IRAN RELEASES U.S. PRISONERS
From the NY Times:
Iran announced Saturday that it had released four Iranian-Americans as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States.
The announcement from the judiciary on state television did not identify the four, but Iranian news media said they included Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post’s Tehran correspondent; Amir Hekmati, a Marine veteran; and Saeed Abedini, a pastor. There were discrepancies in the Iranian reports about the identity of the fourth prisoner.
It was not immediately clear whom the Americans released, but Iranian reports said seven Iranians were freed.
The BBC adds this detail:
Iranian state TV said 14 Iranians sought by the US would be removed from an Interpol wanted list.
Someone is going to have to tell the GOP cuckoo’s nest of prea-wannabes not only that the US has been working for the Americans’ release behind closed doors, but that this is strong evidence that sweeping diplomacy that covers multiple points of contention is a bit more effective than carpet bombing:
News of the releases came after Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif predicted that international sanctions against his country would be lifted on Saturday.
He is in Vienna for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry over Iran’s nuclear deal.
The international nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, is expected to confirm that Iran has scaled back its atomic activities in line with the agreement.
Developing…
Copyright 2016 Liberaland
63 responses to IRAN RELEASES U.S. PRISONERS
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rg9rts January 16th, 2016 at 09:44
Operative words…prisoner swap
JoseM4 January 16th, 2016 at 09:53
I read articles in the NYT and WaPo, they both use the term “swap” but fail to say what Iran got in return.
rg9rts January 16th, 2016 at 10:04
Someone we picked up for trade purposes….I would imagine an industrial spy
Talibandrew Breitbot January 16th, 2016 at 12:18
Inept industrial spies. Six pennies get us back four dollars. (Try that characterization on your tea party uncle. The result will be…)
dave-dr-gonzo January 16th, 2016 at 09:56
I’m hoping Iran got Martin Shkreli.
rg9rts January 16th, 2016 at 10:02
Please please please
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:05
Too funny! :)
William January 16th, 2016 at 09:56
Looking forward to the renewed right wing wacko outrage, IE, Iran foreign policy.
Larry Schmitt January 16th, 2016 at 11:11
It’s all about perspective and historical memory. The GOP has neither.
Gina Bousquet January 16th, 2016 at 10:30
If they are swapping prisoners who is being released in the US?
Buford2k11 January 16th, 2016 at 10:34
Money….
Talibandrew Breitbot January 16th, 2016 at 12:46
Apparently, seven inept industrial spies are being sent home.
Gina Bousquet January 16th, 2016 at 12:48
Good swap.
rg9rts January 17th, 2016 at 07:32
They stole the original plans for the Edsel
Larry Schmitt January 16th, 2016 at 11:12
There’s only one appropriate response: It’s about f*cking time. A country that accuses reporters of espionage cannot be trusted.
dave-dr-gonzo January 16th, 2016 at 11:36
One could also say that President Obama and Secretary Kerry are helping reformists in the medieval Islamic State of Iran move their nation into the 18th century.
labman57 January 16th, 2016 at 11:45
And of course, right wing pundits and politicians have been quick to spin this turn of events as a negative outcome.
Once again, conservatives resort to their favorite intellectually lazy and fundamentally disingenuous political tactic concerning all matters and events relating to Obama:
They’ll damn him if he does, and they’ll damn him if he doesn’t … cuz that’s just how they roll.
Larry Schmitt January 16th, 2016 at 12:00
I went to the story on the Post site, and the commenters are finding ways of blaming the president for giving up too much. This is what one said: “And naturally the Iranians got the better of the Obama administration in the deal: we gave them 6 of theirs back in order to get 4 of ours back.”
Obviously he wanted tRump to get them back for a box of used condoms.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:15
Looks like we got five back according to NBC News.
Talibandrew Breitbot January 16th, 2016 at 12:16
That Trump-fluffing Post poster should be corrected: “Have you actually been following the back story of the prisoners? They gave us back four of our dollars for six of their pennies. The people being returned by Iran are of far greater value to our nation than the inept boobs we are returning.”
labman57 January 16th, 2016 at 12:21
“We gave them 6 of theirs …”
This is what happens when you view human lives in the same manner that you regard baseball trades.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:08
Another fright wing talking point demolished by this President. After they drooled over the capture of the sailors that he and SOS Kerry got released very quickly, this was what they came back with as something else to gripe about.
