Donations can be made on the ' freethehikers.org' website.

are you kidding? they probably all have family money and they shouldnt have been hiking there in the first place!

Their families say the three Americans were just hiking in northern Iraq's scenic and relatively peaceful Kurdish region when they may have accidentally strayed over the unmarked border.

Why the heck would anyone choose to go hiking in that area of the world, considering how unsafe it is for Americans? There are countless scenic areas in which to hike that don't pose a risk based on one's nationality.

I am sorry, but how smart are you if you feel it is safe to go hiking in mountains separating two former enemy's, while one country is basically still in a civil war and the other is renowned for sponsoring terrorism while being controlled by a pack of religious zealots that hate the west?

Good, they're getting out. But I will not buy their stupid book..."Fun Hiking for Rich Idiots."

Iran would be a horrible place to be in prison - and that is the very thing that keeps intelligent Americans from hiking there. At what point will our government stop ponying up for people doing ridiculously stupid things? When they do people might stop this unbelievable behaviour.

I'm sure the CIA will take some donations since they are most likely covert operatives. Anybody that thinks they really are innocent hikers that just happened to get lost needs to wake the F up.

I'm planning a sight-seeing tour in Tripoli next week. Anyone wanna sign up?

How nice to see our gene pool is about to be polluted in this country by these individuals return. And to think it only cost us 1 million dollars a top the time and aggravation over two years of diplomatic efforts for the privilege.

Throwing rocks from glass houses, are we?

"Bauer and Fattal would be freed "in a couple of days" as a humanitarian gesture."

Iran is the most idiotic country in the world. One million dollar bail...BAIL for what? They were convicted in the court system a few months ago and sentence to 8 years in prison. Bail money is to lose if you don't show up for the court trial..the trial is already over, backwards country there.

It was always all about $$$$!

keithstone. i agree!

All you people who think that this "journalist" and "environmental activist" were nothing but stupid hikers...I have to disagree. I think the CIA just got two of its employees back.

Hikers? Hahahahahahaha!

U.S. Gulf ally OMAN, a country, paid the bail. There have been no indications reported so far that there are strings attached. The price is widely reported at $500,000 per head, however an arab news agency reports bail is 5 billion rials, amounting to $400,000 U.S. per head.

Americans hiking in Iran, sailing in the Indian Ocean, sunbathing on a beach in Kenya, will occasionally be grabbed by pirates for ransom. In my view they are idiots, should be spending their vacation dollars at the Grand Canyon, for example.

If any taxpayer money was used to gain their release, these bozo's should be required to pay it back - with interest, unless of course they were in fact spies.

Get Real...Did you read the article? Really?

First it is not Bail money; it is a ransom paid; it was paid by the same oil group from a Gulf States emirate; next these were not rich idiots, just our new group of college idiots, skipping Thu the world throwing rose pedals; third they were not involved in any intelligence operation, they are way to dumb to be employed by any Intelligence organization; fourth, where they were picking daisy's, there is nothing but hills, goats, rocks, and a wasteland; fifth; the borders in these areas have no markings, it is all open land as far as the eye can see; sixth; a lesson for any of the other flower children to learn from, stay out of country's that are at war, do not like any foreigners especially Americans, and last but not least go back to College and take some classes in logic .

I do not know why Oman paid this "bail" but at least it was not our tax dollars. Also, anyone who thinks this was bail does not understand the concept. Bail is to guarantee an appearance at a trial. Since these two had already been tried, convicted, and sentenced to eight years in prison, what was really paid was a ransom for their release. The Iranians basically kidnapped these Americans and put on a show trial to justify their actions. I just hope there was no quid pro quo between Oman and our government on this payment. Oman is definitely trying to curry favor with the Obama administration by paying the ransom and flying these two idiots out of Iran. These two idiots deserved to be left there to rot for their own stupidity. What kind of moron goes hiking in an extremely unstable part of the world near the border between two historic enemies where Americans are generally despised. I hate to see anyone wrongly imprisoned, but these two, along with Shourd, were looking for trouble by going hiking where they did. There are many other beautiful places on this planet to go hiking where there is no risk of being kidnapped and held prisoner by a nation run by a bunch of Islamic zealots. It is great that they have been released, I just hope they do not decide to go hiking along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border next year.

I don't care if they never get out of Iran. Only dipsticks trying to prove something would go hiking over there and not know how close they were to the border.

Get any other Americans out of the country and Bomb !

My previous feelings were the Hikers got "stuck" in Iran--looking at them now and their expressions, I do not think this will be there last "folly".

Have they learned their lesson. It would be extremely clear, if no books, or media articles, were put out there for them to make money--usually, released prisoners of countries like this, keep their thoughts to themselves for an entire lifetime to protect others who may be imprisoned there--

They may still be under surveillance in this country by Iranians--Of course, this was all done so the B----------Leader of Iran can come to the US, take advantage of our Freedoms, and go the UN. I hope he gets stuck in a sewer there.

