Iran TV shows detained Americans:

[Praxius]

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran TV shows detained Americans

Iranian TV has shown the first pictures of two Iranian American academics - Haleh Esfandiari and Kian Tajbakhsh - who have been held in Iran since May. The footage was a trailer promoting a programme to be aired later this week. Only snatches of their voices are heard but the BBC's Tehran correspondent says they appear to be confessing to trying to topple the Iranian government. Ms Esfandiari, Mr Tajbakhsh and another detained Iranian American, journalist Parnaz Azima, are accused of spying. They could face the death penalty if found guilty. In the footage, Ms Esfandiari and Mr Tajbakhsh appear to be saying they were working towards a peaceful revolution in Iran - like those that toppled the government in the former Soviet republic of Georgia. The state TV also showed glimpses of the recent revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. Ms Esfandiari was dressed in a black Islamic veil and coat. Both she and Mr Tajbakhsh appeared in good health. Tehran has accused Washington of using intellectuals and others to try to undermine Iran's Islamic authorities. The US denies the accusation.

So what now? Will the US try and assist these people, or will they just be collateral to some spy mission?

If they assist the release of these people, it's gonna be tricky depending on if it ends up to potray that they either were spying, or they were just innocent.

And if the US doesn't do anything for these Iranian Americans.... then how would the rest of the world and Iran view this? Would it be the same as admitting that they were trying to topple the government and they are trying to distance themselves from them, or would it show that Iranian American citizens don't recieve the same protective treatment as other American citizens?

[Rainbow]

Only snatches of their voices are heard but the BBC's Tehran correspondent says they appear to be confessing to trying to topple the Iranian government.

How would that technically be accomplished ?
By robbing Iranian clerics off their turbans ? :-)))

[Praxius]

Quote by: Rainbow How would that technically be accomplished ? By robbing Iranian clerics off their turbans ? :-)))

Apparently they were trying to promote a peaceful revolution, which isn't permitted in Iran. I guess they perfer full out conflict revolutions, lol.

[sevendogs]

This is what Stalin and his KGB did for years, when they ruled Russia. Nobody could help. Nobody can help those people in Iran. Their president wants to accelerate industrialization of Iran and develop better weapons.

[Ibn_Sina]

Well, you cannot put murderous Stalin and the Iranian President under the same umbrella. You see, these academics are enemies of democracy. USA knows very well that Iranian society is not as divided as Iraq and thus, the way to attack Iran would be by funding rebels or these Che Guevara wanabe, crazy academics.

[GodBlessAmerica]

Quote by: Praxius BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iran TV shows detained Americans So what now? Will the US try and assist these people, or will they just be collateral to some spy mission? If they assist the release of these people, it's gonna be tricky depending on if it ends up to potray that they either were spying, or they were just innocent. And if the US doesn't do anything for these Iranian Americans.... then how would the rest of the world and Iran view this? Would it be the same as admitting that they were trying to topple the government and they are trying to distance themselves from them, or would it show that Iranian American citizens don't recieve the same protective treatment as other American citizens?

If we had another Reagan instead of a Carter or Bush in the White House, Iran would release these folks right away or get ready the invasion.

[christibe]

I doubt DC would have cooked up a plan to peacefully overthrow Iran's government, especially with 'academics.' The possibilities are endless as to what this could mean. It isn't surprising for this to occur when the Iran Question is talk of the town, though. If these poor people are fall guys of America, props by Iran, actual revolutionaries, or victims of some kind of interrogation... I do not know. But, this is the first I've heard of it anyway.

My guess, the Bush admin feels pretty stupid for threatening Iran, they sent some fall guys, and this will be our 'first attempt in decades' to use diplomacy to have our citizens returned safely.

But, you can't really see through the propaganda from both countries, I'm afraid. Everything that happens is just PR right now.

cheers

[The Decider]

Quote by: Praxius So what now? Will the US try and assist these people, or will they just be collateral to some spy mission?

The US and Iranian delegations in Iraq met today. Seems like a good opportunity to talk about prisoner exchange, don't you think? Coalition forces still hold a number of Iranians with diplomatic immunity. I'd bet a deal is in the works.

But even if it isn't, what's the alternative, invasion? With what? Our military can barely staff a 20,000 troop "surge." A rescue message? Yeah, like the Iranians wouldn't be thinking along those lines too and taking precautions. It also makes no sense to launch military operations in Tehran when diplomats in Baghdad are trying to hammer out security agreements. Then again, with George Jr. and Dick, anything is technically possible in the realm of incompetent decision making.

Still, would Bush really risk another Desert One catastrophe in the sands of Iran? He doesn't have much to lose, but even that risk seems like one too many, even for him.