Can you imagine that absolute frustration on the part of these wimpy GOTP members who are not able to accomplish anything? All they have is hate in their hearts for this great President.
TiredOldGuy49 January 16th, 2016 at 12:22
So sad that so many people in this country have so much hate in their hearts. I see it every day in my seniors building with residents complaining about the n***** in “our” White House. Everyone here is dependent on SS and Medicare, yet they vote against their own best interests.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:28
OMG! What do you say when you hear that?
TiredOldGuy49 January 16th, 2016 at 12:38
Since I work (as well as live) here, I have to be diplomatic in political discussions. As for racist and bigoted language, I can, and have written up formal complaints. When they realize that their housing is at stake, they tend to watch their language (at least when I’m around).
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:44
I feel really bad that you have to be around morons like that. Good on you that you make a stand and write them up. I’d like to see them living in a cardboard box on the street.
TiredOldGuy49 January 16th, 2016 at 12:55
HUD is very restrictive on political organizing. On the other hand, any overt display of racism, bigotry, hate speech, etc. is potential grounds for action, up to and including lease termination.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:57
Well that is very good policy. You should go incognito where they gather and see what else you can write up. Do you have a potted plant you can hide behind? :)
TiredOldGuy49 January 16th, 2016 at 13:03
Don’t need to hide … approximately 150 residents, most of which are hearing impaired so they yell when they talk.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 13:07
LOL!
StoneyCurtisll January 16th, 2016 at 12:29
High Five~!
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:37
:)
StoneyCurtisll January 16th, 2016 at 12:29
This is just another slap in the face to Uhmerica….
And Obama’s feckless, weak leadership…..
Oh wait, they released prisoners?…
I’m sure the right wing will spin this to make the President look bad..(wait for it)
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 12:32
Some GOP mouthpiece was on MHP this morning and said the new hate-filled rhetoric right out loud for the GOTP candidates. They will find fault that the numbers in the prisoner release are not “even.” That will show “weakness.”
Of course we don’t even know those details for certain yet.
wpadon January 16th, 2016 at 14:57
Israel exchanged over 1,000 prisoners for one soldier in 2011.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilad_Shalit_prisoner_exchange
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 15:03
Thank you so much for this link. I would never have known this.
arc99 January 16th, 2016 at 15:42
Agreed. I knew about the exchange but had forgotten it.
The 1,000 for 1 deal was approved by right wing hero Prime Minister Netanyahu. But for President Obama, an exchange with far more even numbers on both sides, they condemn as “weakness”.
Just goes to show you the extent to which ignorance and hypocrisy are the foundation of 21st century conservatism. For example, any liberal Democrat, who pushed to raise taxes on corporations so that every man, woman and child in their jurisdiction could receive a bigger free check every year, regardless of need would be condemned as a socialist.
Yet, that is exactly what right wing hero Sarah Palin did during her half-term as governor. Probably the only good thing she did.
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/windfall-tax-lets-alaska-rake-in-billions-from-big-oil/
Some of that new cash will end up in the wallets of Alaska’s residents.
Palin’s administration last week gained legislative approval for a special $1,200 payment to every Alaskan to help cope with gas prices, which are among the highest in the country.
That check will come on top of the annual dividend of about $2,000 that each resident could receive this year from an oil-wealth savings account.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 18:44
“Just goes to show you the extent to which ignorance and hypocrisy are the foundation of 21st century conservatism.”
Absolutely.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 13:48
They just got the latest fart coming out of Trump and he had the talking point down perfectly. Of course, like always, he was ill-informed on the number of ours being returned. His middle school tit for tat BS is just so juvenile. He has not one ounce of statesmanship and even less character.
Hirightnow January 16th, 2016 at 12:51
The comment section of a couple of unmentionable sites are all aBLAZE with how this shows what a weak president, releasing Isis leaders, giving them $150B…
These people vote,and THAT scares me.
