMHO the sight seeing hiking trip just doesn’t pass the smell test
.I for one would like to see the media do an in depth background search on these two men from the time they were in college to now to see if they have any unanswered gaps in their history to see if they have any possibly links to any part of our government.
Or how about we contact the state department about getting a visa to visit Afghanistan with the expressed purpose of hiking the country side to see the sights. Now i have not tried to get a visa like that, but i think the state departments answer would be not only NO, BUT HE11 NO.
Report Post »scott2012
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 8:45pmCan we hire their border patrol for a while?
Report Post »mils
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:52pmit’s all such a sham. these people have suffered for politics.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 2:33amI have often wonder how this hikers just wondered into Iran – I am beginning to think that they were undercover CIA or other organization posing has hikers. Seriously, if you are hiking in a region where you know you will be caught if you go over the border – won‘t you have maps etc to make sure you didn’t cross that line. These were not just hikers!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-1vV
Report Post »don young
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:14amTime to call for the seals.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:02amTime to bring back “Ronaldus Magnus
Report Post »INOGAWD
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:25pmThink BO will use his executive powers to bring them Home ??
Report Post »He thinks we can all get along..UH, HUH !! He could send old
Wild Bill and his Old Lady over to bring them back, ya think ?
If he thinks it would generate a vote or two, he would….
Napkin
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:29pmMaybe Iran would be willing to trade those two guys for a planeload of soap, and we could throw in a few cases of razors and flea collars. :)
Report Post »logictrumps
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:34pmDo you remember weakling Carter sending in special forces during the hostage crisis?
How did that turn out?
What brought about the release of the hostages?
The election of a strong conservative president with intestinal fortitude and the willingness to act.
So here we are in a somewhat similar situation. What will resolve this mess?
The election of a conservative pro domestic energy president with the worlds largest military at their disposal, the announcement of American energy independence & the actions to back it up, Iran will tuck it’s tail and release the prisoners.
Iran will realize that a strong president and a massive expansion of American energy production combined with our depressed economy that America and the west has everything to gain from the slowing and eventual shutdown of Iranian & mid east oil production.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:10amApparently the majority of Blaze commenters think we should all sit at home with the lights off. This country was founded by adventurous people who wanted to explore new places.
There also seems to be a blame-the-victim mentality. I say we declare Sharia law and proactively go after women in short skirts. After all, don’t they cause rape and force men to be rapists?
For some of you simple minded folks out there, I’m calling you stupid. Don’t make me name names.
Report Post »highcarry
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:25amexplore new places?” let’s see, when i plan my next hiking excursion, i think i’ll go to one of the hottest borders in the world. after all, i’m me , i’m entitled, and i can do what i want.” how absurd.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:40am@ Hiighcarry
Report Post »Thjese decisions must be made with great deliberation! The area of choice must be half way around the world, known to be hostile, have the U.S. military actively engaged in a war in one country, and have no official relations with the other, and also throw in some of the most inhosputable terrain on the planet. Just for good measure- don;t seek any official permission. What could possible go wrong! They must have had some excellent legal representation. State dept. , maybe? Appearamces would either indicate 3 of the least intelligent individuals (competetion is tough) OR they belong where they are.
proliance
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:44amHighcarry, its OK to know your limitations. Leave the adventures to those of us who want to experience life. You can hide in your backyard if you want to.
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:46amThat is one of the dumbest posts I’ve read in a while… and THAT is saying something! Man, what a doofass!!
Report Post »Cashel
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:57amSimple mindedness is hiking on the Iranian border and expecting your Berkeley T-shirt to protect you. Simple minds want a central planning utopian government in the United Sates; it’s working so well in Iran. Arrogant simple minds now expect the government of the United States (see citizens) to spend millions of dollars and risk lives to save these Pollyanna fools. Sadly even eight years in a gulag will not deprogram these poor souls.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:05amWho gives a flip what you think?? I won’t name names, but you know who you are. Now go hiking in North Korea. I hear it’s beautiful this time of year.
Report Post »southernORcobra
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:10amit was fricking stupid to go hiking in that area to begin with no sympathy for stupidity
Report Post »flevan
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:12am“Apparently the majority of Blaze commenters think we should all sit at home with the lights off. This country was founded by adventurous people who wanted to explore new places. ”
^That is a Straw Man argument.