I do wish them well, and hope they can contain themselves to staying in the United States.

Our Government needs a break from rogue wanderers.

Praise the Lord. I am glad that they are free. However, they brought this upon themselves.

EVERYONE STOP GOING TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

They don't like us and had Oman not gotten involved, those kids would still be in jail.

Remember the girls who got held in Korea and President Clinton retrieved them?

Is it really worth it? Stay out. We have wonderful places to visit in the USA.

A CBS News reporter said he's never seen anyone run down the stairs of an airplane so fast. What a nightmare to be in prison in a foreign country.

Can't feel sorry for anyone stupid enough to go hiking along the Iranian border. What were these idiots thinking? Quite possibly they did it on purpose as an attention getting device which would still label them as "STUPID".

Karen, I agree that these idiots should stop going into areas that are NOT friendly to Americans and are in fact, very dangerous. However, to describe them as "kids" is absurd. They are both 29, which in my book says they SHOULD be adults by now and be acting like such. I am so tired of irresponsible people putting their noses where they don't belong and then fully expecting our government and taxpayers to save their sorry asses. I think we really need to adopt a policy of forewarning that if you choose to go into dangerous areas of the world, YOU WILL BE ON YOUR OWN when things go bad.

Let's see how fast it takes these geniuses to find somewhere else to put themselves and cause some more problems....

They WEREN`T hiking! look at the picture, they are 2 skinny, scrawny, twerps do they look like mountain hikers to you?

I don`t know what they were doing in the mountains on the Iran,Iraq border but they WEREN`T hiking or mountain climbing that's for damn sure.

It says Oman put up the "bail" money - I find it hard to belive they did this without some promise of reimbursement from the US. I agree with other posters - if any taxpayer money is or was used to free these two then it needs to be paid back. I undertsand that being in jail in Iran would be a horrible experience - but then again - it was their own fault they were there. There are plenty of other places to go hiking in the world where the risks are not near as great.

Karen, I agree that these idiots should stop going into areas that are NOT friendly to Americans and are in fact, very dangerous. However, to describe them as "kids" is absurd. They are both 29, which in my book says they SHOULD be adults by now and be acting like such. I am so tired of irresponsible people putting their noses where they don't belong and then fully expecting our government and taxpayers to save their sorry asses. I think we really need to adopt a policy of forewarning that if you choose to go into dangerous areas of the world, YOU WILL BE ON YOUR OWN when things go bad.

I had no idea of their age (because they are so skinny) and I agree that they are not kids.

I believe that Hillary Clinton at one point issued the same warning. I can't remember when.

I completely agree that we should not foot the bill for idiots that go to foreign countries and get in trouble.

"There's a lot of inbred unjustified natural hate for Iran"

In other words you know NOTHING about Iran.Nothing about the more than THREE HUNDRED PUBLIC HANGINGS this year alone.And the fact that children are compelled to watch.And the stonings of women for social crimes.Or the executions of teenagers for social crimes.

Or their fanatic,racist totalitarian idealogy,commitment to holy war and program to build nuclear weapons to achieve that end.And no,it's not just Israel and Jews. They oppress all other faiths within their country including the many Bahia.They hate SUNNIS and are commited to destroying their countries as well.

If ignorance was a mountain you've made it to the the summit of Mt. Everest.

Why is the news failing to mention where the bail money is coming from?

Is there a fund that I can chip in a couple dollars to help defray the cost of the bail money

You already did. Your tax dollars went towards it.

These three "hikers" make me wanna puke. Three arrogant weenies that think they know more than anyone else, feel they are enlightened, and superior to the rest of us peons. Typical liberal arts types that can't do a damn thing except preach to the rest of the world how enlightened they are....and the only job they are qualified for is...."you want fries with that?"

I'm glad that I am not as miserable as some of the people on here happen to be!! Just step back and look at the comments on here that are aimed at other humans!!
If it were up to some of them on here they would take an ax and cut these hikers heads off to try and make some kind of absurd point and demonstrate to the world just how superior they and their way of thinking just happen to be and how anyone who does something they don't like or agree with isn't worthy of life or liberty and brute force or imposing punishment is the answer!!!
When the rest of the world reads just how arrogant, pushy and narrow minded Americans like this can be is it any wonder the rest of the world like Americans less and less every day!!! What the hell ever happened to "you can't put a price on a human"?

For the people who ASSUME these two men are rich, just where do you get THAT idea? Bauer is a free-lance journalist who grew up in a small town in Minnesota and Fattal is an environmental activist. According to some comments, NO ONE should be going into countries that are unstable! What about all the journalists, non-Government Aid workers, Doctors Without Borders type groups -- are they to just go into the "safe" countries?

