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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Clinton 'Deeply Concerned' About American Journalist Roxana Saberi | |
| 2009-04-19 | |
| It doesn't look like American journalist Roxana Saberi will be heading home any time soon. The Iranians are officially charging Saberi with espionage and she remains detained in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Saberi was arrested at the end of January after buying a bottle of wine, and Iran says she was illegally gathering information on expired press credentials. "This accused has been coming and going to certain government circles under the cover of reporter and without a permit," said Sohrab Heydarifard, the judge in the case. "She has perpetrated actions to compile and gather information and documents and transferred them to American intelligence services." Tehran's prosecutor claims Saberi, 31, accepted all the charges against her, but other reports say she hasn't even seen them. The exact charges should be announced Saturday, and she could go on trial in Iran's Revolutionary Court as early as next week. All this worries not only Saberi's family, who say they're staying in Iran until she's free, but also Hillary Clinton. The secretary of state -- who also this week said it "makes sense" to start negotiations with Iran on its nuclear capabilities -- called on Tehran once again to release the freelancer. The Swiss government has been working to get information on Saberi's case to the U.S. "We are deeply concerned by the news that we are hearing," Clinton said after a diplomatic meeting in Washington. "I will, as will the rest of the (State) Department, continue to follow this very closely and we wish for her speedy release and return to her family."
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #24 As a future mother? My heartiest congratulations, GirlThursday!! |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-04-19 23:59 |
| #23 ZORBA, Well, everyone should just sit by and drink hot cocoa. Sounds like a solution. |
| Posted by: GirlThursday 2009-04-19 23:52 |
| #22 Ms Saberi was in-country for six years? I didn't know that, Zorba Craising6734. Expat status changes the calculation. I'll have to contemplate a bit to figure out what it is... Normally we would have American embassy staffers keeping an eye on things, but of course we don't have an embassy there. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-04-19 23:51 |
| #21 TW, its late so please excuse the slap-dash writing. What prompted me to look into learning about sociopaths all started with a work situation, as well. I had a co-worker that just constantly took advantage of caring individuals around him, but didnt care at all, and got away with so very many bad things. It piqued my concern, why was this guy able to get away with so much, and everyone just seemed to be charmed at first, until the crap hit the fan later. It interfered enough that I skimmed the chilling book The Sociopath Next Door, by Dr. Martha Stout, awhile back. Dr. Stouts states 3% of the U.S. population are sociopaths. That would add up to 12 million of them in the United States. Other Doctors estimate between One and Four percent, of diagnosed cases, so these are low end. One of the key characteristics of Sociopathy is someone who is unfettered by empathy or conscience. In fact, many afflicted with knowing a sociopath soon realize the sociopath can fake emotions and are exceptionally charismatic, but at the same time, the emotions are hollow. In Dr. Stout's book, she warns that we should be on the lookout because "we have an extremely hard time seeing a person who has no conscience, but a person with no conscience can instantly recognize us." p. 90. And hence, we can have problems when they see us as a game piece. In fact, they might even study us to know how to manipulate, which could appear to fall under the category of flattering fawning at first. This phenomenon is diagnosed in higher numbers among males (3%) and women (1%). Some studies, though inconclusive, rank males from out of wedlock homes with no father present as presenting sociopathy in slightly higher numbers. As a future Mom, I am re-reading the book so I know what kids nowadays are up against. In my work life, I dont doubt I've had brushes with such people. |
| Posted by: GirlThursday 2009-04-19 23:48 |
| #20 Oh, and TW ... Saberi has been in Iran for 6 years. Do you really equate that to a 'longish business trip'?? |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 23:29 |
| #19 Of course. The U.S. should be expected to 'rescue' every dumb ass who is stupid enough to travel to a muslim-controlled shithole. Saberi is a fool who willingly submitted to the authority of an Islamic government and now finds herself in trouble. ::::SHOCK::::: Because THAT'S never happened before! Personally, I wouldn't be willing to risk one hair on one head of ANY U.S. serviceman to save her sorry ass. Just my opinion, of course. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 23:11 |
| #18 That's 'cause you were only #17, Zorba Craising6734. ;-) 1 in 25 Americans who are sociopaths Wow. I had no idea, GirlThursday. That would explain a boss I had once, though. For the rest of your points, I quite agree. One reason I started reading Rantburg was so that I would know when I needed not worry while Mr. Wife was on a longer-distance business trip. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-04-19 22:29 |
| #17 I've been able to hold my breath in this thread, due to the stench from certain idiots. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 19:25 |