“There also seems to be a blame-the-victim mentality.”
^They committed a crime by illegally entering a foreign country. Illegally entering a foreign country is a CRIME. Whether it be Iran or the U.S.A..
“I say we declare Sharia law and proactively go after women in short skirts. After all, don’t they cause rape and force men to be rapists?”
^Your logic is flawed since they were not victims, but criminals.
“For some of you simple minded folks out there, I’m calling you stupid. Don’t make me name names.”
Report Post »^Sticks and stones…
highcarry
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:12amwell, if you knew me you would know that i’ve never been one to stay in my own backyard. i traveled extensively when i was in the navy, and i remember one rule they drilled into us. when you are in a foreign country, you are subject to their laws, not the laws of the u.s., and if you find yourself in trouble, we’re not going to be able to get you out. you remind me of those skiers that go into the back country for a thrill. when they get in trouble, they expect the government to come rescue them. i have no objections to you getting your thrills, but if you land in the crap, get yourself out. so, i have an idea for you. on your next big adventure, take your silly self to someplace exotic and adventurous. mogadishu comes to mind. you know, that’s in somalia. or maybe a little closer to home, say tijuana or juarez. you seem to be just about that stupid. oh, i guess i named names.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:16ampro. the stupid people are those who would think it is safe to hike in the midlle east. yep, they were and are stupid.
Report Post »anniebsings
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:36amthat’s fine – you can be as “adventurous” as you like; however, you can’t come crying home when things go wrong. I feel terrible for these guys, as I did for the woman before she was released, and I was hoping that they would be freed, as their attorney had expected. But we do not have any clout with that regime so I guess they will have to pay the price for their “adventure”!
Report Post »proliance
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:51amHalf of you people want to nuke Iran and the other half wants to coddle them. Students that went to Berkley? OMG!! Find a way to punish them!
Nobody wants to use their brain and consider that they were convicted of spying when they obviously weren’t. Hitchhiking isn’t a crime. The border wasn’t marked and Iran can only offer hearsay as evidence that they crossed the border.
They are being used as political pawns. This is Iran’s way of attacking the US, and it has nothing to do with unmarked borders that may or may not have been crossed.
So the two schools of thought are “they’re criminals because they stepped over a line and the Shiite government under Sharia law can fabricate, charge and convict them of spying and that’s fine with me“ or ”thems kids is Berkely libruls that gots to be punished cause they was too far from home.”
You should be ashamed for defending a corrupt, terrorist-supporting Iranian regime over American citizens.
Report Post »highcarry
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:14pmyou see, this is the liberal mentality that says “i’m entitled to do what i want and no one can stop me”. you need to bring yourself to some semblance of reality. just because your a liberal does not mean everybody likes you or has to like you. no one here is defending iran. but do you think that we should have to defend someone who knowingly makes a stupid decision? if they put themselves in this position, knowing full well the danger they were in, isn’t it their responsibility to face the consequences of their actions? are you so against personal responsibility? do you also believe that everyone should be let out of prison because when they committed their crime they were just doing what they wanted to do? that is a very warped way of thinking and it’s going to put you in a world of hurt someday. but go ahead, do what you feel like doing. go out and run some redlights. no one has the right to tell you to stop. let your kid stick a fork in the outlet. you shouldn’t be able to tell him not to. not if it’s “his thing”. go step out in front of a train. you have the right to be there because your you, and that train shouldn’t get in your way. and finally, you should be a little more discreet in who you call stupid. your the best example of stupid i’ve seen on this site in a while.
Report Post »M100Spiral
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:16pmYes, you are right! North America was founded by explorers like Christopher Columbus and adventurous people like the individuals on the Mayflower. Yes, there were also people like Lewis and Clark who opened early American eyes to all of what America had for us to enjoy.
