Iran 'jails' US hikers for eight years for spying

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This tale has always left me wondering, because no matter which explanation we look at, we're forced to a shocking conclusion.

On the one hand, we're told that three people who were quite familiar with the region chose the Iran-Iraq border as a vacation spot. In this scenario, we're expected to believe that these three intrepid adventurers somehow overlooked the fact that they were visiting an ongoing war zone and that there has been just a little tension between Iran, Iraq and their U.S. homeland.

And while visiting the "tourist village" of Ahmed Awa, they somehow accidentally strayed across the heavily-guarded and hotly-contested Iran border. Gosh golly, those silly rascals really got themselves in a jam, didn't they?

Um, yeah.

On the other hand, we're told that these three luminaries were sent to spy on Iran by sneaking across their northwest border disguised as clumsy American tourists. In this scenario, we're expected to believe that this is the best the U.S. has to offer in terms of infiltration and espionage.

Sure. James Bond eat your heart out.

So what we're left with is a case where either explanation requires gross incompetence at best, and near-lethal stupidity at worst, with stupidity taking a commanding lead in terms of probability.

To paraphrase Robert Hanlon: Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.

But this is ATS, where we say: Never attribute to stupidity what can be explained by conspiracy.

Whatever the truth in this case may be, it's a rather dismal and depressing state of affairs that doesn't cast humanity in a particularly flattering light.

But perhaps worst of all, this must be a crushing blow for the "tourist village" of Ahmed Awa, and we can rest assured that this spectacle will have significant negative impact on the otherwise thriving Iran-Iraq border tourism industry for years to come.

Originally posted by Stovokor
I worked for an Persian family, I know sounds cliche..but I sold high end rugs...

They were some of the warmest, welcoming, and nicest people I have ever known.

Sure, they made Jewish people look like big spenders they were so cheap..lol..(joke..kinda)

This whole situation smells like a ploy to get us involved militarily. I hope not.

Yeah, one or more of them are most likely spies. But I couldn't care less on that point. What's weird is that as human beings on the one-to-one level, I've traveled and met many different peoples of many different faiths and my experience has been that we enjoyed each other's company and enjoyed experiencing a bit of each others culture in spite of those differences.

People can get along rather well methinks. Governments, for some reason, can't.

reply to post by Majic


They are all american Jews Activist's who speak fluent arabic,who came from Syria (Iranian puppet state) to Iraq(pretty much still a dangerous warzone) to Iran ,a very hostile situation considering the Kurds in that area are anti Iran.

These 3 were up to no good ,we all know it ,so did the Iranians.

Originally posted by deltaboy
If they are truly spies why are they not executed? I'm surprised they are not executed for being spies since its by law in Iran. To teach others from spying in Iran.

Maybe to interrogate them and get some information, maybe to see how much of a fuss the States make about it either on the news or backroom channels.
Either way you do not hike along a very paranoid (rightly so) countries boarder when your home country is talking war war war.
Has anyone else noticed the lack of the drum beats of war towards Iran since that Chinese sub popped up between the US carrier and it's protectors?....hmmmmm
Regards,Iwinder

reply to post by Iwinder


Yeah China is showing Vietnam and the Philippines who is the new kid on the block. The U.S. should take notice. China is meant to conquer Asia as it use to.

So much hypocrisy it's funny.

I wonder what would be the reaction from you guys if a couple of Iranian hikers would get jailed in the US for "spying" without any reason other than "are they stupid enough to be here???".

They may be tourists.

I thought people would have to be stupid to go to Iran. Until I enrolled for the 2012 Mongol Rally!

May end up driving through Iran in a #ty hatchback after spending weeks on the road with a load of other nutters. Google it to see what I mean.

My point is, if I am over there trying to get through the Iranian border in a #ty hatchback, and I get arrested as a spy, and jailed for 8 years. I hope you give me a shout out on here

Originally posted by IsraeliGuy
So much hypocrisy it's funny.

I wonder what would be the reaction from you guys if a couple of Iranian hikers would get jailed in the US for "spying" without any reason other than "are they stupid enough to be here???".

Pff, Iran doesn't spy on anyone. If that happened then it would be one of those 'false flag' thingies that actually happen all of the time... allegedly.

Originally posted by IsraeliGuy
So much hypocrisy it's funny.

I wonder what would be the reaction from you guys if a couple of Iranian hikers would get jailed in the US for "spying" without any reason other than "are they stupid enough to be here???".

