Two people I know somewhat distantly are currently imprisoned in Iran. One is Saberi, the other Derakhshan. I had met both of them briefly. I wasn't necessarily a big fan of all of Saberi's reports. For example, I disagreed with her view in one article in which she attributed the popularity of the nuclear program to regime propaganda rather than genuine nationalistic feelings amongst the people. However I never thought either of them were "spies" and still am not convinced. Most certainly, I don't want to see either of them...or anyone else...imprisoned. Not only is that just plain wrong, it does nothing to help Iran or Iranians either.
But in any case my point is more about how Saberi's case has become a tool in the hands of the Iran-bashers. I wish to remind everyone about how human rights is subject to manipulation by people who have an agenda:
Everyone knows Saberi…but no one knows about Ogulsapar Muradova, the Radio Free Eurpe/Radio Liberty correspondent who was killed in prison in Turkmenistan. Why do you suppose that is?
Compare the coverage provided by the NY Times or other media outlets to Saberi versus Muradova. Note the significant difference. A search of the NY Times brings up just three "hits" for Ogulsapar Muradova, and more than 3000 hits for Roxanna Saberi.
Could it be, because Turkmenistan is a US-allied tyranny? So we’re willing to give them a pass when they murder reporters?
Gee -- ya think?
Radio Free Europe + 0 = The Company....anyone who works for the company is expendable... anyone... effing William Casey was running it... They thought he might have a word or two to say that would of touched King George II...and his main squeeze Ollie, If I recollect...Casey who is to appear before a Congressional Committee on a Wednesday, expires on the Monday prior... Come now, did ya tink da frigid war was over ??? The only reason it paused was, Gorby needed to regroup...and if you didn't talk to Yeltsin by 9:30AM, he was already down to the last swig of his 1st bottle of "Voda"...Azerbaijani friend told me, by 10:00AM-10:30AM, he had finished the second and was totally tanked. Sort of explains how all the various Russian and Israeli/Russian mobs almost got a hold of everything....That's why Putin is so strong...he's got a better organized mob, and hands down, his people are better armed...So ya got a stand-off, with everybody knowing who their Daddy is....The Moldova thing is like the Corsicans setting up in Brighton and surrounding turf...you can't say the boys at number 10 wouldn't be getting the soon to be used, bodybags ready......
Posted by: john the baptist | May 06, 2009 at 02:26 PM