Report Post »To be honest, I feel the three of them were naive about the consequences for traveling to and hiking in a foreign country. But, then, their only examples of consequences are the ones that illegal aliens suffer in America, which are none, because there are only benefits for illegal aliens in America. On a daily basis, we have hundreds of Mexican people “hiking through the desert” from Mexico to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. We do not arrest them for spying, or for that matter, for drug trafficking, women trafficking, identity thief or for any of the usual crimes they actually do commit while they are illegally here and trying to survive. Instead, because of an Amendment to our Constitution added immediately after the Civil War—an amendment which was meant for ALL freed slaves, their offspring are born into American citizenship. Their children get to grow up with WIC while both parents work and earn incomes under other American citizens’ social security numbers. They do not carry medical insurance, but they can go into any American emergency room and receive medical treatment for anything from a common cold to kidney dialysis. (By the way, I worked for Tyson Foods, Inc. for clos
kindling
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 2:24pmWhat ARE you talking about? Blame the victim? They were idots and are there because they went where they should not have. They are not spys and if they were they would be dead.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:50pmHighcarry, you still don’t get it. You have no idea what conservative values are and just repeat phrases that you’ve heard.
Three kids go hiking in Afghanistan and they may or may not have crossed the border to Iran. YOU support Iran’s decision to invent a crime, YOU support their conviction, and YOU don’t care about justice. All YOU see are kids who went to a liberal school so they have to be the enemy.
You are so blinded by your hatred for your fellow Americans that you would turn your back on them in their time of need. Did they make a mistake? Possibly. But they may have also been snatched from the Afghanistan side of the border. Tell me what you think their punishment should be. I know, you support Iran’s decision.
You say they deserve the punishment that the Iranian govt. has given them. Are you a closet Muslim who supports Sharia law? You don’t think they should have gone hiking in Afghanistan? You don’t believe in individual freedom to go where you are allowed? Are you a closet liberal?
You want to think you’re a conservative but you hate freedom, support Sharia law, support terrorist governments and I guess also support Mahmud Ahmadinejad.
You believe in unjustly harsh punishments for people based on what you assume are their political ideals.
You say they knowingly put themselves in danger and they have to suffer the consequences, but that’s not true. They didn’t set out to go into Iran, so 90% of your argument is based
Report Post »El Pistoffo
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:41pm@proliance
Report Post »Your are a MORON!!!! Plain and simple. I don’t like to revert to name calling but there is no other logical explanation for your reasoning. They went to a BAD place and a BAD thing happened. Is that simple enough for you?
Lucy Larue
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:48pmPROLIANCE,
Report Post »Well…,I hope you included yourself in the stupid group because…,frankly…,youare.
highcarry
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:18pm@pro. see, the thing is , is when you come on a site like this you should really try to put some logic in your argument. what do you want to do? i know. why don’t you get a bunch of you buddies together, go to iran, and stage a protest on their behalf. thats your right and just think of how well you’ll be received in this country for it. you could come back heros. tell you what. i will donate money towards your trip. as a matter of fact, i imagine a lot of folks on this site would be willing to donate. think of the good you could do. i’m sure that you could actually get the iranians to see your point and let them go. and they would probably love you so much that they would change their entire form of government because you said so. so there you have it. i will help finance your trip to iran to protest in the streets of tehran. tell me when you would like to leave.
Report Post »highcarry
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:44pm@pro. been awhile and i still haven’t heard a date and time to leave. well, you don’t have a hair on your a$$ if you don’t take me up on this. or was i right. you‘re just another silly liberal who couldn’t make a sensible argument if you tried, which as a liberal, you are too lazy to do. no, i think you’re just some goofball who came on here from some liberal site and tried to enlighten us. sorry, didn’t work. but, my offer still stands. don’t be a coward. i know thats how you were taught, but try to overcome it. you may be the only hope those guys have. i’m serious. i will send you money to help finance your trip. so put your money where your mouth is. i certainly will.
Report Post »highcarry
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:12pmthe silence is deafening
Report Post »M 4 Colt
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 6:17amPro were you born obtuse or is it just a gift.
Report Post »Divothead
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:10amShane Bauer, who grew up both in Onamia, Minnesota and San Leandro, California,is a freelance photojournalist and journalist who has worked for Pacifica News Service, Mother Jones, The Nation and other left-leaning media outlets, using his fluency in speaking Arabic.