How about all the Spring Break young adults that go to Mexico? They can be kidnapped there, too. And, yes, I think it's VERY likely they were kidnapped and then accused of being inside Iran. The borders are NOT marked so how IS one to know?

If you think Americans should play it safe, then we need to permanently evacuate the West Coast due to the fault lines that trigger earthquakes, the "tornado alley" area due to the propensity for tornados to strike, and the East and Southern coasts due to their vulnerability to hurricanes. But then, too, remember, don't go to a National Park because you could be victim #3 this summer who is killed by a bear!

The bottom line is this: If you want to be safe, stay home! If you want a bit of adventure in your life, live on one of our Coastal regions or smack dab in the middle of America. Drive your car, get on an airplane, go hang gliding, take a train ride, go to the world famous reef in Australia and do some snorkeling, etc. Just don't talk to some of those on THIS site when you get back because if you suddenly find yourself in harm's way through none of your own actions, there's a crowd here who will insist your too stupid to live!

OK we got the idiots back, now lets drop a bomb on IRAN. It's time we stop pussy footin around with those aholes.

i was pretty pleased to hear they finally got freed and enjoying the first taste of freedom... until the retard in glasses said what he said. Now i just wish they stayed in Iran. Maybe if they had a working GPS and some brains, safety thoughts and what ever common sence things are not feed into retards even given the chance to go visit potentially violent countries because they have the cash, no brains and think all the safety warnings the state dept issues are for people who play BF2 or soemthing....

yeah, complete douchebags, who will get a parade, get on FOX or some sh*t... lets hope John Stewart f*cks em up good humor wise...

but yeah, good to have to fellow americans back i guess... Derp.

sumatymrol - I don't see anyone saying anything about taking off their heads with an ax - just people saying the taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for any of this - a valid point - especially given the fact these three were hiking in a place no sane hiker would go.

love it or leave it - aid workers, docotors without borders go to help those who need it - a noble cause - these three went to hike (not a humanitarian cause)- a totally different situation.

For the people who ASSUME these two men are rich, just where do you get THAT idea? Bauer is a free-lance journalist who grew up in a small town in Minnesota and Fattal is an environmental activist.

I don't see a job anywhere in all that...or the kind of money it takes to vacation in Turkey. But you are correct, it is an assumption that they are rich. People also assume that their families put up the million dollar bail. That's an understandable assumption...and then there is the girlfriend who jumped half a million bail - practically guaranteeing her guy's sentence. She's a friggin' peach.

Taken as a whole - they're just not a lovable group...though I am glad they are out, I ain't gonna buy their book! "An Idiots Guide to Fun Places to Hike"

According to some comments, NO ONE should be going into countries that are unstable! What about all the journalists, non-Government Aid workers, Doctors Without Borders type groups -- are they to just go into the "safe" countries?

When the CBS reporter was raped in Egypt or Libya (can't remember which country), my first reaction was - WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? You KNOW they hate women.

It was her choice and the US Taxpayer did not pick up the tab. CBS did as the company should.

You will never find me in a country where women wear veils - NEVER.

Terry - I agree with your post 1.34. Just hearing Sarah Shore speak nauseates me.

Traveling to Mexico is another story--

For many decades travelers to this hideous place have been warned to stay out of certain areas--HS'er/College kids love to Vacation in dangerous areas. Invincible.

Do they listen to the State Dept. telling them to stay out.

It is some kind of adrenaline rush/life risk to go there; thinking they won't get caught, all the while knowing Mexico never lets their kidnapped prisoners out of jail. It is instant death being in a Mexican jail. It could be worse than Iran!

Parents try get their kids out; and cannot--so therefore, all Americans should heed the warnings of the State Department; "Stay away".

Funny how President Calderon has a free pass to come to the US, and bad mouth our Government---inside and out of Mexico. Mexicans have killed thousands upon thousands execution style re: the Drug Cartels.

Iran: these hikers were probably testing the system of Iran, and I'm not quite sure whatever happened to them has sunk in---let's hope others in the US will not try to enter as mentioned other places like North Korea, Iran, Libya, Pakistan, just to get their faces on Time Magazine as a news story.

