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

[Nostradamis]

I would like to go to Afghanistan. I want to interview some locals and get their side of the story and what they think of U.S. troops trying to help them. No one will kidnap me or shoot me because I'm a journalist. All the world is a happy place.

Hey Joe! Let's go on vacation in Bosnia.

Let's go to Iran. We can hike in the mountainous regions where the rebels patrol. I know they like to kidnap and decapitate people but we're journalists. They won't dare touch us.

I'm just trying to figure out which brilliant conversation led them to Iran. They are probably lucky that they were arrested and not killed by the rebels.

[Gretchen]

I certianly hope the three are freed soon and reunited with their families. However, they were imbeciles to be hiking in the area in the first place. What were they thinking? Do they think journalists are untouchable? They are very, very naive.

[what]

fed is a ponzi wrote:

"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."

One word; Neda.

[John]

Berkeley? I just decided, das machts nicht.

[O Wise One]

Neither Iraq nor Iran are good places to go on your vacation.