I've gotta ask----who the hell goes hiking in Iraq?

[trumad]

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran is charging three American hikers with espionage, a Tehran prosecutor said Monday.

The three Americans have been detained since July 31 on charges of illegally crossing the border from Iraqi Kurdistan into Iran. Their family and friends say it was an innocent mistake.

<snip>

The Americans entered northern Iraq from Turkey on July 28 during a planned five-day hike. Bauer and Shourd had been living in Damascus, Syria; Fattal was visiting. They set out to hike in northern Iraq's Kurdistan region.

Meckfessel, who spoke with Bauer the morning of their hike, said his friends did not know they were near the border and made "a simple and regrettable mistake" by crossing into Iran.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/11/09/iran.hikers/index.html

[MNDemNY]

1. Spys?

[left coaster]

2. Um.. really bad spies? n/t

[godai]

7. or really stupid hikers.

Sorry but, you play big boys games, you suffer the consequences. Of course, there will eventually be some kind of deal worked out but this is a low priority as far as my concerns.

[izquierdista]

10. I've seen this one before

Doesn't anyone write original scripts anymore?

[trumad]

17. This one to....

[FraDon]

8. Who else !? • Where have they been in the year PRECEEDING their …

so-called accidental entry?
.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Want to get a good book contract? Get away from a bad marriage. That was the norm for Beruit

hostages except for Dr. Dodge and Terry Waite.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Dumb. Like sticking your hand into a hive to see what happens.

[trumad]

5. So if they were killed or kidnapped in Iraq---because er... that shit happens there---

would it have been a "simple" mistake of hiking in Iraq?

[canoeist52]

6. Iran iis not just a desert (pic)

Namak Abrood Forests
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/throughout_iran&page=all

[montanto]

18. Thats true,

but Iraqi Kurdistan is.

[dhpgetsit]

9. My dad hiked in Kurdish country.

As far as he knows he stayed within the borders of Turkey.

What is the point of your question?

[trumad]

12. They were hiking in Iraq....

so say's all the stories I'm reading about this....

[dhpgetsit]

19. People hike in unusual places.

It doesn't necessarily make them spies.

[trumad]

20. Agree

But Iraq is more than just an unusual place...

It's one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

[theHandpuppet]

11. Darwin Award winners

I feel sorry for them but Jeezil, what idiots.

[kickysnana]

13. This is so bogus

Really stupid spies is my vote.

What would happen if Irani students in Canada strayed over the US border? Our system is very brutal to foreigners.

[trumad]

14. Good point...

[Taverner]

15. One quick note - Iraqi Kurdistan has been promoting tourism

I guess the ads worked

[ET Awful]

16. Is it even possible for a US civilian to get a visa to hike in Iraq?

Seriously?

[pscot]

21. I have been wondering

about that. If their story is true, they are probably in line for a Darwin award.

[happy2bhere]

22. The country is covered in depleted uranium

doesn't seem very healthy...