Sarah Emily Shourd, who grew up in Los Angeles, California,worked in education and social justice in Damascus where she provided educational opportunities to refugees from the war in Iraq and taught English. Shourd was released by Iran on September 14, 2010 on $500,000 bail.Shourd’s bail does not require that she remain in Iran, and her case will still go to trial along with Bauer and Fattal. Shourd’s mother has said she had been denied treatment for serious health problems, including a breast lump and precancerous cervical cells. In May 2011, Shourd announced that she would not return to Iran for trial, citing acute ill-health.
Joshua “Josh” Fattal, who grew up in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, an environmentalist and educator, had been from January to May 2009 a teaching fellow for the International Honors Program (IHP)’s “Health and Community” study abroad program. Prior to traveling with the IHP, Fattal lived and worked at Aprovecho in Oregon, USA, exploring and promoting sustainable living practices.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:08amJust goes to show that Stupidity is not a regional thing. Hoax and Chains
Report Post »NDPINDNT
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:10amGee, all that and they still have no common sense.
Report Post »mohavegreen
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:27pmWhere is the ACLU?
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 5:46pmDIVOTHEAD,
Thank you for filling in some gaps. I suspected something of the sort.
Yes of course…,no American Citizen should be sitting in an Iranian prison.
But what American citizen would be hiking on the Iranian border in the year 2008 unless they were clueless, happy dappy, kumbiyah libs?!
It is so sad that these libs are finding out in the most horrendous way that EVIL does exist.
And their parents?! Like are you freaking kidding me? If my child told me of their harebarained plan to hike in Iraq at the height of the war I would have gone balllistic!
These Mothers of the three seem absolutely clueless.BTW…,where are the Fathers?
Oh well…,oft times, dumb libs create more dumb libs.
Sorry to sound so harsh but c‘mon a’ready..,Common sense?!
Report Post »gr8photoman
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:10amLeftist, stupid, or dyslexic, they are still Americans. I have a hard time believing this would be happening if we had a chief executive that had a pair.
Report Post »A MERICAN
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:16amyep well you said it….if our leader “had a pair”. I can recall when it was Carter’s first term (this being his second) that thge iranians captured our whole embassy and we did……………….NOTHING. HMMM full circle.
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:16amWe already have severe sanctions in place against iran. Not much we could do besides declare war or create another blackhawk down situation. your boy reagan never attacked iran either, was he missing a pair?
Report Post »A MERICAN
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:29amsilly silly silly ginsberg.
“We already have severe sanctions in place against iran.”
Thats really doing alot aint it.
“Not much we could do besides declare war or create another blackhawk down situation.”
Your memory is failing – that was Carter trying??? to get our embassy employees back.
“your boy reagan never attacked iran either, was he missing a pair?”
Really?? Seriously??? Renaldos Magnus did not have to attack Iran. – they gave up ALL hostages on the DAY HE BECAME PRESIDENT OF THIS GREAT NATION.
dude – don’t believe everything you read on HUFFPO.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:30amRR didn’t have to “Go to War” , Iran folded, like Barry
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:16pm@a merican…the hostages were released because of years of negotiations and the death of the shah…and what is your plan to get these prisoners back? War which would kill our own soldiers and bankrupt us?
Report Post »ringostore
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:06amI bet these yahoos were always blaming Bush, 911 was preplanned, etc. Now they are whimpering for the US marines to come in a save their ass.
Report Post »A MERICAN
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:21amyup they sound like really nice little community activists to me. you reap what you sow.
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 12:19pmThey have never once asked for the military to save them…do you enjoy lying or are you just a fool.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 1:31pmI’m not a sympathizer for Iran, but I’m kind of thinking these guys are getting what they deserve. Think about it, they probably were thinking they could create an international incident by pushing the envelope! Besides that, I don’t trust our own government as far as I can spit, so who knows what they were really doing there.
Report Post »Divothead
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:06amIt seems like they are maybe victims of a misguided political idealism like Rachel Corrie. It would take more information about where they are from, their schools and organizational ties to determine.
Report Post »psst
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:03amMy crocodile tears are falling like heavy rains for them.
Report Post »amaMadJob should have also kept the lli’l leftist hippie gal.
All three are hardcore leftist.
These two should be as happy as rabbits in a briar patch.
These are the kinds of regimes they admires.
Univ of Bezerkeley people wants as many illegals as they can get in the Sanfreako areas.
I wonder what they are saying/thinking about EyeRan? After-all,this is their kinda Big Guvmint country, Ya know, everything is run by the government.
