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© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.American woman freed by Iran after $500,000 bail deal
TEHRAN, Iran©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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Okinawamike
Pawn
HonestDictator
$500k huh? Even in the US I think one could get only about 1million bond if they MURDERED somebody. That was ransom money paid (hopefully not paid) to Iran for a kidnapping.
Still though, this woman and her companions (unless they really were spies), were extremely idiotic to go hiking in a volatile area. Iraq or Iran the state dept in the US and the CIA give very clear warnings of the danger of travelling to certain countries. No matter how humanitarian their ideals, these people put themselves in a viper's pit of their own free will.
Molenir
I don't know why they keep insisting on calling this bail, rather then ransom. Is she going to be asked to return to face trial again in the future, and forfeit the "bail" if she doesn't? Or is she finally free from the grasping Iranian hand, more then a year after Iranian guards crossed into Iraq to grab her and her compatriots?
If she is free, then its a ransom, not a bail. If she is not, and is going to be asked to return to face the laughable charges, then it can properly be called "bail".
nightvision
No government would pay that much a ransom for an ordinary citizen, that's for sure.
porter
She will be tried in absentia.
The bail/ ransom was a diplomatic deal because its illegal to wire money to Iran for US citizens. That doesn't mean the family is not responsible for paying back the money.
Tatanka
According to the news the US government refused to pay, so her family had to cough up the $500K bail or ransom or Ahmadinejad's pocket money or whatever you want to call it...
Beelzebub
Ahmadinejad's pocket money or whatever you want to call it...$500,000? Let's call it blackmail.
Molenir
Based on early reports, the ransom was paid by the Sultan of Oman.
sugamosumo
yeah, then Obama had the money wired to the Sultan of Oman...same end result. US tax payers lose again.
Sunjovi
Credit this amount in her name and make her pay back In installments. Really these people are brainless to go hiking to such a sensitive zone. They think its a joke....
Sarge
Ransom should not be paid to kidnappers.
whiskeysour
3 words- stupid American girl
sabiwabi
I wonder if the US will decide to show clemency towards those who are held at Guantanamo?
How much bail do US courts ask for accused spies?
manfromamerica
Who cares? not me.
thetruthhurts
I wonder when the next pretty moon will be. However, neither of these have anything to do with this story.
They trade them for their own spies.
Anyway, I highly doubt these three are spies. There are certainly better ways to get spies into a country than having them traipse along the border of Kurdhistan and Iran.
Molenir
Thought it was Iraq, not Kurdistan. For that matter, where is Kurdistan? Does that country even exist?
sabiwabi
And there are certainly better places to go hiking!
tkoind2
Kurdistan refers to an area that crosses parts of Iraq and Iran. It was once a state set in place the by the British and later disolved. Thus the ongoing anger from Kurds from Turkey to Iran.
Tom DeMicke
A $500 GPS device could have saved $500,000 in "ransom" oops, I mean "bail" money if indeed they really "strayed" into Iran. I'm not sure any of us will ever find out "who really paid" for this. All parties are lacking some intelligence here if you ask me.
Molenir
I have to admit my lack of knowledge regarding that. I know a little about the kurds, but had never heard they ever had a state. Thought they were rather like the Basques, fighting for a state that had never existed. Good to know, thanks.
SuperLib
I think I prefer vanilla.
Elbuda Mexicano
These 3 Americans are idiots! What the hell were they doing "hiking" in Iraq?? Near the Iranian border?? I am not surprised the Iranian government considers them spies, just does not make any sense, for 3 Americans or any Westerner to go hiking in Iraq??????? Yeah hiking, my a.s.s!!