One look at their faces says otherwise, not to mention what fellow hiker Sara Shourd has revealed since her release on $500,000 "bail." The two men have been kept at the infamous Evin prison.
Meanwhile, the Iranian team of the Professional Jihadist Brinkmanship League goes to work. They've put the offer out there, and now they will see what they can get for it, all the while seizing the opportunity to toy with the emotions of the hostage hikers and their families, and to attempt to string along the State Department for domestic and regional consumption.
"Iran’s Judiciary Clouds Fate of American Hikers," by Alan Cowell and Rick Gladstone for the New York Times, September 14:
LONDON — The Iranian judiciary on Wednesday contradicted an assurance by Iran‘s president that two Americans arrested two years ago while hiking the Iran-Iraq frontier and imprisoned on espionage charges would be freed within two days as a humanitarian gesture, state media reported.President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad disclosed the plan on Tuesday in a move that seemed timed to portray him more favorably before he attends the United Nations General Assembly meeting next week. But the subsequent announcement by the judiciary could prove deeply embarrassing, showing the limits of his power and, given the swirling factional politics within the Iranian elite. highlighting frictions between Mr. Ahmadinejad and the conservatives who control the judiciary.
Specifically, the apparent conflict over the Americans’ legal status could reflect a worsening rift between Mr. Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s spiritual leader and highest authority, who is closely allied to the court.
On Wednesday, state media reported that, in the words of the English-language Press TV satellite broadcaster, “Iran’s judiciary has refuted recent media reports on the imminent release of two American nationals that were convicted of committing espionage against the Islamic Republic for the U.S. government.”
“The two Americans are going to stay in prison for a bit longer. Reports of their imminent release are wrong,” a judiciary official was quoted as saying.
The semi-official Fars news agency said a judge was still reviewing a request by lawyers for the two men that they be freed on bail. “Only the judiciary is authorized to reveal information on this case,” Fars quoted a judiciary statement as saying.
The remarks by President Ahmadinejad in a television interview with NBC’s “Today” show from Tehran, came a month after the two Americans, Shane M. Bauer and Joshua F. Fattal, both 29, were sentenced to eight years imprisonment on convictions for spying and trespassing, which they have denied.
The sentence was considered unusually harsh and seen as an increasingly tough public relations problem for Mr. Ahmadinejad abroad, even when considering the longstanding estrangement in American-Iranian relations.
It remained unclear whether Mr. Ahmadinejad’s readiness to make a gesture would create an opening for an improvement in those relations. But it was welcomed by the families of the imprisoned Americans.
“Shane and Josh’s freedom means more to us than anything,” read a statement from the families on Tuesday — before the judiciary’s reported statement, “and it’s a huge relief to read that they are going to be released. We’re grateful to everyone who has supported us and looking forward to our reunion with Shane and Josh. We hope to say more when they are finally back in our arms.”
A Web site devoted to their cause, FreetheHikers.org, festooned its homepage with the headline: “Iran Says Shane and Josh to be Released by Thursday!”
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was more cautious in her reaction, but said she was encouraged.
“We obviously hope that we will see a positive outcome from what appears to be a decision by the government,” she said in Washington, without referring specifically to Mr. Ahmadinejad.
Asked in the “Today” interview with Ann Curry about the case against the Americans, Mr. Ahmadinejad said: “I think these two persons will be freed in a couple of days.”
He also repeated complaints about what he said were the unjust imprisonments of Iranians in the United States, and said that Mr. Bauer and Mr. Fattal were well cared for in Iran’s penal system. “It’s like staying in a hotel,” he said....
Why don't I have feelings for these pro-Palestinian, ultra left, anti-Semitic, clowns? Because there is satisfaction when righteous judgment strikes the wicked.
Is this "Due Process" -- the Sharia version?
Gee, a Muslim going back on his word? What is the world coming to!
Yeah, sure, Ahmad. Like the Hanoi Hilton in N. Vietnam that was so accomodating to John McCain and other American guests.
Here is what Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi had to say about the treatment of prisoners.
http://crossmuslims.blogspot.com/2010/04/rape-and-torture-viol-et-torture.html
i knew this one was coming!
Thank salah for that link. Quite disgusting, but it boggles my mind how anyone, especially a so called holy man to give concessions and approval to rape. These 2 boys are being used as polictical pawns for the sick Iranian government and everybody knows this. And these wonderful people that hold the Iranian people hostage through terror and deceit will soon have the bomb. As this US administration is busy with their political jargon, the only hope the world has is Israel. They know that Iran's president is insane and will use it. Where are the Ronald Reagans today in our government today? There is no leadership in the US and our enemies know this. I love my country, but feel shame for it as well.
