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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Weatherman on April 18, 2009, 08:51:51 AM

Title: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Weatherman on April 18, 2009, 08:51:51 AM
QuoteAn Iranian-American journalist branded a US spy has been jailed for eight years by Iran after a brief trial held behind closed doors.          
Roxana Saberi, 31, who was arrested in January and went on trial this week, denies the charge and plans to go on hunger strike, her father said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8005660.stm

Perfect.  <_<
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Neil on April 18, 2009, 08:58:53 AM
Yet another ransom demand.  The third world is a terrible place.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: jimmy olsen on April 18, 2009, 09:02:43 AM
Poor woman.

As if the Iranians will care about her hunger strike.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: The Brain on April 18, 2009, 09:11:54 AM
[Ank] Iranians are lovely people who can do no wrong! [/Ank]
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:40:56 AM
Why would anyone sane be in Iran in the first place?
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:41:28 AM
Fucking retarded fucking evil Iranian government.  Hope the streets run red with political Mullah blood some day.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:43:59 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:40:56 AM
Why would anyone sane be in Iran in the first place?
http://life.download-tvshows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/sarah_shahi3.jpg
that and
http://www.wadias.in/site/arzan/blog/Persepolis.jpg
and
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2361356073_12c42cc85d.jpg

I'm going to be fantastically pissed if I am old and married when the Theocracy falls apart.   <_<
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:41:28 AM
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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:48:49 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:41:28 AM
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.
The Iranian government has proven fantastically ineffectual and millions of (younger, better educated) people are dissatisfied.  If it wasn't for a core of rural, poorly educated retards in Qom and Azerbaijan the Mullahs would have been ousted a long time ago. 
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 09:53:23 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
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.
I want to travel to Iran :mellow:
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:54:21 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:48:49 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:41:28 AM
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.
The Iranian government has proven fantastically ineffectual and millions of (younger, better educated) people are dissatisfied.  If it wasn't for a core of rural, poorly educated retards in Qom and Azerbaijan the Mullahs would have been ousted a long time ago.
If it wasn't for a core of rural, poorly educated retards in the South, Bush wouldn't be elected. It doesn't mean he didn't have a popular mandate. Or are you proposing that only city-dwelling, well-educated liberal voters should have a right to vote? I could sign for this - as long as we start with the West.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:54:58 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 09:53:23 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
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.
I want to travel to Iran :mellow:
Then you are like a Jew willing to travel to the Third Reich.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:43:59 AM
http://life.download-tvshows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/sarah_shahi3.jpg
that and
http://www.wadias.in/site/arzan/blog/Persepolis.jpg
and
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2361356073_12c42cc85d.jpg

I'm going to be fantastically pissed if I am old and married when the Theocracy falls apart.   <_<

You can bring Iran here already:

http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html (http://www.rosebrides.com/iranian-brides.html)
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 10:07:06 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:54:58 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 09:53:23 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
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.
I want to travel to Iran :mellow:
Then you are like a Jew willing to travel to the Third Reich.
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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Neil on April 18, 2009, 10:08:37 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:41:28 AM
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?  :lol:

OK, Mr. Issues.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 10:09:40 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:54:58 AM
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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 10:10:17 AM
Quote from: Neil on April 18, 2009, 10:08:37 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:41:28 AM
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?  :lol:

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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 10:12:28 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 10:09:40 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:54:58 AM
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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 10:13:15 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 10:07:06 AM
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 :mellow:
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Neil on April 18, 2009, 10:14:19 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 10:10:17 AM
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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Sheilbh on April 18, 2009, 10:16:06 AM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 10:12:28 AM
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. 

QuoteFor the same reason, I refuse to go to autocratic regimes, such as Cuba.
Ok.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 10:18:18 AM
Same.