@BKNY. I like to see people talk about "taxpayers money" like it is their own personal wallet that people are coming by that day to take money out of it and use it to free these people!!
Yeah any working stiff pays taxes and the government use's the money to do ALL KINDS of outrageous stuff that makes "bailing" these two out look like a golden investment!!!
There are BILLIONS of dollars that the pentagon simply cannot account for, it is simply gone into thin air, yet you want to hoot about a million dollars like it really makes a difference!! It is the same with people raising hell about their taxpayer money keeping some prisoner alive, the taxpayer's shouldn't have to pay for this or the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for that, it is the same thing over and over!!
If the government doesn't spend you tax money on this prisoner, or the hikers then they will most certainly find something else to spend it on that will be anything but a benefit to you or to me!!! it will most likely go to the pentagon where it will either be made into a bomb, a jet fighter or lost with the other billions that are unaccounted for!!! Your tax dollars account for next to nothing as far as that goes when it comes to spending I might add, remember they borrow most of the money they spend nowadays!!!
As for the ax thing that is a metaphor as to what the general attitude is when the true sentiments of people come out on here towards others!! Americans are not nice people, they have a pushy, know it all attitude and they put almost zero value on others feeling's, well being and lives over their own when it comes to others and something befalling or happening to them and someone or some agancy coming to their aid!!!

Just because the money was not spent on a bomb does not make it a wise expense, and since I pay taxes I have the right to comment on how the money is spent, this case is one of the many cases of wasted money. I don't think holding people accountable for their own stupidity makes most of the people posting here unfeeling (hiking where they were and wandering into Iran qualifies as stupid in my book).

How much of "your tax money went to this situation?? Maybe one penny?? If you can't afford a penny, then you better cancel your internet subscription. These people are Americans. They're also human beings, and i do believe human beings make mistakes. They didn't injure, or mug, or rape, or kill anyone, did they???? They just made a huge mistake on where to go hiking.

And we should not have to pay for their mistake. I did not say they should not have been freed or I wished them harm - but I don't feel sorry them either.

How much did you pay?? They are Americans. And you never made any mistakes in your life?

Yes - but I was raised wise enough not to go to a hostile area to hike and then "wander" into Iran - I have a brain and I use it.

Aren't you so smart and Godly.

And that describes every country on this planet.

Our species is a blight upon itself.

lol...happy Wednesday to you too Mike

Oh great. Now those 2 morons can head over to Libya to resume hiking..

Book em Dano. I heard they were going to hot air balloon back home, crossing over China with a pit stop in Tiananmen Square. Should be fun for them.

TOP 10 REASONS TO GO HIKING IN IRAN
10. Less crowded than Yosemite and Yellowstone.
9. Excellent place for relieving lower back pain by hanging by your wrists while waiting for the tour guide to show up.
8. Free Persian kittens with every ticket booked
7. interchangable tour itineraries, switch at no extra charges from countryside cultural lifestyles to innercity barred windowed hotels with free food
6. No spanish speaking maids
5. Excellent scubadiving packages
4. Nuclear research and development 2 day courses
3. Deoderant not required
2. Getting away from annoying phone calls from your office.

And the number 1 reason why one would go hiking in Iran:
1. CURE OF LIBERALISM

scott.....LOL

scott

Reason # 12: You may get to witness a beheading "your own"..

I heard that they are going to do some butterfly collecting on the north/south korea border after they rest up a bit from their iran/iraq border hiking excursion.

Scott, David Letterman so needs that list.

Little sure shot, well thank you...i imagine a better list could be made up...that was off the top of my head....feel free to help yourself with that list if you want to use some or all of the reasons...I did look at a website on hiking in iran..I cracked up that there were several...as if anyone would be crazy enough to actually do so...These two goobers, not sure what their energy comes from but I live 90 minutes from Yosemite and if they like hiking, they could drive 3 hours from school and call and catch the john muir trail and literally if they have the time could trek to canada without risking having to do dishes for the locals. Thanks for the compliment.

Dano, what would be #11...free hand warmers from local women's hiking garb?

Scott - that is priceless!!!! :)

Sure Israel has nuclear weapons nobody even can talk to them because they control as this is why we love them too much.

The U.S. Shhhh...Silent Military Outpost, at what is it $ 4 Billion a Year ( AID )..?

To a Productive Wealthy Country..?

OLD GOP 1960

The U.S. Shhhh...Silent Military Outpost, at what is it $ 4 Billion a Year ( AID )..?

To a Productive Wealthy Country..?

that is a bargain basement price to pay for others to do our dirty work and then take the heat from all the rest of the world including a large number of those here in the US

Props for stepping up for Iran.
There's a alot of inbred unjustified natural hate for Iran, much like there has been for Cuba. I'm not saying Iran and Cuba have not done bad things, but we ourselves, have done atrocious things ourselves. We seem to forget as Americans, we came here and butchered on the scale on genocide an entire people so we could eventually build McDonalds and Disneyland. We forget so easily we get involved in everyone else's s__— when it's not wanted.

We call countries a threat... For what? Iran wants nuclear power? Why is it OK for us (hello, WE have dropped nukes!), Japan (not even 100 years ago, they were a violent enemy), or any other country, but Iran... No, BAD IRAN! You don't submit like a dog, so you don't get your treats! It would benefit the people with stable electricity... As for arms... I can't blame them for wanting self defense against a world that could decide in an instant "we don't like you" and be vaporized without being able to even remotely have a chance of self defense. Who the "bad guy" is IS completely relative.

