Well the Hikers are Free. We Can All Breath a Sigh of Relief

[K2WH]

Those 3 "Hikers" who "Accidentally" crossed the Iranian border are now free and in the arms of their loved ones. This leaves one scratching his or her head, wondering what in the world they were doing there. Personnally I think they are dimwits at best. What can be said about these jerks. Are they really that naive and clueless or are they working for the CIA?

Look at the picture in the link. Holding flowers and waving goodbye to their hosts; everything is fine. Sort of reminds me of when the Vietnamese released U.S. prisoners from prison to fly home. Makes me sick.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/25/two-us-hikers-released-from-iranian-prison-arrive-in-new-york/

K2WH

[WF7A]

I'm sure there was some back-room diplomacy going on that we'll probably hear about years from now; I'm sure we (the U.S.) gave up something to get them back.

[K7JEM]

Those 3 "Hikers" who "Accidentally" crossed the Iranian border are now free and in the arms of their loved ones. This leaves one scratching his or her head, wondering what in the world they were doing there. Personnally I think they are dimwits at best. What can be said about these jerks. Are they really that naive and clueless or are they working for the CIA?
They are stupid college kids who wandered into another country by a few hundred yards over an unmarked border. I don't think we need to read any more into it than that. What kind of spying goes on in a remote area, 100 yards from another country?

Look at the picture in the link. Holding flowers and waving goodbye to their hosts; everything is fine. Sort of reminds me of when the Vietnamese released U.S. prisoners from prison to fly home. Makes me sick.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/25/two-us-hikers-released-from-iranian-prison-arrive-in-new-york/

K2WH

That picture was taken in Oman, not Iran. Probably waving good bye to all the diplomats who helped get them out. Nothing wrong or strange about that.

Joe

[K2WH]

That picture was taken in Oman, not Iran. Probably waving good bye to all the diplomats who helped get them out. Nothing wrong or strange about that.

Joe

Joe, you really believe they were waving to the diplomats? This is very typical of dictatorial and communist governments where prisoners are released for "humanitarian" purposes. Happened in Vietnam and other communist countries. Holding flowers and all 3 turning around in unison on the final step to the aircraft and waving is so familiar. They were told to do that for the press and the world so the host country will be seen as a jolly good place to be in prison and how compassionate the country really is and we didn't really hurt them.

K2WH

[K2WH]

They are stupid college kids who wandered into another country by a few hundred yards over an unmarked border. I don't think we need to read any more into it than that. What kind of spying goes on in a remote area, 100 yards from another country?

That picture was taken in Oman, not Iran. Probably waving good bye to all the diplomats who helped get them out. Nothing wrong or strange about that.

Joe

Joe, you really believe they were waving to the diplomats? This is very typical of dictatorial and communist governments where prisoners are released for "humanitarian" purposes. Happened in Vietnam and other communist countries. Holding flowers and all 3 turning around in unison on the final step to the aircraft and waving is so familiar. The same embarrassing exit was performed by US citizens held by Saddam Hussein years ago.

They were told to do that for the press and the world so the host country will be seen as a jolly good place to be in prison and how compassionate the country really is and they didn't really hurt them.

I know the picture was taken in Oman and Oman is a Sultanate government (dictator) an Islamic Country and follow Sharia Law. They better smile and wave.

K2WH

[K5FH]

Are they really that naive and clueless or are they working for the CIA?

Probably both, as these conditions usually occur together.

[K8ERV]

I want to know who paid the ransom?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[W2ILP]

As a skeptic, I can't say for sure that the "hikers'' were only hikers. I dunno with any certitude that they wre not spies....maybe not big SPIES...but just little peepers.

In the past there have been many people who had been accused of being spies. We could never be sure that they were not spies....until more than one of them began to teach espionage classes at a famous university....from experience?

Don't get me wrong...We can not give the hiker's vocational identy away with any certutude...before they may again leave undercover and disguised for their next assignment. That would not be a patriotic thing to do.

Anyway if they were just hiking it was an expensive hike for us taxpayers, considering the ransom that was paid to set them free.

Wex, w2ilp (Iranian Liberty Payment?) Spies caught in the US are priceless.

[KB4QAA]

K2WH,
Why are you so wrapped up in vilifying Oman?

They have very quietly been a helpful friend of the US and Britain for many years. They have worked very hard since the beginning of this incident 3 years ago to arrange for the release of all three hikers, acting as an intermediary. They have been a stabilizing force among the countries of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea for decades.

b.

p.s. Oman paid the bail (ransom) for the hikers.

[W2ILP]

Who paid Oman to pay the ransom? Oman was the middleman. This was certanly done to avoid direct contact between the US and Iran. It would have been improper for the us to pay Iran, due to the US economic sanctions now placed on Iran.

Did you ever look up the history of Oman? Like all Arab port cities it was created by the British as an independent nation. Divide and Conquor....and control the ports. If you make the little ports rich...you can always get your foot into the door... to exploit the more numerous poor interior people....Enuf sed.

Wex, w2ilp (I Like Ports)...for USBs.