To be honest, I am perfectly happy limiting my travels to the EU/EEA, the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan.  :bowler:
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Ed Anger on April 18, 2009, 10:23:05 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM


You can bring Iran here already:

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

Thank you for that website. :shifty:
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: jimmy olsen on April 18, 2009, 10:24:42 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 18, 2009, 10:23:05 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM


You can bring Iran here already:

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

Thank you for that website. :shifty:
Isn't one child bride enough for you?
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Ed Anger on April 18, 2009, 10:27:59 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on April 18, 2009, 10:24:42 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 18, 2009, 10:23:05 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM


You can bring Iran here already:

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

Thank you for that website. :shifty:
Isn't one child bride enough for you?

The world is not enough.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 11:35:49 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 18, 2009, 10:23:05 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM


You can bring Iran here already:

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

Thank you for that website. :shifty:

Go get 'em tiger.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on April 18, 2009, 12:04:34 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on April 18, 2009, 10:23:05 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM


You can bring Iran here already:

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

Thank you for that website. :shifty:

You're a real humanitarian :p
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: grumbler on April 18, 2009, 01:00:56 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
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!  :lol:

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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 01:07:35 PM
Quote from: grumbler on April 18, 2009, 01:00:56 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:46:24 AM
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!  :lol:

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.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: saskganesh on April 19, 2009, 06:46:09 AM
apparently journalists are lazy scum, so I don't understand the fluffle here.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Neil on April 19, 2009, 10:16:15 AM
Quote from: saskganesh on April 19, 2009, 06:46:09 AM
apparently journalists are lazy scum, so I don't understand the fluffle here.
I wouldn't say lazy.  Definitely stupid, but I don't see how they're any more lazy than any other group.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Admiral Yi on April 19, 2009, 03:15:55 PM
Not cute enough to start a war over.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Razgovory on April 19, 2009, 03:55:01 PM
Quote from: saskganesh on April 19, 2009, 06:46:09 AM
apparently journalists are lazy scum, so I don't understand the fluffle here.

I figured that many of our esteemed forum members would be cheering.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: jimmy olsen on April 19, 2009, 04:08:26 PM
Except for quoting it's pretty good I think.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Viking on April 19, 2009, 04:14:42 PM
Quote from: Martinus on April 18, 2009, 09:40:56 AM
Why would anyone sane be in Iran in the first place?

A) They can't get out.
B) The only country that will accept them is Pakistan.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: FunkMonk on April 19, 2009, 04:43:38 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 19, 2009, 03:15:55 PM
Not cute enough to start a war over.
She was 1997 Miss North Dakota.  :D
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Admiral Yi on April 19, 2009, 04:48:01 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on April 19, 2009, 04:43:38 PM
She was 1997 Miss North Dakota.  :D
[/quote]
That changes everything!!! :ultra:
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: FunkMonk on April 19, 2009, 04:53:36 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on April 19, 2009, 04:48:01 PM
Quote from: FunkMonk on April 19, 2009, 04:43:38 PM
She was 1997 Miss North Dakota.  :D
That changes everything!!! :ultra:
Indeed. We will commence bombing Tehran in five minutes.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Ed Anger on April 19, 2009, 04:59:58 PM
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg209.imageshack.us%2Fimg209%2F8240%2Froxanasaberimissnorthda.jpg&hash=7791a7fc252044fe79a355fcc05a40139253e043)

I have judged her unworthy. Clear the court!
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: dps on April 19, 2009, 08:26:47 PM
We don't really need any additional reasons to bomb Iran, so her hotness (or lack thereof) is irrelevant.
Title: Re: US Journalist guilty of spying in Iran
Post by: Eddie Teach on April 20, 2009, 01:47:41 AM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 18, 2009, 09:58:43 AM
Quote from: Queequeg on April 18, 2009, 09:43:59 AM
http://life.download-tvshows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/sarah_shahi3.jpg
that and
http://www.wadias.in/site/arzan/blog/Persepolis.jpg
and
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3112/2361356073_12c42cc85d.jpg

I'm going to be fantastically pissed if I am old and married when the Theocracy falls apart.   <_<

You can bring Iran here already:

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

What if he wants more than 2 choices?  :huh: