Current Events

Completely the Opposite VPK

The best book (and a movie) for an international audience about the conditions inside Iranian prisons and the Regime should probably be written by a westerner because the reader can relate better to one of his own. Not that Iranians cannot write a great book.

Many Iranians have written about this and other related subjects for years. But how many have turned into best sellers?

None that I can think of.

Faramarz

I am actually pretty liberal and yes rules are meant to be broken. However I am afraid the result you wish for will not be gained. The kind of book you want is best written by an Iranian. A former political prisoner I would think.

These guys do not know the culture or the people. They got picked up and tossed in jail. I bet they got better treatment than an normal. Because IRI always planned to release them. Therefore they are not going to be able to tell the real horrors of Evin. 

Maybe they remind me too much of some people I once knew. Brats who thoughts the world was supposed to bend over for them. I wonder how much trouble USA had to go through to get them released. Are they going to hike the Korean border next!

Amir

This have nothing to do with the topic of course but here we go. No Afghans in Iran do not have it better than Mexicans in USA. They have it better than Afghans in Afghanistan. That is why they go to Iran. I am sure they would go to USA if there was a shared border and they could cross it. Obviously they would. But what is the point of this argument? 

Regarding citizenship: you are absolutely right. Anyone born in the USA is automatically a citizen. Not their parents mind you just the kids. Then the parents may be sponsored by the kid which again takes forever. A lot of illegals mostly are men who do not give birth! 

Besides the USA needs the illegals as much as they need the USA. Who is going to do all the farm work in California for dirt cheap. Make no mistake. American businesses want illegals and that is why government lets them in.

VPK

Rush Limbaugh? Huh? I don't listen to him or to Fox News. Whatever you say, VPK. 

Anyone born in the U.S., including those born to the millions of illegal immigrants, automatically gets full, unconditional U.S. citizenship. Is that a fact  -- yes or no?

Do you want to compare the status and living standard of Afghan migrants living in Iran for 3 decades to that of immigrants newly crossing over to the U.S. from Mexico? Okay, the Afghans in Iran have it better than immigrants living in the U.S. Sure, they do.

You Are Too Conservative, VPK

Rules are meant to be broken and the best time to do it is when you are young and fearless!

So they went near the Iranian border to take a few pictures, big deal!

What they learned is that this Regime and their supporters are a bunch of sick people that detest the west at their core. It is very difficult to explain the depth of that feeling to a normal person, but once you have experienced it in Evin or on the streets of Iran, then you believe it.

So much for negotiations and the Grand Bargain with these people.

And I hope that they write a book and make a movie because that will show the world what this regime is all about and the conditions inside Evin prison. If you remember the movie "Midnight Express", that was the first time that the civilized world heard about the conditions inside the Turkish prisons.

Let them make a few bucks. They have earned it.

Amir

Do you mean to imply these guys were looking for jobs in Iran? By the way millions of illegal Afghans do get jobs in Iran all the time. They are just like the Mexicans in USA.

And no US does not give illegal aliens citizenship so simply. Prove to me how they get it? To my knowledge there were several instances of "Amnesty" one pushed by Reagan that allowed a very long "path" to citizenship. This includes applying for a Green Card. Then waiting 5 years before you apply for a citizenship with no guarantee.

Do me a favor an don't quote Rush Limbaugh. People here are smarter than that. If I want right wing talking points there is Fox. 

Millions of migrants are jailed in the US for illegal entry

Actually, that should have read millions of illegal immigrants receive jobs and their children U.S. citizenship after they have entered the U.S. illegally.

Faramarz

I have said before in my opinion they are not spies: OK? How many more times do you want me to say it. 

Now to your question of what I have against them. I have a lot against them:

• They are boneheads who created an international incident for no reason. 
• They refused to listen to State Department warning.
• They refused to listen to Iraqi warnings.
• They picked the dumbest place to go.
• They wasted USA government time and money on releasing them.
• No doubt USA had to make some concession to IRI to get them off. I resent it. Because IRI got a freebie it did not deserve. At the cost of USA.
• The diverted attention from real human rights violations of IRI.
• They are going to come back write a book or do a movie and get rich.
• They are a bunch of spoilt brats.

Is this enough?

VPK, Foot in the Mouth!

I am not sure what you have against these hikers. But try to look at it logically.

If these hikers were spies, then why would the Regime let them go? If the Regime gets its hands on an American with any kind of connection to military/intelligence/law enforcement like the retired FBI guy who has been missing for several years, you will never hear from the person again. Most likely they would be tortured and ultimately killed by the Regime.

Also, there were no evidence or any claims by the Regime about what these hikers were spying on.

And finally, these guys were flown to Oman and were greeted by their families at the airport and now are vacationing there. The standard practice by the US government when one of its employees is held captive for a period of time is to fly them immediately to Germany for a de-briefing and complete physical and psychological assessment/treatment.

Re: Journalist

Don't "Journalists" know they need a visa to go to most nations? A journalist so dumb to not know that is not worth reading. Yes in my book crossing a border without a visa means: infiltrator. 

I am not sure if they were spies maybe like the Mexicans they went to get a job! I know Afghans do it all the time. But somehow I doubt they were trying to get a job. So that leaves why not get a visa? I did when I cam to USA. As did all my relatives and friends. It is called "following the rules". You follow the rules and will not get in trouble.