[WF7A]

I want to know who paid the ransom?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

The kidnappers of Red Chief.

[K2WH]

K2WH,
Why are you so wrapped up in vilifying Oman?

They have very quietly been a helpful friend of the US and Britain for many years. They have worked very hard since the beginning of this incident 3 years ago to arrange for the release of all three hikers, acting as an intermediary. They have been a stabilizing force among the countries of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea for decades.

b.

p.s. Oman paid the bail (ransom) for the hikers.

I can't believe the lack of common sense here. Oman did not do what they did because of good will. A deal was made and they got the publicity and possibly some other benefits out of it.

K2WH

[G0GQK]

Those university kids are wandering all over the world, getting into places they shouldn't be and then expecting governments and people to pull 'em out of the krap. Why these pair were wandering round this area, only they know. Don't they read papers, watch TV, or maybe just go somewhere where they don't throw people in the slammer for ten years for reading the wrong newspaper.

[W4HAY]

Well the Hikers are Free. We Can All Breath a Sigh of Relief...

K2WH
Now about those nukes...

[KC9IUX]

I can't believe the lack of common sense here. Oman did not do what they did because of good will. A deal was made and they got the publicity and possibly some other benefits out of it.

K2WH


Oh no, a "Conspiracy Theory":D

[K7JEM]

Joe, you really believe they were waving to the diplomats? This is very typical of dictatorial and communist governments where prisoners are released for "humanitarian" purposes. Happened in Vietnam and other communist countries. Holding flowers and all 3 turning around in unison on the final step to the aircraft and waving is so familiar. They were told to do that for the press and the world so the host country will be seen as a jolly good place to be in prison and how compassionate the country really is and we didn't really hurt them.

K2WH

Well, they weren't in Iran. In fact, the girl in the photo had been released a year ago, and went to Oman to join the other two. If I was leaving the helpful country, after 2 years of imprisonment in a neighboring country, I would probably wave to the people that helped get me out, and smile broadly, too. These are the people and country that helped secure your release. The Swiss were involved too.

But, I suppose you can believe what you want. Sometimes things are just as they appear, as far as what these kids were doing there. What went on to secure their release is not known.

Joe

[KA5ROW]

The hikers were stupid, and deserved to be in trouble. Even if they were a few miles this side of the border. They knew the dangers. Now I am glad they are safe and home. Doing what they did is like throwing rocks at a wasp nest sooner are later you will get stung.

[W5BIB]

Joe, you really believe they were waving to the diplomats? This is very typical of dictatorial and communist governments where prisoners are released for "humanitarian" purposes. Happened in Vietnam and other communist countries. Holding flowers and all 3 turning around in unison on the final step to the aircraft and waving is so familiar. They were told to do that for the press and the world so the host country will be seen as a jolly good place to be in prison and how compassionate the country really is and we didn't really hurt them.

K2WH ... (They) are still studying the 'waves' for subliminal messages. Besides,... they couldn't use the "Hawaiian good luck sign", ...because it was 'compromised' by the crew members of the USS PUEBLO. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaMzjJ7slJg&feature=player_embedded ... (Theme song of the PUEBLO)... RIP CDR Bucher...

[KC9IUX]

Well, they weren't in Iran. In fact, the girl in the photo had been released a year ago, and went to Oman to join the other two. If I was leaving the helpful country, after 2 years of imprisonment in a neighboring country, I would probably wave to the people that helped get me out, and smile broadly, too. These are the people and country that helped secure your release. The Swiss were involved too.

But, I suppose you can believe what you want. Sometimes things are just as they appear, as far as what these kids were doing there. What went on to secure their release is not known.

Joe
She posted a half million dollar bond, not simply released, just a correction.

Could have been worse, they could have come into Mexico from the south.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR41/014/2010/en/8459f0ac-03ce-4302-8bd2-3305bdae9cde/amr410142010eng.pdf

[N1JGE]

Some just have to learn the hard way.

[VK6ZGO]

If they turned up on a beach in Australia,(we don't have any land borders) without any legal excuse to be there,they would be placed into detention while they were processed.

Of course they would only be detained a few hours if they wanted to go home,then they would be deported.
If they want to stay,they better be prepared for a long wait!

I guess the hikers didn't want to stay in Iran,though!:D

73,VK6ZGO

[WA4BRL]

Well the Hikers are Free. We Can All Breath a Sigh of Relief
Why? Did these two guys hold the secret to solving the world debt crises? Or maybe the solution to the cost of energy? Middle East Peace? Cold fusion? Man's inhumanity to man?

No.

They were just two of three spies who got caught (remember their colleague, the woman who was released earlier?) If they weren't spies, they were just incredibly stupid people. The incredibly stupid don't count for much in this world, so it's unlikely that so many would have worked so hard (and paid over a million bucks) to obtain their release.

THAT may be worthy of a sigh.

[KI4NGN]

Why? Did these two guys hold the secret to solving the world debt crises? Or maybe the solution to the cost of energy? Middle East Peace? Cold fusion? Man's inhumanity to man?

