In welcoming the release of Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal, two American hikers who have spent 26 months in an Iranian prison on bogus spying charges, the White House released the following statement in the name of President Obama:
“We are deeply grateful to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, the Swiss government, and to all our partners and allies around the world who have worked steadfastly over the past two years to secure the release of Shane and Josh.”
Notice anything missing? There is no comment about the administration’s fight to seek the hiker’s release.
This final declaration has to be little comfort to other American families working to free their loved ones imprisoned in totalitarian societies.
One such family that has to be especially worried is that of Alan Gross, the American U.S. government worker charged with crimes against the Cuban state for distributing satellite telephone equipment to Jewish groups in Havana.
Gross’ family has fought their battles with Cuban authorities all alone with little aggressive Obama administration support.
Gross last month was sentenced to 15 years by Cuba’s highest court.
The White House comment is passive — a pretty accurate reflection of the administration’s foreign policy with its adversaries.
So very thankful and happy these sons have returned to their families …. They are finally home! It does not matter the amount of money $$$$$$$$ that was paid to bring them back, it was paid. But what was that riff about justice for prisoners …. Stockholm Syndrome …. Entitlement! Why were they even hiking there???? Just wondering ….
No doubt, these young men have been through the wringer and we are all very happy they are once again with their famdamilies …. At what cost …. to US, the American taxpayer ))
WHY were they hiking there in the first place …. Peru, Alaska, Himalayas, all beautiful hiking locations …. Just wondering
I don’t know if I noticed anything ‘missing’ necessarily. Obama, as our Wimp-In-Chief would NEVER mention this country in anything that resembles a triumph. Well, other than the notion that Emperor Narcissus gave the order to take out bin Laden. Against his will, but we’ll wait for the post op on that.
What I don’t like was the mention of ‘His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman’. Sorry, we gave up terms like ‘His Majesty’ centuries ago, although I guess we still humor the British with their Queen and all.
But Obama actually believes that 3rd world potentates and dictators should be honored in a manner that is distasteful to me, at least.
Does this bother anybody?
Also, what of this one million dollar ransom? Sorry. Bail. Not meaning to quibble over language and process, but Iran got a million bucks from somebody, and it was described as ‘bail’. Bail is money to secure someone accused of a crime to ensure that they appear before a court. Once there has been a guilty verdict, is it bail?
No. It is ransom.
And then there the actual people involved. They look like good leftists to me. Were they Code Pink? Were they looking for a shorter route to India? Were they simply looking for bargain rates on opium poppies?
This whole thing stinks from top to bottom, from dictator to victim-like individuals to stupid American President and his stupid after action statement.
I guess we’ll have to wait until they are vetted by patriots like Matt Lauer on the Today Show to find out the details.
Mr. Gross has two strikes against him according to Obama diplomacy: he’s Jewish and he’s being held by a communist country. His chances will be better for release when a new president takes the reigns in 2012.