Interesting - I hadn't paid much attention to the three 'hikers' who while in Kurdish regions of Iraq accidentally crossed border into Iran and are now held prisoner there. Turns out they're all Jewish - but of the fervently anti-Zionist, anti-Israel branch of the chosen tree - one of the unfortunate fellows apparently has a picture on his blog of a black woman standing on a street in Tel Aviv with a menacing chap standing behind her sporting an Afrikaner proto swastika and a caption reading 'Neo Nazis in Israel', a none so subtle reference to a putative Zionist apartheid state. Not surprisingly, I guess, the three were not simple hikers but rather left wing activists contributing with some avidity to various new media espousing the uberleft point of view. And now they're guests of the enlightened and free thinking Persians, with whom they will no doubt be encouraged to share their opinions on the reviled Jewish state, maybe over tea.
Not that I wish them harm - that would be beneath contempt - but it's hard not to be struck by the irony of it all. How will A--- exploit this windfall? A very public display of compassion and leniency as the hapless travelers are sent off with a round of smiles and kind words and all in agreement with the fact that Israel and any American government that supports it are indeed evil things and enemies not only of Islam but common decency everywhere? Or will A--- hold them in reserve, imprisoned as spies, letting it be known that should Israel choose to attack Iran the three will meet a gruesome end? Tough choice - my guess would be the latter as it may work to arouse the angst of the anti-war left in the US and in turn leave Obama in an increasingly difficult position viz Israel.
