Iran

FREEDOM!!!

Iran released two US citizens held in jail since 2009 on charges of illegally entering Iran and suspected espionage. The two hikers were originally part of a group of three (one being a female that was released in 2010)that were hiking along the Iraq and Iran border.

This event shows the tension between US and Iran. If this had happened with a country on friendly terms with the United States, the hikers would have shortly been released, maybe suffering a few fines, and espionage would not have been at the forefront of the issue.The question also raised is how would the situation have turned out if the roles were reversed? Would Iranian hikers be released after two years if they had accidently entered the US?

Realist

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/201192193018163522.html

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-09/21/c_131152269.htm

September 21, 2011 at 12:29 pm