Iran to put on trial three US hikers facing spy charges

craptakular · 14 Dec 2009 at 21:50

"I know love lets go hiking in the Lake District!"

"Nah, I hear Iraqi is nice this time off year. I'll book it at Thomas Cook!"

Mods - apologies of Thomas Cook is considered a competitor.

Sankari · 14 Dec 2009 at 22:02

The area they were in is actually popular with tourists. It is not unusual for people to go hiking there.

Tefal · 15 Dec 2009 at 10:45

Evangelion said:
The people suggesting that "they might be spies" obviously haven't read the article.

The irony is that two of these US citizens (Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd) actually live in Damascus, Josh Fattal is a fluent Arabic speaker and his father is said to be Iraqi (not yet confirmed), Shourd is a pro-Palestinian activist and Bauer has been an Al-Jazeera reporter.

Iran won't do herself any favours by imprisoning people who share her own aims!

And that precludes them from being spies does it? :confused:

The Americans had Russians as spies and the Russians had Americans as spies.

Sankari · 15 Dec 2009 at 10:48

Tefal said:
And that precludes them from being spies does it?

The Americans had Russians as spies and the Russians had Americans as spies.

Technically it doesn't preclude anything, but it should at least ring a few bells for anyone with half a grain of common sense. Just talk me through the "spy" scenario, would you please? How exactly the **** does that work, pray tell? Was the US trying to win the world's worst spying attempt, perhaps? Use your ******* brain, son.

Anyone who believes these three are genuine spies should be chucked in the Thames with an engine block chained to their feet for gross stupidity and insulting the public's intelligence.

Macro · 15 Dec 2009 at 11:12

Evangelion said:
Technically it doesn't preclude anything, but it should at least ring a few bells for anyone with half a grain of common sense. Just talk me through the "spy" scenario, would you please? How exactly the **** does that work, pray tell? Was the US trying to win the world's worst spying attempt, perhaps? Use your ******* brain, son.

Anyone who believes these three are genuine spies should be chucked in the Thames with an engine block chained to their feet for gross stupidity and insulting the public's intelligence.

Now you see that's your problem Evangelion, you actually bothered to read the article and have an informed opinion. You're not going to get very far 'round here with an attitude like that

NickK · 15 Dec 2009 at 12:32

You have to admit you don't know the truth but only opinion based on reports.

They could be very dumb Americians who have decided to go to Iran uninvited/unescorted. The report has stated they they've been in the region so they should know... so that's suspicious.

They could have been asked to keep they eyes open as they go by the US services. Just because they're young, middle class americans doesn't mean they're exactly what they seem.

Perhaps people forget Iran is effectively "at war" with the US in all but name. The culture is very different compared to the west - if you've done business with Israel, Iranian etc you'd have come across a very secretive way they do things. It's annoying but that's just the way they are because of the current state of play in their country.

Now if they went to Iran to gather news for reporting .... that observation is the same as "spying".. the fact that they're US citizens makes it all the more likely that Iran is going to put a show on.

Sankari · 15 Dec 2009 at 12:44

NickK said:
They could be very dumb Americians who have decided to go to Iran uninvited/unescorted. The report has stated they they've been in the region so they should know... so that's suspicious.

They're tourists who were visiting a particular region that is popular with tourists. They were tourists in a typical tourist destination. What's suspicious about it? :confused:

They could have been asked to keep they eyes open as they go by the US services.

Two of them came from Damascus! Do you think the US services phoned them up before they left Syria and asked if they'd like to spy on Iran? :rolleyes:

That's one engine block for you. Give my regards to the mud at the bottom of the Thames. And don't worry: your tinfoil hat is rustproof. For a while.

NickK · 15 Dec 2009 at 13:15

Evangelion said:
That's one engine block for you. Give my regards to the mud at the bottom of the Thames. And don't worry: your tinfoil hat is rustproof. For a while.

So you know the truth or are you just ruminating like me? If so you can have your own engine block too. See you at the bottom.

The key is US Citizenship. Regardless, Iran will make this a big scene for political gain. It seemed odd with the individuals having a spent time in the region that they'd not think about the risks!

Le_Petit_Lapin · 15 Dec 2009 at 13:26

Who goes hiking in Iraq anyway?

Azagoth · 15 Dec 2009 at 13:29

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Who goes hiking in Iraq anyway?

Not read the thread then?

TriedandTested · 14 Sep 2010 at 22:57

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11299867

Anyone else a bit suspicious. Three highly educated Americans, hiking in northern Iran. She looks and sounds like a proper spy in the video!

Totally look like spies!

Greenlizard0 · 14 Sep 2010 at 23:11

The guy on the left sort of looks like the Charlie Sheen's brother on Two and a Half Men. The guy on the right looks a bit like Zach Braff.

Who knows really what is going or who they are? At least one has been let go, in terms of some of their ideas of justice that's pretty good.