Iran released them. They didn't execute them as examples. They even released them from an 8 year prison sentence. Yeah, it was a release that was paid for, but everyone loves pointing the finger at Iran...
Look how we treat people we think are spies? We sent them to Guantanamo. Compared to what WE Americans do to people we think are spies, these guys were probably on vacation!

Fellow Americans sicken me. So many damn self rightous hypocrites failing to recall we ourselves are monsters.

Zapix, you are perhaps a little delusional. Have you read the comments here? Virtually without exception these two clowns are being labled as "stupid, idiots, foolish" and any other apt description. No one is blaming Iran because these two idiots and the third fool already released did not belong there. Who in their right mind goes to the IRAQ/IRAN border region for a hike? Particularly while war is raging, it makes no rational sense.

"There's a lot of inbred unjustified natural hate for Iran"

In other words you know NOTHING about Iran.Nothing about the more than THREE HUNDRED PUBLIC HANGINGS this year alone.And the fact that children are compelled to watch.And the stonings of women for social crimes.Or the executions of teenagers for social crimes.

Or their fanatic,racist totalitarian idealogy,commitment to holy war and program to build nuclear weapons to achieve that end.And no,it's not just Israel and Jews. They oppress all other faiths within their country including the many Bahia.The hate SUNNIS and are commited to destroying their countries as well.

If ignorance was a mountain you've made it to the the summit of Mt. Everest.

Hey Luckyray...you never answered my questions......if they are fanatical, if they are so hellbent on hurting the US then why have they not threatend us or attacked us in the last 30 years??? Why DO THEY NOT ATTACK NOW?? like a car bomb, arsen, so many ways these crazy Iranians can hurt us and yet no attacks???

Some more rational thought for you....Do you know Our CIA overthrew there govt in 1953 and with the help of Britain we installed the Shah??? Do you know we supported Saddam Hussein in a war of aggression against Iran, do you know the US has made threats against Iran, imposed sanctions etc....we have bases and troops in EVERY country surrounding Iran, Isreal has over 200 nuclear warheads and yet you are worried that one day , just maybe , Iran might obtain a nucelar bomb and of course the first thing they will do is fire it at us???

Why do you care ( if its true at all) what Iran does to people for social crimes??? Did you also care about all genocides in Africa??? or all the atrocities committed by the US Governement. Do you know the United States has attacked or invaded over 30 countries in the last 30 years??? How many has Iran invaded or attacked again??? How many??? I am waiting....

boring , but Iran knows how to protect their borders .

Yeah be such a crappy country that no one wants to go there. That is a great plan.

maybe no normal person would want to go there but Iran did catch 3 people that did want to.That shows somebody is watching.

agreed, america could learn something about border security from iran.

maybe we should outsource our border security to the iranian army?

Hiking? From the photo's, these 3 appear to be adults. I am certainly happy they were released apparently unharmed. I wonder though, are they mentally functional to accepted degrees of normalcy? What could they have been thinking? Odd. Very odd trio.

NbForrest

Then who Would the GOP Use in thier factories........................

This Country Has it's Problem With FAKE RELIGIOUS PROPHET'S.

The Country has had More Than Enough.

Robert's is Just the tip of the Iceberg.

And Yes Some are LAWYER'S and

Tony said it best...................................

"I can't imagine the horror if our government had to answer to ruling a religious class of clerics like Pat Robertson."

Seriously? Have you heard of the Republican/TEA Party? The only difference is ours worships money and theirs worship violence and death.

You're a moron.

Charles, it's nice to read a reasoned and non-inflammatory opinion.

It must be difficult to look in the mirror then.

Those 2 being Free is a Great peace day symbol and reality.

2 is better than None.

the Circumstances suck but, If it was Anybody's Family here ,

Regardless of Politic's, Race, Religion, I'd Happy for any of You..

Even I would Suck it up and be Happy for them Whatever they did or Didn't do ..!

You all buy the bible and Believe it Then, The answer is in it.....

These 2 were STUCK in IRAN for Heaven's SAKE==GET IT.............................

Well they are idiots who were teaching in Syria so they thought that they would be seen as peers or at least sympathetic to the Iranians. I hope Iran changes their mind and keeps them, but if they are released I would happily pitch in to a fund to send them back to Syria and keep them out of the USA.

Were they hiking in Iran? In that part of the world, the country's border is where someone says it is-- it seems to move around to suit someone's purpose. It is possible that they were close to the border as they understood it to be but someone said it was over there and you are on the wrong side of the imaginary line. They don't draw a line in the sand-- like was done at the Alamo.

That was actually a line in the sand and people could tell just where the line was.

Much like our own beginnings in this nation, correct?