Seems this Big Guvmint run EyeRan country don’t like folks crossing their borders illegally.
This situation shows how delusional leftists/socialists are.No one in their right mind goes hiking close to the borders of a country like EyeRan, run by peaceful religious Crazytollahs who would welcome them w/ open arms.
Mebbe their leftist pal Cynthia can help them out. . I mean,They pay her to speak against her country.
Ol’ marxist/leftist /communist Hugo (he’s fer da lil peoples, according to leftists) is best pal w/ MADjob. Delusional ameriKan Leftists ADORES Ol’ Hugo. Mebbe Hugo can help.
techengineer11
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:15amThey were Jews and most likely spies for the US. No one hikes on the Iranian border simply for thrills especially considering all else which is going on in the region. I’d be willing to bet a limb they were spies and it appears that the Iranian regime is showing an awful lot of tolerance and mercy towards their enemies.
I may be wrong but I know how my American gov’t likes to deceive… or should I say our Jewish Apartheid? Do actual Americans still have any voice in their Gov’t? I say very little considering the Media slant, the Jewish domination of the Federal Reserve, and the ignorance which prevails in this country. Now you decide.
Report Post »Tyr
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:45amTech aside from your “jew” comments it is very, very likely that they were in fact working for the CIA (or some other alphabet organization). Look at their ages when they were caught.
Report Post »They are all graduates of the University of California at Berkeley and range in age from 27 to 30. The obvious question to ask is what the heck were they thinking taking a stroll along the Iranian border?
You may think of Berkley as the bastion of Liberal Marxism, but the FBI, CIA and ATF do alot of recruiting there. These people are idealogues and they are easy to recruit using “idealism” as bait. My point is, these were probably not a group of CIA “employees”, but rather they were recruited as unwitting operatives for the collection of intelligence information. They may have not even realized they were being used. Our government uses foreign sources this way all the time. If they get caught and killed or imprisoned no one sheds a tear.
GETLIFE
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 7:19pm“…they were recruited as unwitting operatives for the collection of intelligence information. They may have not even realized they were being used.”
What kind of useful intelligence information is collected “unwittingly” during a pleasure hike along the Iran Iraq border?
Report Post »Tyr
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:18pmOh, I don’t know there hero1 Maybe guardposts, remote motion sensors or let’s see if they would be caught along that portion ofthe border or not. If they were…Now we know they patrol that piece of the border. Oh well, write them off!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 10:21am@Tyr
You stated in part,…”but rather they were recruited as unwitting operatives for the collection of intelligence information. They may have not even realized they were being used. Our government uses foreign sources this way all the time. If they get caught and killed or imprisoned no one sheds a tear.”
Yeah that’s what we do, eh? Not only a farmer but knowledgeable about CIA tactics of the early years…Hate to to inform you of this but they no longer do that sort of thing as the liberals took over the agency years ago…
Conspiracy theorists do vex me. And you still have no proof, just words.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:59amI know this is sad but, for craps sake, who in their right mind goes hiking in the mountains of Afghanistan? When you do dumb stuff, bad things happen.
Report Post »whatthecrazy
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:29amIm with you gonzo
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:44amAmerican- leftys- journalists Case closed
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:52amTonight, as I’m eating my pepperoni pizza and watching my 52-inch widescreen, I’ll be fretting over what will become of those two unfortunate, liberal hikers… NOT.
Report Post »A MERICAN
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:36amyou got it GONZO
“Life is hard. It‘s harder if you’re stupid”
Report Post »John Wayne
RepubliCorp
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 1:21amBecause there is more to this story that isn’t being told……… Papaver somniferum AKA Opium poppies
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:59amI hope they were spies. That makes a lot more sense than 3 young people out on a hike. If they were spies get them out and then fire them. If they were just 3 stupid people then their incarceration in Iran will be a great learning experience.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:03amI hope our spies are smarter than these three.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:46am@ Gonzo
Report Post »And if both are the same entity. . .
chasbronson
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:59amWe need to sentance Iran with 25 years of residual nuclear radiation.After the initial blast that is.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:58amI have a hard time believing that they simply just wandered into Iran by mistake. Maybe by the time they get out of prison they will learn how to read a map.
