Iran says she is a spy and the U.S. says she isn't..............

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   RKHenryposted 15 years ago

   The worlds pipeline and mainstream media has cast this particular news worthy event, as a true test case for American President Barrack Obama.  For those who aren't aware of the situation concerning American journalist and blogger, Roxana Saberi; here is one of the many news articles concerning her plight:
   
   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8006861.stm
   
   It appears that she was arrested in Nov. 2008 for not having the proper paperwork.  Since then she has been convicted to 8 years in an Iranian prison.  Fellow hubber John Z wrote a very interesting hub on this subject matter.
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Saberi-Convicti … nistration
   
   I would like to know what some of you think of the situation. 
   How should Obama approach this matter with Iran?  Is she a sacrificial lamb of the Bush's administration?  How does the world see this situation?

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      GeneriqueMediaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      RK...Mister Bush didn't hire spies personally. =P

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         RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         No?really?

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   VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 15 years ago

   The plight of Roxana Saberi is very much sympathetic. In a land where women are subjected to strict laws, forbidding even minimum rights to women, she is likely to go through harsh experiences. America and especially President Obama should not place one of their citizens at the mercy of a hostile country.

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      RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      So he should do whatever is necessary to get her out?

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         VENUGOPAL SIVAGNAposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Of course. As head of US govt., it is his duty only if the reporter is innocent. If otherwise, leave her to her fate.

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            RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Thank you. 
            
            However my position is not as friendly as yours is.  I think America should not test this fragile relationship, and just leave her to her fate anyways.  Yours does sound nicer.

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   aka-djposted 15 years ago

   I guess the real question is "was she spying?" That then leads to what constitutes "spying"? By Iran's definition (whatever that is,I don't know) she may have been, making her guilty. But, on the other hand, by the US definition, she might NOT have been, making her inocent. Tough one, all round.

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      RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I agree it's a tough one.  I think we {Americans} should just leave this one alone.  I think quite frankly that there is more to her story.

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         aka-djposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         We had the Schapelle Corby case, involving drug traficing into Indonesia. There was a big thing on it here (Australia). Well, she was convicted, and is still in gaol (jail).Not sure it relates, but it caused a stir for a while.

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            RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            Were they breaking the law?  Were they breaking Indonesian law?

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               aka-djposted 15 years agoin reply to this

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   LondonGirlposted 15 years ago

   The USA would say she wasn't spying, whether she was or not. The denial tells us nothing.

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      RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I concur, but that's not the real issue for me as an American.  I would rather know things like um,  how does this look to the outside world?  What should Obama do?  Was she a spy?  Do you honestly think that the CIA would screw up this badly?  They have been in this "spy game" too long, don't ya think to make an elementary error such as not having the proper documents.  So, I offer the idea that maybe she was bait.......... what do you think of that?
      
      Why state the obvious?

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   Dame Scribeposted 15 years ago

   Anybody goes to those countries could be accused at any time of spying I think they're acting on their pride ... to show they have power over a single woman... but it reveals their way and levels of thinking...plus actions do speak volumes...they think very little of women after all. In the end they are growing their own 'sh*tty' reputation and should be tossed out of participating at the UN table

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      earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I agree about the reputation. The rantings out of Iran indicate the sort of politics that prevail. The only loonier government is in North Korea.
      I do however agree with LondonGirl that America would deny it even if it were true.

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         RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Why would we?  What's the bases for such a belief?

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            earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I am not an American, but I can't think of an example of any government admitting they spy. As an Australian, I just do not trust the American security systems to tell the truth. Why start now?

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            LondonGirlposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            No country ever confirms any spying if it can help it.

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               RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               The Bush administration was quite open about spying and even blowing certain spies cover.  So that has not been our/American policy for the better part of a decade.

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   ledefensetechposted 15 years ago

   The President took an oath to protect the life and liberty of Americans.  To allow a thug like Iran to keep this person is unconscionable.  Iran is just playing stupid political games for domestic consumption and this poor girl is caught in the middle of it. 
   
   So far as I know the CIA still has a rule that doesn't allow reporters to spy for the US to keep this very thing from happening.  It dates, I believe, back to the days of the Cold War.  It makes sense when you think about it.

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      RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The parimutuel bet, oh I mean oath; is an appeasement to the direction of what is necessary for the better good, post op. I know you are intelligent.  You've got to know this.

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   ledefensetechposted 15 years ago

   Except for the fact that I don't believe in "the greater good".  I'd better leave it at that, otherwise I'd start ranting.  The situation we're in today is not much different than that faced by Jefferson in his war against the Barbary Pirates. 
   
   Then, as now, American citizens were being held by hostile powers.  Then, as now, we had few friends in the world.  Then, as now,other nations thought it better to appease villainy rather than confront it.  The thing that remains to be seen is will we deal with this problem the same way we did before or will this time be different?

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