Iran claims to have arrested US spies - some sentenced to death

[mukk_in]

Boy, the mullahs are really running berserk. Iranian officials claim to have arrested 17 Iranian citizens all of whom were spies trained by the CIA! Reminds me of the times after the fall of the Shah and taking US diplomats hostage. Iran's behavior can truly be nauseating.

Link:

Iranian officials say 17 alleged US spies captured, some sentenced to death

 

[thecolorsblend]

I wonder how the American government would respond if they discovered that a dozen American citizens were spies trained by and reporting to a known hostile foreign power.

A crime like that could be construed as treason.

 

[Dave-W]

I wonder how the American government would respond if they discovered that a dozen American citizens were spies trained by and reporting to a known hostile foreign power.

A crime like that could be construed as treason.

Indeed. It has happened before, and the perps have been executed.

The question here is: are those people REALLY spies, or just random people the Iranian leaders rounded up for a show trial?

 

[mukk_in]

Indeed. It has happened before, and the perps have been executed.

The question here is: are those people REALLY spies, or just random people the Iranian leaders rounded up for a show trial?

I would guess the latter. Iran is notorious for show trials and showboating.

 

[thecolorsblend]

I would guess the latter. Iran is notorious for show trials and showboating.

Whether they’re actual spies or just patsies, their fate is not America’s concern.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Whether they’re actual spies or just patsies, their fate is not America’s concern.

I can't agree with that. If they are actual spies for the US then it is America's concern. On more than one level. First there is the matter of people helping the US being harmed because of it and therefore the US is morally obligated to do what it can to help them in return. Second it is a matter of people elsewhere that might be persuaded to help seeing that the US has no concern for, or loyalty to, those that would help the US. Third if the US does nothing to help those that help it that would embolden their enemies to harm the allies of the US.

 

[Landon Caeli]

Whether they’re actual spies or just patsies, their fate is not America’s concern.

Well, it shows how corrupt the Iranian government is, especially if they weren't spies and weren't given a fair trial.

 

[thecolorsblend]

If they are actual spies for the US then it is America's concern

They’re supposedly Iranian citizens.

Their fate is not our concern.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Well, it shows how corrupt the Iranian government is, especially if they weren't spies and weren't given a fair trial.

If, if, if.

They’re not American citizens. Therefore, their fate is not our concern.

 

[Albion]

There really is no reason to think that the whole thing isn't a hoax. Iran wants to provoke the UK and US, so it produces pictures of unknown people and claims they were arrested months ago in secret. That's it.

 

[Hank77]

First there is the matter of people helping the US being harmed because of it and therefore the US is morally obligated to do what it can to help them in return.

I can only think of two reasons someone would spy on their own country. One for financial gain in which case they deserve to be treated as a traitor and certainly not the US's responsibility.
Two because they are doing it for their own country. If they were happy with their country's government they wouldn't be spying on them. Maybe they are hoping the US will help them return Iran to what it was before the radical Muslim clerics took over. Maybe they are hoping that they can keep their country from being another Iraq.
Either way it is not our responsibility to change US policy in order to save them.

Shooting down drones, taking over oil tankers, now saying they have caught spies says to me that the sanctions are working.

 

[mukk_in]

Great discussion. Let me throw in this question. Should there be a regime change in Iran? If so, should the President pursue a regime of sanctions to break the mullahs? I believe the Iranians deserve better and that sanctions are working.

 

[Hank77]

Should there be a regime change in Iran?

I would certainly like to see it if the change brought peace not war to Iran.

If so, should the President pursue a regime of sanctions to break the mullahs?

I don't think that the sanctions can break the mullahs but maybe they will cause the people of Iran to stand up and break the mullahs.

 

[grasping the after wind]

I can only think of two reasons someone would spy on their own country. One for financial gain in which case they deserve to be treated as a traitor and certainly not the US's responsibility.
Two because they are doing it for their own country. If they were happy with their country's government they wouldn't be spying on them. Maybe they are hoping the US will help them return Iran to what it was before the radical Muslim clerics took over. Maybe they are hoping that they can keep their country from being another Iraq.
Either way it is not our responsibility to change US policy in order to save them.

Shooting down drones, taking over oil tankers, now saying they have caught spies says to me that the sanctions are working.

I did not recommend changing the sanction policy to help them. That would be counter productive in helping any spies you have among the populace.