The US has made them lose face by doing something nice for them (and it made them look militarily weak, to boot, since their Navy couldn't rescue the fishing ship from pirates themselves).

How else to retaliate and make themselves look strong?

"Death" means Iran wants a bigger ransom than last time.

Shouldn't our State Department be up in arms (metaphorically) about this?

On the plus side, perceived enemies of the state get trials...

is it me or did the last part of that article not make any sense? what was the deal with the reciept? effing iran is confusing.

ThatGuyFromTheInternet: Shouldn't our State Department be up in arms (metaphorically) about this?

The State Department probably is, but their jobs aren't made easier or better if everyone perceives them as threatening people. State is most effective quietly negotiating behind the scenes.

rhino33: is it me or did the last part of that article not make any sense? what was the deal with the reciept? effing iran is confusing.

Yeah, I don't think of espionage as a world where one wants a receipt.

Wow. 8 posts in and no, "Religion of peace," prods? Maybe Fark is starting to grow up...

The US would have a lot better chance of getting him out if we hadn't thrown away the moral high ground when we started doing everything that the worst dictatorship does in order to "protect" ourselves against terrorism. Torture? Indefinite detention? Warrentless searches? We got 'em.

This guy is a dual US/Iranian citizen. Iran doesnt recognize dual citizenship, so they see him as an iranian citizen that is a "spy"

Can someone tell me, does this have the potential to get out of control, and will we all be lucky to live through it?

liam76: Iran's state-run news agency IRNA, on its English website, said the court found him "caught red-handed in armed struggle against God" and "corrupt on Earth."

How do you get caugth "red-handed in armed struggle against God"?

Translation of farsi words.

miss diminutive: Slaxl: Can someone tell me, does this have the potential to get out of control, and will we all be lucky to live through it?

You see that ring on his finger? The Academy, Class of '01. A Marine. Summer of his third year, he and his squad went down in a chopper accident in the Med. Bad - pilot, crew killed. That kid spent ten months in traction, another year learning to walk again. Did his fourth year from the hospital. Now it's up to you, Slalx, but you might consider cuttin' the kid a little slack.

This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it

As if on cue, PBK just sent me a video lecture by Jamsheed Choksy on the evolution of modern Iran and the motivations for the current government's political actions and reactions.

Here's a link.

I was really hoping Iran had more style than this...

Realistically, I know they won't just let the guy walk, but that doesn't mean they couldn't have used this to even greater political advantage.

Here is how I would have handled it, in the alternate world where I am the ruler of a well known middle eastern country.

Water-board the ever living shiat out of him. Expose this poor soul to every last farked up thing we came up with in Gitmo, and do it for a good 6 months. Make sure he's gone through it all... and then publicly release him along with a full record of every last thing that happened. Detail it down to the minute, just for show. Give him back while explaining, "We only followed the guidelines proposed by the United States in the treatment of this prisoner. We have done no more or less than has been done to others. There was no torture."

Now that forces the U.S. back on it's heels, and makes us look like the bad guys.... AFTER THEY TORTURED SOMEONE FOR MONTHS! I had really hoped for something along these lines, as it would not only show them as being relatively "merciful" but also remove a huge amount of public support for any U.S. action in Iran while the Federal Government dealt with the fallout.

Whatever does and did happen to Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, I am truly sorry. He's been abused and tortured and in his last hours, he is likely to only know pain and misery. That is not something anyone should ever be made to endure. My heart goes out to him, his family, and all those who are made to suffer as a result of this situation.