Escaping religion based laws and having to fight against those same persecutors for our freedom even though we no longer were in that country.

What do you mean beginnings of this country lol. Religious nuts are still trying to rule this country by implementing hate based laws within the last 60 years. Sure it just started out with burning so called witches due to crop failure 300-400 years ago. Lately with outlawing interracial marriage then marriage based on opposite sex only. What's next, red heads cant marry blonds?

I think that both of you missed the point of my post. There are TWO Governments in Iran and the Religious council can and often does over-ride the Civlian.

I would bet these guys are right wing conservatives who will hike wherever they please and KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF MY DECISIONS>...............except when we need bail that is

@ OBXRon...

Guess you didn't read the article too well. How many right-wing conservative environmental activists have you met? Fattal's an environmental activist, and Bauer is a journalist, all of which went to Berkeley (as did the 3rd girl who's already been released).

Odds of them being a right-wing conservative are pretty slim, considering how left-leaning Berkeley is as a whole.

Hey! No facts please.

I was wondering when someone would start bashing Liberals...It seems only fair that an Obama State Department victory would need to be poo-pooed somehow...

Victory??? Yeah, I'd say having to spill out millions to get two morons back... yeah

Like Reagan did when he got elected, for example?

OBX: Really? Did you see their photo? Do you have any doubt about their political leanings?

Teacher, eco-nut and a freelance (cant hold a job) journalist. Sounds like hippies to me.

peanutGalleryTheater, a moniker made up of the name of a nut followed by a repetitive word must be a child, or -- sounds like an immature adult to me. You brought the definition of shallowness to a whole new low!

You must be a very perfect person.

I agree, Steve - although I wouldn't call them spoiled brats...They should not have been anywhere there could be an unmarked "border". I call them naive.

spoiled no longer, if ever.

These 2 men are changed for life in away YOU will never understand.

(and she, the lady friend)

You probably NEVER made a stupid mistake.....said your sorry lately?

I doubt very seriously they knowingly crossed the borders and then claimed to be innocent. How does this make them spoiled? Because empathetic humanitarians came to their "financial" rescue? Let's hope none of your loved ones are ever in a similar situation since you have such a strong offensive opinion.

Spoiled? maybe not. But stupid? I think so. ""Hiking" along the border of two countries that have been at war for decades. Yeah, that's pretty stupid and we the American taxpayer had better not be paying a dime for this bullsh*t.

There are so many other places these guys can hike next: North Korea, Burma, Sudan, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, etc.

Sorry Voting Independent, they haven't been at war with each other in a long time. And Steve, stfu. The area they were hiking is relatively peaceful -- would I hiked there, no, but the response of the Iranian the government in this matter was absurd.

You're scarier than the terrorists who jailed them.

Many use the term spoiled - what because they are college educated? Stupid to belittle them. I am going with young and not knowing any better. Eyes wide open to see the world but not experienced to know better.

I too think they should have to pay back bail money in some way.

"blatant stupidity"

Fascinating choice of words.

I'm not sure it's traditional to make kidnapping victims pay back the ransom demanded by their kidnappers.

But if that's how it works then you owe me for the disappointment in humanity I experienced when I read your comment. Let's call it $500. Please pay quickly. If you don't I'll have to tack on another $500 for the disappointment of having believed you weren't hypocritical.

Lisa: Their airfare over was not cheap. There are any number of USA sites to teach the poor and work as a humanitarian.

AMEN to that...what on earth were they doing on the border of such a country?

There is stupid and then there is Darwin Canidate worthy. That bunch falls into the second group. Just how many operating braincells does it take to realize that hiking in an county where their are carbombs and suicide bombers going off on a regular basis is not a bright idea. Add to that hiking on the border next to a country that supports terrorists and would be more then happy to see thier home nation erased from the face of the earth?

Just how freaking stupid are they? I hope that it was their folks that bailed their butts out. As it is I'm still cheesed at the amount of time our government had to waste on trying to bail out the three stooges!

taxzombie, if I'm to use the logic expressed by peanutGalleryTheatre at 11.8, your moniker tells me all I need to know about you, which then leads me to conclude that your thinking is based on unjustified accusation and lack of knowledge about these two men and the situation.

GOOD GRIEF, PEOPLE! There was a day when the release of two Americans from a dictatorial government such as Iran would be cause for celebration! Now it's used as a time to show the greediness of some Americans, and those same Americans blaming the victim! What has become of us that we don't rejoice that these two men were released without obvious injury to their bodies? That they survived inspite of the fact that they lost a tremendous amount of weight! I sincerely hope that if any of you are found in an unfortunate situation, that you are treated with more kindness than you are extending to these men!

Love it or Leave it, I would celebrate their release if they had been grabbed someplace where one would normally feel safe.

For civilians to go into an area which is still basically a combat zone strikes me as the act of morons.

