Friends and family tried to keep faith that Shane Bauer's night...

Al Bauer, father of Shane Bauer, holds back tears during a candle light vigil at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden in Minneapolis, Minn., on Wednesday, September 30, 2009.

[Commonsense Man]

The "adventure" of being a journalist in the middle east has hit the brutal reality of an evil regime. A generation has been influenced by a lot of goofball baby boomer thinking that there is no evil, except for cigarettes and George Bush. I wonder what the people gathered at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden think now.

[Cynth on Lake]

Commonsense Man wrote:

The "adventure" of being a journalist in the middle east has hit the brutal reality of an evil regime. A generation has been influenced by a lot of goofball baby boomer thinking that there is no evil, except for cigarettes and George Bush. I wonder what the people gathered at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden think now.

Sad for this kids family but you're on to something. The Iranian regime is pure evil, and it must be removed, and it has been going on for 30 years. For all the peace gatherings and wishful thinking this is the reality of the situation over there. We, especially liberals, have a hard time understanding that.

[hike]

When I want to go for a hike I go to a State Park. What's the fascination with going to dangerous places? There is usually a risk involved when being thrilled.

[Javier]

Commonsense Man wrote:

The "adventure" of being a journalist in the middle east has hit the brutal reality of an evil regime. A generation has been influenced by a lot of goofball baby boomer thinking that there is no evil, except for cigarettes and George Bush. I wonder what the people gathered at the Lyndale Park Peace Garden think now.

You nailed it. These idiots went there thinking that the US is pure evil, and cultures where women are oppressed and routinely beaten and murdered in public are "progressive". Isn't it odd that a country that is the first one to arrive with aid (after a disaster) for enemies and allies is considered an evil empire by some of its own moron citizens.

These three idiots do not deserve public support. Any support given to them encourages their unacceptable behavior. For their families sake, I hope they come back ok, but they do not deserve a parade. In fact, they should go into hiding for the shame they've brought on to themselves and their family. If they were from Iran, and got caught doing this here, they would be tried for treason in their own country.

Our country has a morbid fascination with idiocy, and it would be best for all concerned if they came back and just faded into the woodwork. No talk shows, no book deals, no attention.

But, here I am talking about it.

[Right On]

hike wrote:

When I want to go for a hike I go to a State Park. What's the fascination with going to dangerous places? There is usually a risk involved when being thrilled.

You are absolutely right. Their little hike has just cost us a chip in our on-going negotiations with this horrible regime. Similar to the women who were captured by Korea, we lost political ground as they now expect a favor in return. If the US Government says "stay out of the region." STAY OUT OF THE REGION!!!!!

[Bud in St Paul]

Those three dumb-asses are right where they belong in jail.

They broke the law and crossed the border into Iran illegally.

We should being doing the same thing to any illegal aliens that cross our own borders.

[Sonny]

Why can't we roam this open country?
Oh, why can't we be what we wanna be?
We want to be free.

3 o'clock roadblock!
And "Hey, Mr. Cop!
Ain't got no birth certificate on me now."

[NIXON]

These people are morons, hiking in Iraq and Iran? Don't waste any time on these people. They got themselves into this so they could write a book and become famous. Let them get themselves out of this mess.

[baltic]

I certainly comprehend the anguish of this family, but does anyone remember the old saying that implies -- if you play with fire you will be burned? I recall the arrest of the 2 female journalists who were "along" the N. Korean border when caught only to learn after their release that they had actually and intentionally entered INTO N. Korea! What an outrage, we were told, that N. Korea had dared to arrest these innocents (before the facts came out later!). Not to be cynical, but could the same circumstance be happening in this case? Failing this finding, I am confident they will be released since Iran would have little to gain by not doing so.

[fed is a ponzi]

"The Iranian regime is pure evil, and it must be removed, and it has been going on for 30 years. For all the peace gatherings and wishful thinking this is the reality of the situation over there. We, especially liberals, have a hard time understanding that. " Is that a fact?
"Belief: Iran is aggressive and has threatened to attack Israel, its neighbors or the U.S."
"Reality: Iran has not launched an aggressive war modern history (unlike the U.S. or Israel), and its leaders have a doctrine of "no first strike." This is true of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as well as of Revolutionary Guards commanders."
"Belief: Iran is a militarized society bristling with dangerous weapons and a growing threat to world peace."

"Reality: Iran's military budget is a little over $6 billion annually. Sweden, Singapore and Greece all have larger military budgets. Moreover, Iran is a country of 70 million, so that its per capita spending on defense is tiny compared to these others, since they are much smaller countries with regard to population. Iran spends less per capita on its military than any other country in the Persian Gulf region with the exception of the United Arab Emirates."

Belief: Iran has threatened to attack Israel militarily and to "wipe it off the map."

"Reality: No Iranian leader in the executive has threatened an aggressive act of war on Israel, since this would contradict the doctrine of 'no first strike' to which the country has adhered. The Iranian president has explicitly said that Iran is not a threat to any country, including Israel."

[Mr Secant]

If we are going to condemn and abandon citizens of America for making mistakes then we should privatize the police, fireman and military. That way, if you have any modicum of responsibility, you pay.

[Hippy March]

Here is just some food for thought, Don't hike close to, around, nearby, on top of, below, Iran.

These kids tried to push the envelope and now they are paying the consequences.

[Captain Obvious]

These 3 idiots should be punished!

The parents should be slapped for their involvement in raising absloute morons for kids. BLAME THE PARENTS!

[Pure Fantasy]

Hey there "fed is a ponzi". Folks like you are hard to understand. Iran denies the Holocaust, denies Israel's right to exist, sends terrorists supplies to kill our soldiers, and has secretly hid it's nuclear program. Iran has thumbed it's nose at the world since Jimmy the Peanut President allowed the Shah of Iran to go under and the terrorism to begin. In your fantasy world of misinformation, you can only see what "after effects" and not the realization that Iran will nuke Israel and our troops and all with the help of the Russians. Wake up and smell the mushroom clouds coming our way if we don't take them out NOW.

[citizen joe]

stupid american's.

[wow]

People really need to stop raising naive children. There was no excuse for those "hikers" to be in that part of Iraq/Iran during war time, period.

Hope they make it home safe but this should be more than a cautionary tale to dumb Americans.

[get your money back]

All three were graduates of University of CA, Berkeley. Is anyone really wondering how this could happen?

[Served]

I agree with "wow" and "get your money back".
It would be like allowing your kids to go to europe during WWII for a hike across germany and then your surprised that their in a prison camp.

Your telling me their is no other place in the world to hike except for Iraq ????
Berkeley curriculum skips any common sense classes. Typical class load::

Tree Hugging 101
Joint Rolling 101
Asking Mommy+Daddy for Money 101
Decision Making-BMW vs Mercedes 101
How to Stay in School till your Middle Age 101

Hope they get them back but they need a kick in the butt.

[Hiking Bob]

I just spent some time hiking out in Co last week. When we were deciding where to hike we debated the Rockies, Teton's, Ranier etc. Iraq just never came up suprisingly. Although we're thinking of a winter getaway hiling trip to the Pakistan Afghan border.

[Julie]

I hope our government will do something. We need action ASAP. We should not tolerate this.