Larry Schmitt January 16th, 2016 at 12:56
They still think Iranians are Arabs. ISIS is Sunni, and Iran is majority Shia. But to them, all Muslims are the same.
Talibandrew Breitbot January 16th, 2016 at 12:56
Giving Iran their own money back after holding it hostage (with good reason) for years and only after they ended their nuke weapons program, dumped cement in a reactor that could have produced nuke explosives? Obama is worthless and weak and… oh… wait… what? BENGHAZI BENGHAZI because MICHAEL BAY MOVIE TRAINWRECK!!!
StoneyCurtisll January 16th, 2016 at 13:21
Oh the horror….
It never ends.
StoneyCurtisll January 16th, 2016 at 13:28
that is why I dont go to ‘those sites’..
Mensa Member January 16th, 2016 at 12:57
Christian right wingers have been using the imprisonment of Saeed Abedini as evidence that Obama is a secret Muslim who hates Christians.
This kind of nonsense:
> > President Obama Betrays Pastor Saeed Abedini—and Christian Freedom—for Muslim Nation’s Sake
http://www.charismanews.com/world/51085-president-obama-betrays-pastor-saeed-abedini-and-christian-freedom-for-muslim-nation-s-sake
Now we know that Obama has been actively working for his release. But don’t expect these right wingers to apologize — or even show gratitude.
TiredOldGuy49 January 16th, 2016 at 13:06
Apologize and gratitude are not a part of their lexicon.
They’re already complaining about how long it took.
mistlesuede January 16th, 2016 at 13:12
And the difference in numbers.
Facepalm.
Mensa Member January 16th, 2016 at 14:30
They are complaining that we didn’t blow them out of the water in order to kill their captors.
rg9rts January 17th, 2016 at 07:28
and take them out as collateral damage….martyrs
JoseM4 January 16th, 2016 at 16:20
Reuters: “The day before the Obama administration was due to slap new sanctions on Iran late last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry the move could derail a prisoner deal the two sides had been negotiating in secret for months.”
“Kerry and other top aides concluded they could not risk losing the chance to free Americans held by Tehran.”
“At the last minute, the Obama administration officials decided to delay a package of limited and targeted sanctions intended to penalize Iran for recent test-firings of a ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.”
tracey marie January 16th, 2016 at 17:35
so what, they are entititled to defend themselves from daesh and israel.
Hirightnow January 16th, 2016 at 18:53
Oh, politics…you so crazy!
rg9rts January 17th, 2016 at 07:27
If you lived next to that Nazi Bibi you would want to be armed too
Tim Coolio January 16th, 2016 at 17:26
Democratic diplomacy WORKS.
Hirightnow January 16th, 2016 at 18:47
To prove how WEAK Obama is! What sort of leader refuses to sacrifice AMERICAN lives to further the agenda of those who FREELY give to our patriotic congressmen and senators?
That’s not the AMERICA I grew up in, buddy!
EDIT: I don’t need the “/s” tag, do I?
Tim Coolio January 16th, 2016 at 20:37
Those guys are FREE and NO REPUBLICAN BOMBING WAS NEEDED!
GO ENLIST IN PUTIN’S OR BIBI’S ARMY!
Hirightnow January 16th, 2016 at 20:47
Tim, I think that you and I are on the same script,but a different page…
mea_mark January 16th, 2016 at 21:01
I think you might have to type out the whole word ‘SARCASM’ in all caps.
TiredOldGuy49 January 16th, 2016 at 21:22
I occasionally run into that problem when conversing by email with old friends and coworkers who have moved back home overseas. I’ve had to go the mea_mark routine he just listed more than once.
Bunya January 16th, 2016 at 23:35
Yeah well, what do you expect from a Kenyan born, commie, socialist, member of the Muslim Brotherhood?
CHOCOL8MILK January 17th, 2016 at 03:03
Here we go again, that darn Obama!!!
Maxx44 January 17th, 2016 at 06:39
Fox Noise has rolled out the despicable John Bolton to tell us what a horrible deal this was. If you don’t sacrifice some American lives, you’re weak. What a scumbag.
rg9rts January 17th, 2016 at 07:14
You see ..the only deal that the gopee understands about Iran is the one St Ronnie did