Well, these fools have been held in Iran for almost 10 months, and their getting a lot of attention from the press while their family visits them. It looks like Iran may want to make a trade for some Iranians held by the United States. Does anyone here feel we should make a swap?
It depends. If the Iranians you are talking about didn't plot or execute acts of violence in this country, and weren't convicted of espionage, then yes, I do.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/09/14/iran.detained.american/index.html?hpt=T2 [rquoter]Released U.S. hiker thanks Iran officials, report says By the CNN Wire Staff STORY HIGHLIGHTS NEW: "I cannot wait to wrap Sarah in my arms," says mother Sarah Shourd was freed after 14 months in prison State-run media reports that the $500,000 bail was paid in Oman Shourd is apparently suffering from health problems Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- American Sarah Shourd, freed from a Tehran jail on Tuesday, thanked Iranian authorities for the humanitarian gesture, according to Iranian state-run television. "I want to really offer my thanks to everyone in the world, all of the governments, all of the people that have been involved. And I especially and particularly want to address President [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad and all the Iranian officials, the religious leaders, and thank them for this humanitarian gesture," Shourd said on Press TV before leaving Iran for Oman. "I am grateful. I am very humbled by this moment," she said of her release after 14 months in Tehran's Evin Prison. Her attorney, Masoud Shafii, said he was with a smiling Shourd when she was released from the prison Tuesday afternoon and that bail had been posted. She was handed over to Swiss authorities. The United States and Iran do not have formal relations, and Switzerland serves as the "protecting power" for Washington in Tehran. "I've hoped and prayed for this moment for 410 days and I cannot wait to wrap Sarah in my arms and hold her close when we are finally together again," Shourd's mother Nora said in a statement. "Sarah has had a long and difficult detainment and I am going to make sure that she now gets the care and attention she needs and the time and space to recover," she said. President Barack Obama thanked authorities in Switzerland, Oman and everyone else who "worked tirelessly and admirably over the past several months to bring about this joyous reunion." Shourd, 32, left prison wearing a red head scarf and without any belongings, Shafii said. Her release was bittersweet because she was leaving behind fellow Americans Shane Bauer, 28, who is her fiance, and Josh Fattal, 28. Shourd told Shafii she wished all three were walking out together. Obama urged Iranian authorities to release Bauer and Fattal as well. "While Sarah has been released, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal remain prisoners in Iran who have committed no crime," he said. "We remain hopeful that Iran will demonstrate renewed compassion by ensuring the return of Shane, Josh and all the other missing or detained Americans in Iran." The families echoed the president's sentiments in their statement. "All of our families are relieved and overjoyed that Sarah has at last been released but we're also heartbroken that Shane and Josh are still being denied their freedom for no just cause," they said Tuesday. "The work is not over and, as we prepare to welcome Sarah home, we will not rest until Shane and Josh are home too." Iranian prison officials who processed Shourd's release gathered to say goodbye to her and wish her well, Shafii said. One official told her he hoped never to see her again in the notorious Tehran prison. Shroud left Iran later Tuesday on a chartered flight to Muscat, Oman, the Swiss ambassador in Tehran told CNN. Earlier, her bail was posted in Muscat, according to Iranian state-run media. It had been set at $500,000. In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the United States "did not pay anything for her release." Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi told Iran's Press TV that Shourd's "representatives" paid her bail to an Iranian bank in Muscat, after which a judge ordered her release. Shourd, Bauer and Fattal were detained after they allegedly strayed across an unmarked border into Iran while hiking in Iraq's Kurdistan region. Iran accused the three of spying, a charge the United States and the hikers have denied. Dolatabadi said Tuesday that Bauer and Fattal will remain in jail until their trial. The official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that the detention for the two Americans had been extended by two months. Iran had said Shourd would be freed once the $500,000 bail was paid. A judge decided to allow Shourd to be released on bail because of her medical condition, IRNA said Sunday, citing Dolatabadi. Shourd had a pre-existing gynecological problem, and her family says she now also has a lump in her breast, according to Shafii. Iranian officials have apparently changed their stance on Shourd's release several times since last week. Iranian officials had announced Thursday that Shourd would be released on Saturday, at the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. But state media announced Friday that the release had been called off because legal procedures had not yet been resolved. Some analysts said it was not a coincidence that Shourd's release comes as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is about to attend the U.N. General Assembly's meeting later this month. "I think President Ahmadinejad really wanted to use this as a way of building up a store of goodwill just before he comes to New York," said Gary Sick, a professor at Columbia University and a former National Security Council Iran analyst. CNN's Reza Sayah, Mary Snow and Catherine E. Shoichet contributed to this report.[/rquoter] I'm a bit anoyed that the US wouldn't pony up some bail money. When it's hostages taken by pirates hoping to get a couple million bucks to buy more guns to commit more crimes, it makes sense. But, a pretty small (compared to the Federal budget ) sum of money paid to a country that isn't doing it for the money is a different story. I'd like to think my government had my back if I were in a situation like that.
500k? That is fricken kidnapping......Iran sucks. Check that, the Iranian people are awesome, the Iranian government is a big pile of crap. DD
Pretty much. They call it "bail", but that's just BS. It's essentially kidnapping and them asking for a ransom. That's pretty low for any country.
It's kinda ransom. The amount of money is insignificant. I think it's more to save face for Iran and to try to embarass the US.
How much to bail out those folx down in Guantanamo? Oh, that's right .. i don't think they get bail 500K or not! Let's be fair on these things people. Or at least keep an open mind. I'm amazed how when WE DO IT . . it is ok . . but WHEN THEY DO IT . .it is kidnapping and highway robbery Rocket River
You're comparing apples and oranges. Iran caught these three hikers when they were illegally on Iranian soil. The Guantanamo prisoners were mostly kidnapped from foreign countries.