I was on board the USS Little Rock when we participated in the first evac of civilians from Beirut when that flared up in 76,77 (pardon me for not remembering the exact year/date it's been 40+ years) When we sat off the coast waiting and watching in case the Syrians decided to get froggy. It wasn't fun but I was damn proud of what we were doing because we were getting our people out of a bad situation. Thankfully nothing happened.

HOWEVER during the evac some newscrews talked to some of the people we pulled out and they were happy for the free trip home, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING BACK!

A little over a month later we were back off the coast picking up those morons because Beirut had gotten even hotter then before. Needless to say, myself and the rest of the crew were not happy to have to put our butts on the line for some morons! God knows how many millions of taxpayers dollars were wasted on that second evac because we had to go back and pickup some Darwin canidates.

I do not suffer fools gladly and those three fit that billing.

I cheered when our people were released from Iran after the hostage crisis. That was a great day for America. Our people, who had been doing thier jobs and had been illegally seized by a nation run by a pack of thugs were finally free.

These three are an entirely different matter, I consider it a moron crisis. They went where they had no business going and paid a price.

Stupidity does not deserve to be rewarded or applauded. Am I happy that they are free? Yes. Am I happy they were stupid enough to go there in the first place HELL NO!

Close. We call it extortion.

I guess we DO negotiate with terrorists.

Dave-2093241, Here's the tag line for your post: How do you spell BAIL? R-A-N-S-O-M

Dave's post and NYMike's post and peanutGallery Theatre's post are all correct.

Why are you in the U.S. if it is so corrupt? Surely you would be more at home in a country that doesn't grant you the freedom to berate it while enjoying all the freedoms you have within it.

Leon Panetta was the head of the CIA at the time, and this was probably a new recruiting technique used to throw the enemy off guard - infiltrate a country by walking across the border in the middle of nowhere hundreds of miles away from civilization with nothing but a back pack and in hiker clothes and no food and little water.

I bet that you just sit in your house and watch the news or read a couple of books, then come up with these ideas of yours without even a hint of evidence. You have no idea what goes on out in the "real world" except what you see on T.V. I have been out and seen the world and it is not at all a safe place. Every government lies, but they lie to keep knuckleheads like you safe and happy in your own little world!

LetsPlayFair-2938571: So much hate. I hope you find peace some day.

Are you American? Regardless - if you don't like it - leave!

LetsPlayFair answer me this question. Why the F**k would we need to send a couple of KIDS into Iran when we got satelites in space that can all but read license plates on Ahmedenijads car. Do you really thing that they were expected to make thier way hundreds of miles into Iran and recon one of their nuke factories, do you?!!! Do you even bother to use that space you have between your ears?

SUPPOSE THEY WERE CIA????????????

If so,they have NADS OF STEEL and would have been trying to gather intel FOR US - you morons.

THIS is how you people react to courageous intel agents serving for YOUR COUNTRY????????? HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS??????

Yes, and now would be a great time to capture Iran's "president" and put him in jail, along with the idiots at Columbia University who invited him. Ransom, I mean bail, should be about 4 gazillion dollars, that should just about cover Obama's "jobs plan" costs.

richard 620:

You just tied a ridiculous kidnapping scheme together with an unnecessary jab at the POTUS both which have nothing to do with the article.....but I bet you feel better now don't you since you released all of that pent up gas.

It wasn't a jab at anything - it was just 'math'.

Koali, you talk as though you are soooo clever, and yet you couldn't come up with anything original! ROFLMAO

Every government has dirty little secrets and they should remain that way...secret. I would have that idiot that leaked them killed, but we have grown so soft that other countries criminals come here to go to jail because they know that we are easy even on our criminals!

We are giving it to Oman and is going to make the trade....Ransom...And if you think this is not what is going on, I would bet you think this country is going in the right direction.

Better idea than hanging: We take the same monetary amount back, in destroyed Iranian oil. As soon as those students are "feet wet", over the ocean, just cruise missile a field! I still want payback for 1979! I still think the Iranian "President" is one of the kidnappers in the photos.

It is typically anonymous donors. The U.S. does not pay ransoms!

Yes,the american tax payer will pay for all three hikers, 1.5 million dollars we gave Iran..Anybody say'n the US did not pay,dig your head out of the sand,What country will just give 1.5 million dollars away,Oh wait the US just did,I say we should have a class action lawsuit against these three clowns on the grounds of getting our 1.5 million dollars back .

Princess - if the 'rich' would only pay their 'fair share', wasting money like this would be no problem. Just ask the President.

You should complain about the trillions in debt congress put on us not a mere million to free someone.

Ursa - Yes divert attention from the subject. Big spenders of other peoples money are good at that.

If you watch the expenditures, big and small, they add up to the trillions.

You're sick!!!

