US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran

[Sheilbh]

Then you are like a Jew willing to travel to the Third Reich.

Only if I try and sleep around a bit, which would preposterously stupid.  They don't ask about it on the visa forms and, for a foreigner, the punishment is to be deported.

I also want to go to India, they have very strict laws against homosexuality.  I've been to Morocco, where it's illegal, though they generally turn a blind eye to foreigners because I met a British gay couple who owned a restaurant in Fez (Cafe Clock, which I highly recommend, it's got a rooftop terrace in the middle of the old city which has just remarkable views). 

As to why this woman went back, she was a journalist, her job was to report and given that she's a specialist in Iran I think it would be really weird if she got a job reporting on the Caribbean.  So what she did wasn't stupid but actually quite important.

Dual American-Iranians do get targeted in Iran, from my understanding, as alleged spies relatively regularly since Ahmedinejad took office.

[Martinus]

Fucking retarded fucking evil Iranian government.  Hope the streets run red with political Mullah blood some day.

Wouldn't count on it. Just look at Iraq - the tyrant has been toppled and the streets are running red with blood of gays and women who do not wear veils.

She apparently has a dual citizenship, had lived in the US and got two degrees there before going back to Iran to study. Why would she do anything like that?

Unlike rape victims or gays sentenced to death in Iran, she isn't going to be killed, and she had an opportunity to live in a place where it wouldn't happen to her. Forgive me if I do not share your outrage.

Didn't you spend most of the last two days going on about how gays who are flaming in Iraq aren't stupid and deserve our outrage? 

OK, Mr. Issues.

Apples and oranges. It's one thing to be born and live in a hateful country and want to be yourself. It's quite another to deliberately settle there.

[Martinus]

Then you are like a Jew willing to travel to the Third Reich.

Only if I try and sleep around a bit, which would preposterously stupid.  They don't ask about it on the visa forms and, for a foreigner, the punishment is to be deported.

I also want to go to India, they have very strict laws against homosexuality.  I've been to Morocco, where it's illegal, though they generally turn a blind eye to foreigners because I met a British gay couple who owned a restaurant in Fez (Cafe Clock, which I highly recommend, it's got a rooftop terrace in the middle of the old city which has just remarkable views). 

As to why this woman went back, she was a journalist, her job was to report and given that she's a specialist in Iran I think it would be really weird if she got a job reporting on the Caribbean.  So what she did wasn't stupid but actually quite important.

Dual American-Iranians do get targeted in Iran, from my understanding, as alleged spies relatively regularly since Ahmedinejad took office.

Well, I don't go to countries that penalize homosexuality or are known for widespread violence against gays (like Jamaica, for example). I also avoid buying their products. It's not that I am going to sleep around and fear getting caught, but I want to limit, as far as possible (obviously it is not fully possible - e.g. I have no control of where my oil comes from), the possibility of my money ending up in their economies.

For the same reason, I refuse to go to autocratic regimes, such as Cuba.

[Sheilbh]

Want and willing to are different things, Marty.  I want to travel, but due to the government am not sure I am willing.  Same with Sheilbh, presumably.  Same with the Jewish Deutschophile who wouldn't travel to Germany while the Nazis were in power.

This is true but only to a degree.  There are countries I'd like to go to but won't because of fears for my personal safety (Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan), there are countries I'd be very careful about for my personal safety (South Africa, Columbia, parts of Brazil).  Iran isn't in either of those categories.  I wouldn't go to Iran for political reasons.  Same as I wouldn't go to Burma.

I don't know why Iran, Burma, some of the Central Asian states have me opposing them to that point when I'd happily go to Syria, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, Vietnam, China all of which have unpleasant regimes

[Neil]

Apples and oranges. It's one thing to be born and live in a hateful country and want to be yourself. It's quite another to deliberately settle there.

Staying in a place where you're sure to be slaughtered is just as stupid as going there.  Apples and oranges are both fruit.

Besides, at least she had a reason for going there:  To spy for the US.

[Sheilbh]

Well, I don't go to countries that penalize homosexuality or are known for widespread violence against gays (like Jamaica, for example). I also avoid buying their products. It's not that I am going to sleep around and fear getting caught, but I want to limit, as far as possible (obviously it is not fully possible - e.g. I have no control of where my oil comes from), the possibility of my money ending up in their economies.

What about South Africa?  Widespread violence against gays and the most liberal laws in the world including a constitutional protection against discrimination.

I'm not that political.  Morocco is, I think, the only country that's terribly anti-gay and I would happily go there again.  Other anti-gay countries I want to visit include those in the Caucus, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and so on. 

For the same reason, I refuse to go to autocratic regimes, such as Cuba.
Ok.

[Martinus]

Same.

To be honest, I am perfectly happy limiting my travels to the EU/EEA, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan. 

[Ed Anger]

You can bring Iran here already:

http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html

Thank you for that website.

[jimmy olsen]

You can bring Iran here already:

http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html

Thank you for that website.

Isn't one child bride enough for you?

[Ed Anger]

You can bring Iran here already:

http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html

Thank you for that website.

Isn't one child bride enough for you?

The world is not enough.

[Savonarola]

You can bring Iran here already:

http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html

Thank you for that website.

Go get 'em tiger.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

You can bring Iran here already:

http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html

Thank you for that website.

You're a real humanitarian :p

[grumbler]

She apparently has a dual citizenship, had lived in the US and got two degrees there before going back to Iran to study. Why would she do anything like that?

Unlike rape victims or gays sentenced to death in Iran, she isn't going to be killed, and she had an opportunity to live in a place where it wouldn't happen to her. Forgive me if I do not share your outrage.

Ah, the old "blame the victim" ploy! 

It is ironic when it is a gay who plays that card. It is even more ironic when an emo gay who would blast the shit out of anyone playing it on gays is the one that plays that card.

[Queequeg]

She apparently has a dual citizenship, had lived in the US and got two degrees there before going back to Iran to study. Why would she do anything like that?

Unlike rape victims or gays sentenced to death in Iran, she isn't going to be killed, and she had an opportunity to live in a place where it wouldn't happen to her. Forgive me if I do not share your outrage.

Ah, the old "blame the victim" ploy! 

It is ironic when it is a gay who plays that card. It is even more ironic when an emo gay who would blast the shit out of anyone playing it on gays is the one that plays that card.

Yeah.

If this journalist had gotten a free taco in Iran when taken by the police, we'd be hearing from a different Martinus.

[saskganesh]

apparently journalists are lazy scum, so I don't understand the fluffle here.