Report Post »ComingUnglued
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:57amI thought we all wanted open borders.
Report Post »tweigel
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:56amIt’s time to start gathering up all of the Iranian spies in this country. I know there are thousands of real spies on our soil.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 11:10amThey don’t need spies. They have the UN and a good friend in the Whitehouse.
Report Post »Jefferson
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 3:54pmRegarding “rounding up Iranian spies.”
Report Post »You’d be looking for the wrong group. Start with Israel, who according tot the GAO “spies on us more than ANY other supposed ally.”
Here’s some Fox News. You probably lap that stuff up don’t you?
Israel spies on the USA part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWpWc_suPWo
Calamity Jane
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:55amWhy would these knuckleheads go hiking in Mid-East war zone. I guess the National Parks of the United States and Canada are too boring.
Josh….”Hey! Let’s go hiking in Yosemite.”
Report Post »Shane..”Dude…..I don’t think so. Everyone goes hiking there. I know! How about were head over to that scenic wonderland near the Iraq-Iran border?”
Josh…”Cool!”
barber2
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:53amWhy,in heavens name, were they hiking in that area?? Seems like a stupid thing to do. Common sense??
Report Post »barber2
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:51amThanks Obama Administration. The whole world sees you as impotent.
Report Post »opNorthwoods
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:59amObama impotent? …. no way , think first! The CIA contractor arrested in Pakistan for killing two? ….. easy , the government will negotiate for that one .
Report Post »opNorthwoods
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:50amso what in England the guys that posted a Facebook page received 4 years each , give me a break , and how many innocent people went sent to Guantanamo and torture there to later find out that were innocent ? which country have the biggest prison population ? (USA)
Report Post »Thomas
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:53amThat’s what they get for being there. They deserve it for being anywhere in those muslim countries. They should have visited Israel instead.
paulusmaximus
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:40amDid anyone expect anything other from from iran?
Report Post »olddog
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:32amIran knows how to handle Illegal Immigration, just like every country on earth enforces illegal entry except for ours and you see where that’s gotten us… These kids were from what I call Berserkly and Iran is doing America a favor by keeping them..
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:30amI agree about the illegal immigration and by the way, where is the canidates when we need them to be speaking on the “blanket amnesity” for illegals? I am not sure that I have heard any of them ever speak on illegals. I bet Sarah would have something to say.
Report Post »bumpside
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:30amI wonder if 8 years is enough to cure the liberal disease they have…you know, America is the real bad guy…nothing wrong with Iran…no true evil in the world…
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:30amProbably they are spies, that or complete dumb asses. Let em rot in jail as an example to others to stay out of dangerous countries.
Report Post »burr99
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:29amWhat are the chances they will survive this? After all, they are from “the great satan”.
Report Post »Bushie
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:18amThey will be exchanged for favors and the as$ we have in the white house will kneel to their wishes. I can only pray we can get someone with balls in 2012. It a simple thing, either give us these boys back or we bomb the sh*t out of your country. How many times are we going to let these sand-buggers get away with this crap. Remember they have done this before to us.
Report Post »mrfunn
Posted on August 21, 2011 at 7:38am@Bushie
I don’t think our Commander in Chief would ever kneel to Iran.
Report Post »Bow, yes.
He certainly is good at bowing.
YepImaConservative
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:28amI think Ron Paul should exchange himself for those “hostages.”
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:42amLmao. Typical Ronulan posting.
Report Post »YepImaConservative
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:45amLOL, I guess that post was removed. Ronulans are such prolific writers.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:26amOkay Mr Obama lets see what concessions you will give to Iran for the chance to talk about freeing these two in time for the elections in 2012?
God bring them home soon for their sake and their families.
Report Post »olddog
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:33amThese are Berserkly kids, we really don’t want them back…
Report Post »ARealCharliesAngel
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 9:57amBHO would have to stop vacationing to take any action!
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on August 20, 2011 at 10:05amI’m going to make an assumption that their parents are very well off. Gone are the days of middle class kids hiking through England and France on $10.00 a day after working a year of part-time jobs to get airfare.
Now that Iran has proven its point, the lawyers can negotiate a humanitarian release for the sake of peace…I.E., propose a bribe and have the deal accepted and kept hush-hush.
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