If Iran was calling for war with the States constantly and had a puppet country close by that despised them also, well then you get the rest of the picture.
Iran wants to be left alone and do their own thing (which most countries desire).
This war sheet on Iran is pure garbage and it was the same for Iraq as it is for all the other countries under attack from the States and their boss Israel.
Regards, Iwinder

Surely whether or not they actually were spies is moot at this point.

What they were is irrelevant. What they are now is pawns on the chess board in the same way the Royal Navy sailors were a few years ago when kidnapped by the revolutionary guard.

Be interesting to see the US response

1. quiet deal for their release under the table
2. Ignore the issue and let them rot
3. Contribute towards building up as casus belli, increased rhetoric etc

I reckon number 2 but we'll see.

Originally posted by justwokeup
Surely whether or not they actually were spies is moot at this point.

What they were is irrelevant. What they are now is pawns on the chess board in the same way the Royal Navy sailors were a few years ago when kidnapped by the revolutionary guard.

Be interesting to see the US response

1. quiet deal for their release under the table
2. Ignore the issue and let them rot
3. Contribute towards building up as casus belli, increased rhetoric etc

I reckon number 2 but we'll see.

Good post and I reckon #1 and we will never hear about it.
Regards, Iwinder

Originally posted by OneEleven
reply to post by JennaDarling

 

Originally posted by JennaDarling

The US would do the same if Iranians where taking pictures of anything in America too.

My guess is you could see an example of Iranians taking pictures in America right now....

Try the Grand Canyon....Or Yosemite....Or New York City....The list goes on....

And for that they have visas and didn't get into those places from Canada illegaly

These guys didn't have visas and just hopped over the Iraqi border

reply to post by JennaDarling

The US would do the same if Iranians where taking pictures of anything in America too.

No I bet the US would take it one step further and send them to G-bay for some good old fashioned unconstitutional American torture.

Originally posted by Soshh

Originally posted by IsraeliGuy
So much hypocrisy it's funny.

I wonder what would be the reaction from you guys if a couple of Iranian hikers would get jailed in the US for "spying" without any reason other than "are they stupid enough to be here???".

Pff, Iran doesn't spy on anyone. If that happened then it would be one of those 'false flag' thingies that actually happen all of the time... allegedly.

I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not. I hope so.

Iran is a fairly prosperous nation of decent people, controlled and represented by egotistical lunatics. Kind of rings a bell, for just about every nation on the planet.

They are certainly VERY active in the intelligence-gathering realm.

Originally posted by TupacShakur
reply to post by JennaDarling

 

The US would do the same if Iranians where taking pictures of anything in America too.

No I bet the US would take it one step further and send them to G-bay for some good old fashioned unconstitutional American torture.

edit on 20-8-2011 by TupacShakur because: To edit my post

You know there are roughly 700,000 to 1,000,000 Iranian-native U.S. Americans right? There are plenty that visit this country that are not U.S. citizens and move about as freely as anyone else.

reply to post by ateuprto

You know there are roughly 700,000 to 1,000,000 Iranian-native U.S. Americans right? There are plenty that visit this country that are not U.S. citizens and move about as freely as anyone else.

I was just comparing how Iran treats spies or potential spies compared to how the United States would treat them.

But if there were Iranians that were in the states suspected of spying for whatever reason, I think there's a pretty good chance they would be sent to G-bay. I don't know what they would have to do to be considered spies, but if that were the case I don't think they would be simply sent to jail.

These people were NOT spying at all!!!

They should not be locked up in a Iranian prison.

The lady that was with the other two hikers
got to go free.

She was suppose to return for the *trial*.

IRAN needs to let these people go now!!!

SEND IN SEAL TEAM SIX!!!

The reason that they were executed is because there was no clear evidence of spying.

If there was any real proof, ie photographs of installations or documents then they would be dead.

I have no sympathy for them either way, they were either very, very stupid or were spies.
All 3 of them speaking Arabic leads me to think they were spies.

Originally posted by CasiusIgnoranze
Judging by the fact Iran has had a couple of its top nuclear scientists unlawfully assassinated, I'd say this makes them even.

Those hikers were definitely spies or they were extremely stupid.

Intresting... Got a link where it shows the Us was behind that.. I would like to read up on it.

Originally posted by Xcathdra

Originally posted by CasiusIgnoranze
Judging by the fact Iran has had a couple of its top nuclear scientists unlawfully assassinated, I'd say this makes them even.

Those hikers were definitely spies or they were extremely stupid.

Intresting... Got a link where it shows the Us was behind that.. I would like to read up on it.

Well we know it was not China nor Russia......who does that leave?
Maybe the Bahamas?
Regards, Iwinder