Of Gratitude, Ingratitude, And Imprisonment In Iran

COUNCIL OF FOREIGN RELATIONS

Posted on Thursday, September 22, 2011

by Elliott Abrams

Shane Bauer (R), one of the U.S. hikers who was held in Iran on charges of espionage, hugs a relative as he smiles at fiancee Sarah Shourd upon his arrival in Muscat after his release from Tehran's Evin prison, September 21, 2011 (Courtersy REUTERS/SANA).

In the last year I have written several blog posts about the American hikers imprisoned in Iran, hoping to help keep attention focused on getting them freed. Like every American I was delighted to see them out, finally, yesterday.

But like many Americans, I was not delighted by the statement made immediately by one of the two, Shane Bauer. After thanking the Sultan of Oman for helping get them out, he said this:

Two years in prison is too long and we sincerely hope for the freedom of other political prisoners and other unjustly imprisoned people in America and Iran.

Who exactly are the “political prisoners” in America? Can we have some names? Who exactly are the “unjustly imprisoned people” in America, and how precisely does Mr. Bauer know them to be “unjustly imprisoned” rather than convicted according to due process of law?

Given that Mr. Bauer has just suffered two years imprisonment by Iran for the crime of hiking and mistakenly crossing a border, is he entirely comfortable with his comparison of the two countries in the statement just quoted? So it would appear. Thinking of the immense diplomatic activity this country undertook to free him and the enthusiasm with which his liberation was greeted yesterday, that statement of his leaves a very bad taste.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 at 3:59 pm

Note:

Nor do Americans appreciate hearing Iran speak of their great act of "humanity" in releasing these three hikers as it cost someone 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS (that's 500,000 per hiker) to gain the release from Iran.  Is half a million dollars the going price for hostages these days?  Every life is priceless - so putting a price on someone's head is something only these Islamic terrorists think of doing ... but, we should be grateful that their heads were not cut off, as in the case of other American hostages - Daniel Pearl's name comes to mind.  Iran's leaders, terrorists and madmen, in their twisted, corrupt minds, acutally think Americans would buy into their propaganda of promoting an act of "humanity".

As to why these hikers were on the border of Iran - we'll probably never quite understand, or have explained to us.  What were they doing before their trip to Iraq - a war zone?  It is my understanding that they were somewhere in the Middle East.  

May all three hikers recognize that democracy in America is not free - it comes at a high price that our military pay dearly, with their lives; and now they know that there is no democracy in countries led by Islamic leaders. 

Ingratitude?  Yes, or brainwashing!  Either way, it does leave a bad taste in one's mouth.