No.

They were just two of three spies who got caught (remember their colleague, the woman who was released earlier?) If they weren't spies, they were just incredibly stupid people. The incredibly stupid don't count for much in this world, so it's unlikely that so many would have worked so hard (and paid over a million bucks) to obtain their release.

THAT may be worthy of a sigh.

How much money would YOU raise to free a family member? Have some limit over which you'd just say he or she is not worth it?

How about they were not spies, and not necessarily stupid, but perhaps just not well trained or equipped for land navigation, unintenionally crossing an invisible border which a hostile nation saw as another opportunity to act against us??

[WA4BRL]

How much money would YOU raise to free a family member? Have some limit over which you'd just say he or she is not worth it?

How about they were not spies, and not necessarily stupid, but perhaps just not well trained or equipped for land navigation, unintenionally crossing an invisible border which a hostile nation saw as another opportunity to act against us??

Hi Michael.

I hoped the flip, glib style of my post would make obvious that I was commenting only on the geopolitical impact of these two (which is nil). Of course on a moral human level every person is important whether family or not. But even on this level, some measure of personal responsibility must be maintained in the balance. You somewhat supported my point when you described them as perhaps "not well trained or equipped for land navigation, unintenionally crossing an invisible border [with] a hostile nation..." To me going to that locale, that poorly equipped, that poorly trained, for a pleasant little hike pretty much defines them as "incredibly stupid people" to me. What sort of fool goes gallivanting about in such an area? Were they indeed such happy wanderers, failing to respect and obey the laws of a foreign nation still does and should have its consequences.

But I still don't buy that cover story. They were spies, couriers, drug mules, or some such. It's the only logical explanation.

[WB0LSR]

How much money would YOU raise to free a family member? Have some limit over which you'd just say he or she is not worth it?

How about they were not spies, and not necessarily stupid, but perhaps just not well trained or equipped for land navigation, unintenionally crossing an invisible border which a hostile nation saw as another opportunity to act against us??


Who on EARTH that is an American citizen "hikes" in Iraq? Assuming that is really true, then by that act alone they are among the dumbest people in the world.

I'm leaning more towards what WA4BRL posted in post #22 myself..

[WB8MKV]

...Who gives a Didley Poop..?

[N0SYA]

Some time in prison is worth the millions that will come with all the book deals and media buys afterwards. It's almost like being caught by the sec bilking millions from investors. You do a year at a fed country club, the feds skim off a mil for themselves as a fine, and when you get out you've still got the rest of your stolen millions.

[K2WH]

Well, the other shoe has dropped.

"In prison, every time we complained about our conditions, the guards would immediately remind us of comparable conditions at Guantanamo Bay. They would remind us of CIA prisons in other parts of the world, and the conditions that Iranians and others experience in prisons in the U.S. We do not believe that such human rights violations on the part of our government justify what has been done to us, not for a moment. However, we do believe that these actions on the part of the U.S provide an excuse for other governments, including the governments of Iran, to act in kind.

"And Others"??? Part of the blame America crowd. Further to this a strong political statement follows:

How can we forgive the Iranian government when it continues to imprison so many other innocent people and prisoners of conscience? It is the Iranian people who bear the brunt of this government's cruelty and disregard for human rights. There are people in Iran who are imprisoned for years, simply for attending a protest, for writing a pro-democracy blog, or for, worse, being an unpopular faith. Journalists remain behind bars and innocent people have been executed.

Can there be any doubt now about these idiot's agenda?

K2WH

[N5CEY]

Turks want to kill off the kurds in northern Iraq, militants in Iraq want to kill off everybody, the Iranians want to kill off anyone who remotely resembles Americans as well as take ofer Iraq, come on guys, lets just have a little ham field day venture in northern Iraq, and lets make it real exotic by doing it real close to the Iranian border. Just the kind of friendly neighborhood for a field day or an afternoon hike - come on folks, either these folks were incredibly stupid or they were spies. In either case, they were not real smart. I'm glad they are home safely, but don't really feel sorry for them bringing this on themselves. I know if my son were so stupid to do that, where the h*ll am I going to come up with half a million to get him out? Not good vibes on this one at all. Most folks don't have that kind of money, so where did it come from?

[VK6ZGO]

failing to respect and obey the laws of a foreign nation still does and should have its consequences.



This is the point I was trying to make in my comment above.
If illegal entry has the consequences which it does in as friendly a country as Australia (or the USA),how could anyone with something approaching a brain expect not to be arrested if they illegally enter a country which is distinctly unfriendly,particularly to Americans?


73,VK6ZGO

[WB4WHJ]

I want to know who paid the ransom?

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo


The US taxpayer?

[AC4BB]

Can you say kidnapped and held for ransom.? that's exactly,what happened here.

[W5BIB]

Can you say kidnapped and held for ransom.? that's exactly,what happened here. Can you say, 'DECOYS'??

[N1JGE]

Can you say kidnapped and held for ransom.? that's exactly,what happened here.

Your kidding right.