Try to get around them and risk getting in deep ***. They are VERY lucky to get off so easy. Many nations wil shoot before asking questions. Unfortunately now we in the USA are stuck with them. And they don't need visa to get in. Bad for us.

One of the hikers was a freelance Journalist.

He was fluent in Arabic and was going country to country with his backpack like our very own JJJ!

Islamic Republic equates Journalists to Spies!    

Everything is sacred

...

Thank you for your informed comment, as usual.

Hikers my foot!

same goes for the British sailors. Neither had a right to be where they were. In both situations it was a gross violation of Iranian sovereignty. They were both very fortunate to get off with so few repercussions.

• Hikers: anyone with a brain knows border of Iran Iraq is no place to hike. If you do want to go there for any reason: get a visa! Make sure to tell both governments beforehand and have papers and permits. If they had done this no problem. But they did not because they were looking to make trouble. And they did. Guarantee you that the same forces behind hikers are up to the next trick. What is it going to be this time. Maybe winder ski.
• The British Sailor: the British had no right to be in the region at all. They were in either Iraqi or Iranian waters. There is no question of that. Iran said it was Iranian waters. But let us say they were in Iraqi waters. British have no right to be in Iraqi waters. They invaded Iraq without provocation. One way or other they were in the wrong and got it. Next time the British should try getting a visa like normal people and no problem.

They look so thin

Wonder if they were given cheap suits and pistachio nuts, like the  15 British sailors who were held captive for two weeks in Iran.

//graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/04/05/world/middleeast/05cnd-iran1.650.jpg

"Hikers"? LOL!

Yeah, Sure, the border between Iran and Iraq is the perfect place for "hiking"!

The interesting point is that almost no one in the free and fair US media dares to question the motives for these "innocent hikers."

pffft! Their hike is my heck

Thanks to them my travel insurance premiums are going to rocket.

EWWWWWWAAAWWW

Don't worry - They will be rich soon

I worked hard for so many years and still paying my mortgage. I assure both will be secure for the rest of their life - books and interviews will be out soon

Isn't it ironic

The release of these two kids coincides with mamoud's arrival to US? 

Next project

To hike between South Korea and North Korea.

کمدی احمقانه

 //iranian.com/main/blog/aynak-19

Reform requires the consent of the corrupt

These guys look like hackers not hikers!

These guys look like hackers not hikers!

MeyBokhor

You said "If two Iranians got caught on the Mex-Tex border and claimed they were just hiking, would we see them going back to Iran after a mere two years, or would they be enjoying the Caribean suites of the Guantanamo and its (in)famous spa (read waterboarding) facilities?"

The difference is that the Iranian govt. (IRR) is a known Islamist Inernational terrorist entity, Executing/Stoning to death/Raping Iranian political prisoner as well as sponsor of several terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and even helping the Taliban and lqaeda in Iraq and Afghanistan.

...........

Well-said, FirstIran!

IRI wanted US to release the Iranian woman in Florida jail for attempted night vision goggles smuggling before they let these 2 guys go..........US did not (has not) release the woman!

Another thing is that until today IRI has not said a word what espionage crimes these 2 hikers committed! They have no evidence and are full of hot air!

Kidnapped Hostages Released by Terrorist IRI After $1M Ransom

After 2 years terrorist IRI saw that is could not pressure US to gain any political points, or reduce the sanctions,  IRI took the $1 million ransom money and let them go.

I ask for your indulgence

I use my iPad and frequently I fail to catch the automatic editor as well as my own mis-typings. I am asking my dear compatriots to overlook my shortcoming about this.
Bahram g

Now if we could only see the day that IRANIAN prisoners of IRI

are set free.  

Thanking Trita Parsi!

Didn't this one and only " champion " of human right, the "chosen" by acclamation of the entire Iranian Americans as their leader write a "passionate" open letter publicizing the wrong that had visited these two bikers/spies--take your pick?Give the man credit for his exemplary dedication to human rights, justice and what not.Didn't this humble writer, me, smell a rat and commented that this one and only champion of human rights must had been given private assurances by his Tehran handlers that the two's release was imminent and he should beat his tender breast for them so that he can claim credit for their release and buttress his own credentials with us as well as those simpleton Americans who believe just about anything on it's face value? Well, there you have it folks!Now, JJ, don't you get sassy and trouble this fellow about the thousand of prisoners of conscience who are languishing in the IRI horrors of chambers. The man has more important matters to attend to. Just because he came to the rescue of two valuable Americans, be they guilty or not, don't ask him to unleash his immense power wastefully for releasing Iranian ARAZEL va OBASH.JJ, the least you can do is to start a fund raiser for this man so that he can come, as situation dictates mind you, to the rescue of the worthy.Bahram g

If two Iranians got caught on the Mex-Tex border

If two Iranians got caught on the Mex-Tex border and claimed they were just hiking, would we see them going back to Iran after a mere two years, or would they be enjoying the Caribean suites of the Guantanamo and its (in)famous spa (read waterboarding) facilities?

Glad that they are free but what about

political prisoners who don't have backing of a super power?  It would be nice if these two would use the opportunity and talk about political prisoners in Iran. One can only hope. After all, they are from Berkeley or something.

Dumbs hikers in the world are free, Bravooooo..

What was that all about? 

But smart and important people still are in IR's prison.