Don't forget Hotel Rwanda. That's probably how they're living.
If they get back to the United States, they'll be thrilled, that's for sure.
Life in an Iranian prison:
http://www.iran-e-sabz.org/news/torture.htm
Sorry, I'm having trouble feeling any sympathy for these brain dead, leftie dhimmis. It must be compassion fatigue again.
That said I wish them no harm and hope they have learned something valuable from this experience, but knowing most lefties have their heads inserted firmly up their a$$es, I doubt it.
"Why don't I have feelings for these pro-Palestinian, ultra left, anti-Semitic, clowns?"
There are a lot of nice regulars at JW, who don't read someone out of the human race for simply having opinions counter to most JW posters.
I don't understand your rage towards two unfortunate, idealistic Americans who happen to see some things differently than you do.
Iran constitutes a good example of Sharia law. Although there is a veneer of democracy, the real power is held by the non-elected Islamic clergy. Islam gives complete power to the clergy, no matter how ignorant or vile they are.
We do not know what is going in on the Kabuki theater of Iran. We think it is a manifestation of power by the clergy over the elected Ahmadinejad, but given the closed system of Iran, we just don't know. We do know the Islamic clergy calls the shots, which is why they are always so insistent on Sharia law.
To be truthful, I don't know if there is a lot that can be done for the hikers. They are at the mercy of a government that honors no promise, values no justice, adheres to no civilized convention. Life is even cheaper than promises to these Muslim clergy. It does rather work to lower one's inhibitions to bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. Hell. If we're going to bomb them, why not put a force on the ground and make sure the bomb facilities are destroyed.
I see no moral bar to using force to deprive Iran of nuclear weapons, as long as the end goal is to destroy the weapons, and not to institute any type of government there.
You said :
''That said I wish them no harm and hope they have learned something valuable from this experience, but knowing most lefties have their heads inserted firmly up their a$$es, I doubt it''
Too true.
'She also said that she would consider returning to Iran if it meant proving her and her companions' innocence.
"I'm not ruling anything out, but I'm not ruling anything in," Shourd said on "Good Morning America."
"I hope that that doesn't have to happen. If that's what it takes to prove that we committed no crime and meant no harm and are absolutely innocent, than I'd be willing to do it."
What can one say in reply to this sort of monumental leftist libtard moronic stupidity ? This is the sort of fool who will still be bleating 'islam is a religion of peace' when the sword is at her throat.
> One look at their faces says otherwise
Well, no. That's highly subjective. The photos I have seen show two young men who look very confused and dismayed. Not exactly in pain from torture.
And, in fact, they look exactly like we would expect -- two foolish "progressives" who believed the Muslim world would love them and suddenly found their entire world-view imploded!
Oh, and I suspect their views on Obama may have changed as well, as it does not appear this administration is paying much attention to them. So goes Hopeychange!
I am by NO means agreeing with anything said by this crazy tyrannical Muslim dictator or the Iranian government.
But personally, I don't give a ratsass about these two leftarded idiots. I don't wish them any serious harm, but if they rot in an Iranian prison for awhile, maybe it will take the wind out of their spoiled arrogant sails.
Maybe they will realize that the Muslim world that hates America also hates Leftist Americans, and at best considers them "useful tools".
Hopefully the Iranian government won't find out these two pretty boys are gay and hangs them.
Now, that would be a real bummer, wouldn't it? The entire situation would be dropped like a hot potato and totally ignored by Progressives, who don't want to admit such things happen in the Muslim world.
Maybe we could get SEAL Team 6 to 'hand deliver' the 'bail' money.
This the direct results of our media, courts, and legislstors telling us all that Islam is the religion of peace. And if anyone says otherways they are a hateful and a bigot.
It's almost as though our politians, media, and courts wanted something like this to happen. These young adults are the results of lies and liars. Go ahead talk to any legislator they'll tell you Islam is not much different than other religions. Talk to any judge our policeman. Ask any college professor or school teacher. Ask any news media person. Ask any Pastor, or Minister. We've all been told the same lie over and over and over again.
Its no wonder our young adults are arming themselves to kill kuffars they're being told that the bigots are the real criminals. Seriously, am I correct?