A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE OR TAKING STUPIDITY TO NEW HEIGHTS, WHICH IS IT?

Dumb & Dumber

  Above is a picture from an Iranian courtroom, you have before you, perhaps two of the three dumbest and irresponsible Americans to have ever walked the face of the earth.  I do mean walked.  Pictured are one Shane Bauer and one Josh Fattal, missing, is a picture their cohort Sarah Shourd who was released from Iran due to some medical reasons.  However, not without a neat $500,000.00 non-refundable bail being posted.   In my opinion all three of these numb-skulls have some serious mental deficiencies.  (If you're talking medical problems, Iran should have let them all go, at $500,000.00 each.)

  As we all know, this is an ongoing saga involving 3 young and (I'm embarrassed to say American hikers).  They were captured by Iranian troops for allegedly straying into Iranian territory from Iraq, (where else?).  They have been charged with espionage by the Iranian authorities, which in itself is ludicrous, simply because no one in their right mind would hike in broad daylight across a hostile border with the intention of spying on that hostile nation.  However, if the Iranian accusations against these hikers are factual, then America has certainly gone way down hill and if these are the best Americans to do the job, then America should take a serious look at our "Intelligence" operations around the globe. 
  A little background, these three mental midgets are all supposedly well educated.  However, they were not well educated enough to realize that there is a war zone, in Iraq and Iran.  They obviously weren't listening when it was announced that the United States has invaded Iraq, and deposed dictator Saddam Hussein.  Their minds must have been preoccupied when Iran announced several times that it was at war with the Little Satan (Israel) and the Big Satan (USA).  Let's try to understand, at the time of their capture by Iranian authorities, Sarah Shourd was 32 years of age, her fiance' Shane Bauer was 28 and Josh Fattal was also 28.  In my considered opinion they were as you say "old enough to know better".  Their mere presence in Iraq was irresponsible, at best.  If my memory serves me correctly, the U.S. State Department at that date and time was issuing warnings to U.S. citizens to NOT travel in those hostile areas.  Once again, someone wasn't listening...
  So now Mr. Bauer and Mr. Fattal have been sentenced to a total of 8 years each in an Iranian prison.  Ms. Shourd is in America after being bailed out with $500,000.00 of I don't know who's money.  (I'm thinking American taxpayer money.)   She is now suffering from an acute case of, get this, PTSD.  Go figure!!!  Even though she was summoned to return to Iran and face trial with her fiance' and other pal, she has decided not to go back.  I'm sure Shane Bauer would have wanted her to stay safe at home, and get a cure for her PTSD. 
  What I am trying to say is this:  If a person or persons are intent on placing themselves in an area they have been warned to stay out of, then it is their own sole responsibility for any, and all situations they get themselves into.  Personally, I would have told these three "if you want to go to Iraq, join the military and volunteer for combat operations in the Middle-East."  I feel no responsibility to rescue or bail, or barter these last two out of that Iranian prison.  Just as I feel there is no, and should not be any obligation for Federal, State or Local authorities to rescue someone who has intentionally climbed a mountain and subsequently became stranded.  If you wish to put yourself in harms way, and it is not your job, and you choose to do it anyway, then please do not expect the rest of the world to risk their lives to save your sorry butt(s)!
  With the exception of the military and government contractors, there is no reason for anyone to have been in Iraq in 2009, much less meandering through the countryside in or near a hostile nation.  Perhaps these three didn't wander across the Iranian border, perhaps the Iranians came across the Iraqi border and kidnapped them.  Perhaps, these three should be held responsible for their actions.  A quick word to the parents of these two who have been sentenced to 8 years.  Did you, or did you not caution your children about going to Iraq in the first place?  If you didn't, in my book you ought to be spending the next 8 years with them in that Iranian prison.
  Never fear however, there is no doubt that the American government will come to the rescue.  We'll probably have to trade some dangerous terrorists for your two idiotic children.  Or, America will have to use taxpayer money to buy your two dufuss' from Iran.  Personally, I think that either way, America loses.  This country has enough irresponsible citizens in it, and we shouldn't have to buy any back from a foreign country, especially a hostile one!
  If they were my children you ask, would I feel the same way?  The answer is yes.  I raised my child to listen and heed warnings and warning signs, and should he choose to ignore the warnings, any warnings in order to have some kind of fun, then he knows that the responsibility for his chosen stupidity would belong to him, and him alone.  Would I feel bad?  Would I do all I can to help him?  The answer is yes to both of those questions.  Would I expect another set of parents to risk their son's or daughter's lives to rescue my child under those circumstances?  The answer is unequivocally NO.
God Help those young folks, may this be a teachable moment for them.
Sincerely,
The Watchman