Verdict of 2 Americans jailed in Iran announced :

[President Camacho]

So the one who could pay, was a gentleman American, who was innocent of all charges of spying, but the two poor lots who cannot pay, are god damn spies that should be put away for years.

Looking at it rationally - if these two are really spies, then the US wouldn't blink even once before paying similar amount of sum for them. But none came forward, because these two were on their own in going for this adventure trip.

Sure became hell of an adventure.

 

[longbrained]

I am not trying to change any fact buddy. You can always point out where am wrong. Tourism figures show that the region they were trekking in is a popular tourist destination, and more and more tourists are flocking to that region. I know about PKK rebels but they don't pose any harm for toursists. And there are people out there crazy enough to take that risk. CIA or not, the Americans were not hiking in the middle of a war zone, its an area known for its mountains and valleys.

As for crossing the border, its an unmarked border, all it takes is descending from a mountain into a valley, and you are in a different country. They might be CIA, but the fact they can be genuine trekkers/hikers is not out of line either.


Kurdistan: The Other Iraq - Slide Show - NYTimes.com

Why Iraq is on tourist trek, Kurdistan, Sarah Shourd, Iran, hike

If it is that peaceful and touristic spot then why dont you go and have a holiday there? Would anyone here want to go there and have a holiday there, perhaps a honeymoon? Any one?

 

[Zabaniyah]

So the one who could pay, was a gentleman American, who was innocent of all charges of spying, but the two poor lots who cannot pay, are god damn spies that should be put away for years.

Looking at it rationally - if these two are really spies, then the US wouldn't blink even once before paying similar amount of sum for them. But none came forward, because these two were on their own in going for this adventure trip.

Sure became hell of an adventure.

If the US authorities do come forward to pay money for their release, wouldn't that imply that they certainly were up to something?

I know about PKK rebels but they don't pose any harm for toursists.

mmmm.......

 

[longbrained]

So the one who could pay, was a gentleman American, who was innocent of all charges of spying, but the two poor lots who cannot pay, are god damn spies that should be put away for years.

Looking at it rationally - if these two are really spies, then the US wouldn't blink even once before paying similar amount of sum for them. But none came forward, because these two were on their own in going for this adventure trip.

Sure became hell of an adventure.

It was not about the payment of a bail. Americans could not implicate themselves. Iranians intentionally let her go because of humanitarian reasons and because she was a girl. Anyways Iran hoped that US would release some innocent Iranians who are in American prisons for wrong reasons and who were kidnapped from different places. Alas, US was not interested. So Iranians went ahead and punished these guys. Compassion should go both ways. It is not like Iranians should be compassionate to Americans but US government should treat Iranians like crap.

 

[Roybot]

If it is that peaceful and touristic spot then why dont you go and have a holiday there? Would anyone here want to go there and have a holiday there, perhaps a honeymoon? Any one?

If you are willing to pay, then am definitely up for it.

 

[longbrained]

If you are willing to pay, then am definitely up for it.

Oh, no. I would not want you to die. It really is going to bother my consciousness for the rest of my life. After all we are all south Asians. Can not take the risk of sending you to such a dangerous place.

 

[Roybot]

Oh, no. I would not want you to die. It really is going to bother my consciousness for the rest of my life. After all we are all south Asians. Can not take the risk of sending you to such a dangerous place.

Yeah but its not though, Iraqi Kurdistan hosted 1.3 Million tourists in 2010. Not the sorta numbers you'd expect in a war zone right?

Kurdistan's Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism reports that since 2007 the number of visitors to Kurdistan has risen from around 380,000 to over 1.3 million in 2010, a 242 percent increase.

Rudaw in English....The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World - Westerners Visiting Iraqi Kurdistan

 

[President Camacho]

If the US authorities do come forward to pay money for their release, wouldn't that imply that they certainly were up to something?

Exactly! And no one came forward, so what does that imply?

^^^Just following your line there, so don't read too much into it.