Who ever beleives the USA does not pay ransom...needs to wake up & smell the rose's - we have always paid the ransoms, just call it something else

Ignorance begets even more ignorance on these forums.

What country will just give 1.5 million dollars away

All 3 ransoms were paid by the Sultan of Oman, not the US and not some anon donor. He more than likely did it to curry favor with both countries. For a billionaire, $1.5 million is a small price to pay for the favor the US now owes him.

"Please tell us where the money is coming from."

It's coming from the CIA budget as part of its unanticipated operating costs.

Did some of you people not learn to read in school? No ransom money was paid with any U.S.taxpayer money. READ!!! Oh, you say, "don't confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up."

That's PrincessToU, the Republicans have given away tens of millions of dollars to their corporate buddies. And they've been doing it for years! Where, oh where have you been, Princess? Taking a nap on the mattress with the pea under it?

Doctors without borders, missionaries, humanitarians etc..

You don't have to be a covert agent to be willing to enter a dangerous area.

Thank you Mike! I have been trying to figure out how to say exactly that.

You're right NYMike. Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

BtB.

You're showing just how much you don't know. The part of Iraq they were in is fairly calm. Not all of Iraq is a war zone.

Well lets just wait for the next bunch of idiots to go for a walk on the north korean border or to Iran again.

It does not matter what they are doing or not doing, these countries are not worried about spies, what they want is some political advantage over the USA and reason to keep in contact.....

NYMike's list are organizations. They have proper contacts, "some" local support, contengency plans and situational awareness. They dont go wondering off into the mountains cuz their friend came to visit for a few days.

UDunnoBro, I certainly hope you or anyone you care about never needs help from anyone. According to you, helping others IS stupid! You and other like you contribute to the rest of the world's dislike of Americans. Thanks soooo VERY much.

You and a lot of other posters here think that this is the first time something like this has happened, and it isn't. Americans have been taken hostage, arrested, etc. in foreign countries for years and payments are made for their release.

but, please add.... don't try it. you might not have it work out for you, that time!!!!

Another unintellegent, uncompassionate souless being heard from! Scheez! You people are as thick as fleas on a puppy!

I cannot believe the gullible public believes the hiking story.

Okay, what's the real story???

Yoda when you are willing to put your backside on the front line we can start dropping munitions. Don't we have enough of our people in harms way already? Recall ALL of our troops. Stop foreign aid to EVERYONE. If some mission/charity wants to donate time and money let them. If someone is dumb enough, (dr, lawyer, religious type, celeb, etc) to travel elsewhere and gets jammed up then let them. Provide them with diplomatic support but if they have violated some law then let them suffer the consequences.

Better yet Yoda, pick a Iranian town/city, and demand our money back or the bombing begins. Bail, ransom, whatever, can work both ways.

mellowfello1526615, so it'd be ok if Pakistan uses that option against the USA to get people out of Gitmo, right?

You Really Think it Hasn't Been Done...................................

So we drop a bomb on thousands of innocent people for something their government has done. Pathetic!!!

In think they are going to picnic in Beirut for their reunion.

I was thinking that North Korea is beautiful this time of year. How about Somalia? They have this bail thing worked out, except they call it "Ransom". Actually, i'm glad the boys are out. They look drained in the pictures.

I like all these ideas for a honeymoon. I see the happy couple starting in the disputed territory between Israel and Palenstine. Perhaps they can march in the make-Palestine-a-state parade. Then they're off to Pakistan and the Kashmir territory. I think disputed lands should be the theme for any upcoming travel. Then they finish off in the China/Mongolia border starting a human rights march. This trip should take about 20 years since I combined jail and international negotiating time.

Kids today.

THEY WERE IN KURDISH IRAQ.

How many US troops have been killed in Kurdish Iraq??? ZERO.

It is the safest region in the country and yes,you ignorant morons,believe or not,TOURISTS GO THERE.It is secure,they are VERY PRO US,are Democratic,tolerant,their economy is growing and Iran hates them for all those reasons.Iranian Revolutionary Guard or Basji police came OVER the Kurdish border and KIDNAPPED THEM.

It is STUNNING how people are so willing to offer big opinions about subjects in which they obviously have NO INTEREST.If you people had even the least interest in these subjects you'd actually know something.Instead,you know nothing and gladly play the fools who open their mouths to leave no doubt.

Exactly. And since you were there, you know exactly where they were and exactly what they were doing. And it's good you didn't get caught and were able to return and tell us all about it and how you were just "hiking." Don't mention the CIA.

SUPPOSE THEY WERE CIA????????????

If so,they have NADS OF STEEL and would have been trying to gather intel FOR US - you morons.

THIS is how you people react to courageous intel agents serving for YOUR COUNTRY????????? HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS??????

I rather thought it is funny. It makes the point that these are not places a prudent person visits regardless of military casualties.