| #16 FYI, Ms. Saberi is 31 years old and there's no info to suggest someone forced her into Iran at gun point. You and OldPatriot be sure to buy her book, now, y'hear? I'm sure it'll be full of all kinds of interesting little tidbits. Amazing that you can breathe and type at the same time. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2009-04-19 18:56 |
| #15 Miss Saberi has also worked extensively for Natl Public Radio Sean Penn was in Iran reporting for the San Francisco Chronicle. Too bad they didn't keep him, as well. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 18:22 |
| #14 Whatever. Each American that gets bagged into in custody of other countries with no rescue or resolution, is the same as declaring "open season" on Americans more than it already is. You have a passport? |
| Posted by: GirlThursday 2009-04-19 18:20 |
| #13 More research Miss Saberi has also worked extensively for Natl Public Radio. Not withstanding that her reporting is not generally seen as having a political slant. This may bother the mullahs a lot. She seems to consider herself as a bridge between two worlds which is naive and foolish and may bother the mullahs also. Maybe the worst thing about her is she is a babe - even with a veil. This may bother the mullahs more than any of the other things. |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-04-19 18:13 |
| #12 Yeah, sociopaths probably interpret moving to Iran as "traveling overseas", and being tried as a spy as "being taken hostage". FYI, Ms. Saberi is 31 years old and there's no info to suggest someone forced her into Iran at gun point. You and OldPatriot be sure to buy her book, now, y'hear? I'm sure it'll be full of all kinds of interesting little tidbits. As for the two in NK, they work for Al Gore, so yeah, I don't really give a shit. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 17:57 |
| #11 My Toshiba laptop works just fine, I treat it nicely. U.S. citizens are not gold watches or free pens, or change to be given out as gifts to other countries, so "they can keep them. If you or someone you love plan on traveling overseas, you should care about the welfare of each and evey American that gets taken hostage, because it withing realm of possiblity it would be someone you know, if nobody puts a stop to this madness. If you still dont care, I suggest get checked by a health professional to see if you are among the 1 in 25 Americans who are sociopaths. |
| Posted by: GirlThursday 2009-04-19 17:20 |
| #10 Let's try this again: #8 To paraphrase my Grand-dad: "I'm going to "concern" (or even be "disappointed") in one hand, and sh*t in the other, and we'll see which one gets full faster." Toshiba laptops SUCK! |
| Posted by: Right_Wing_Extremist_In_Training 2009-04-19 17:10 |
| #9 note the NK abduction of two US "journalists" from China as a case in point The Norks can keep them as well and good riddance. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 16:20 |
| #8 To paraphrase my Grand-dad: "I'm going to "concern" (or even be "disappointed") in the other, and we'll see which one gets full faster." |
| Posted by: Right_Wing_Extremist_In_Training 2009-04-19 15:56 |
| #7 Who cares is right. I care, you stupid piece of fecal matter. She is a US citizen, whether she's also an Iranian citizen or not. If the Iranians get away with this, it will mean open season on non-government-employed US citizens all over the world. No one in our current government is going to stand up for them. Watch for similar incidents to take place not only in the Muddled East, but in Latin America and Asia as well (note the NK abduction of two US "journalists" from China as a case in point). At one time, the US would go to war over ONE US citizen being held in a foreign country. Now we won't even go after perps that hold dozens. What a long way we've fallen. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-04-19 15:07 |
| #6 This whole concocted story is pure BS! Saberi supposedly holds dual citizenship, and it's bullshit that a spy in Iran would only get 8 years in prison. She wanted to 'familiarize' herself with her ancestor's culture, fine. She got familiar with that and then some. Who cares is right. |
| Posted by: Zorba Craising6734 2009-04-19 14:21 |
| #5 "former Miss North Dakota" She's sooooo screwed. North Dakota voted for McCain. What, you don't think Bambi keeps score? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-04-19 13:57 |
| #4 I read our local paper that Hillary said: "the United States will vigorously raise our concerns with the Iranian government." I don't know why Hillary would expect the Iranians to do anything. They have not done anything with regards to ceasing their nuclear program despite pressures. The Israelis may end up taking out their nuclear program. I don't see Roxana Saberi being returned unless there is some bargaining chip to exchange. That is assuming the Iranians are rational--which is a big stretch. I don't get the sense that the BO administration is going to do much. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-04-19 13:44 |
| #3 Feckless, duely cititzens of the world. Pick a country, any country. If you pick this one, then bloody STAY here and don't venture back ot the kak you came from. You do so at your own risk. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-04-19 08:07 |
| #2 Well, who cares? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-04-19 03:20 |
| #1 former Miss North Dakota (that's good) She worked extensively for the BBC (world version) which is basically an anti Western agiprop org so I guess the Mullahs thought that was a cover. She was arrested Jan 31, 2009 which is 4 days after Obama's "we have an open hand to the muslim world" speech. |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-04-19 00:25 |