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The fact is, financial transfers in such matters are never overtly state sponsored. I thought you would know that already. But I suppose I need to cite you the case of one Raymond Davis in Pakistan whose 'blood money', amounting to millions of $, was promptly paid by a 'well respected' third party. Even after it was proved that he was a CIA contractor.

It wouldn't be hard for the US to arrange any such alternative in this case either. But it is clearly the fault of these individuals, who were not sponsored by any entity but themselves, and hence they themselves are bound to be responsible for their actions. The state will not pay much attention to their case. So no money coming for them.

Now what does that imply?

 

[Roybot]

If the US authorities do come forward to pay money for their release, wouldn't that imply that they certainly were up to something?

mmmm.......

Its not really a ransom scenario. There is no "option" to buy them out of Iran.

 

[President Camacho]

It was not about the payment of a bail. Americans could not implicate themselves. Iranians intentionally let her go because of humanitarian reasons and because she was a girl. Anyways Iran hoped that US would release some innocent Iranians who are in American prisons for wrong reasons and who were kidnapped from different places. Alas, US was not interested. So Iranians went ahead and punished these guys. Compassion should go both ways. It is not like Iranians should be compassionate to Americans but US government should treat Iranians like crap.

Do you really have nothing else up your sleeves? That bold part... it made me lol so hard...

 

[longbrained]

Yeah but its not though, Iraqi Kurdistan hosted 1.3 Million tourists in 2010. Not the sorta numbers you'd expect in a war zone right?



Rudaw in English....The Happening: Latest News and Multimedia about Kurdistan, Iraq and the World - Westerners Visiting Iraqi Kurdistan

Its all made up numbers. Let me remind you that they have counted their Kurdish relatives coming over from Iran, Turkey and Syria as tourists. Not to mention that there is alot of trade going on between Iran and Kurdistan since 1991 and I am not surprised all those are also counted in as tourists. Hardly a dozen among them might be from Europe, South Asia or Japan. After all how many Indians and Australians you know who go there for honey moon?

---------- Post added at 01:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 AM ----------

Do you really have nothing else up your sleeves? That bold part... it made me lol so hard...

Go and check official Iranian statements when they released her. Iranians were hoping for some kind of prisoner swap, similar to the one they had done with French last year. Or similar to the one Americans had done with Russians last year. Do not make a fool out of yourself with your silly statements.

 

[President Camacho]

If it is that peaceful and touristic spot then why dont you go and have a holiday there? Would anyone here want to go there and have a holiday there, perhaps a honeymoon? Any one?

So... how many have you seen go to mount K2 for honeymoon? Or to the deathvalley for tourism?

It is adventure, not honeymoon. People have been going at all the places looking for adventures. And they are among the lots who do the least harm to the area the venture into. Know the difference.

 

[longbrained]

Anyways as per Iranian laws they are in till 2019 now. For their crimes against Iranian sovereignty.

---------- Post added at 01:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:05 AM ----------

So... how many have you seen go to mount K2 for honeymoon? Or to the deathvalley for tourism?

It is adventure, not honeymoon. People have been going at all the places looking for adventures. And they are among the lots who do the least harm to the area the venture into. Know the difference.

I have met lots of people who go for their honey moon to K2 base camp. It is a safe place. There are no mines there, no chemical warfare have been fought there, and more importantly there is no civil war there and there is no US military controlling the are as part of occupation, neither there are terrorist groups such as PKK.

 

[President Camacho]

Go and check official Iranian statements when they released her. Iranians were hoping for some kind of prisoner swap, similar to the one they had done with French last year. Or similar to the one Americans had done with Russians last year. Do not make a fool out of yourself with your silly statements.

Official Iranian statement? Of course, they cannot have anything but a statement to prove their ground.

So, once again, the 'Mata Hari' was let go because she is a girl?

Coming from Iran... it's kind of hard to believe.

 

[Gautam]

I have heard that if you pay money then the Islamic law forgives you and lets you go. Even if you kill someone but if you're ready to pay then that's it. I may be wrong, would anyone want to correct me?

Can these guys pay and go away like that?