Iran Releases 5 Americans as U.S. Unfreezes Billions in Oil Revenue for Tehran "Five Americans who had been imprisoned in Iran were allowed to leave the country on Monday, President Biden said, after two years of high-stakes negotiations in which the United States agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian oil revenue and dismiss federal charges against five Iranians accused of violating U.S. sanctions. "The prisoner release was a critical breakthrough in a yearslong standoff over Americans who were imprisoned in Iran. But the terms of the deal have generated intense criticism from Republicans who say that releasing billions in oil revenue amounts to paying a ransom and would lead to the taking of more hostages." "The arrangement also comes as part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to de-escalate tensions with Iran, which soared in the years since President Donald J. Trump abandoned the 2015 deal that placed limits on Tehran’s nuclear program. But administration officials denied that the deal indicated a major shift in the long-hostile relationship between the United States and Iran. "Top aides to Mr. Biden have said financial sanctions and strict monitoring will prevent Iran from spending the money on anything except food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. They acknowledge, however, that the deal might free up money that Iran is already spending on those items for other purposes." I realize there is a distinction between leaving no wounded or killed solider behind and bringing home an American wrongfully detained by an adversary, but, for me, that is a distinction without a huge difference. It seems to me we ought to protect Americans wherever they might be and bring them home as we do soldiers wounded or killed in action so long as it does not endanger America. The GOP claims this does endanger America without specifying how, and any danger is, it seems to me, insubstantial. Biden's decision may not be politically correct, which, I suspect, is the real reason the GOP professes indignation, but I applaud Biden for having the courage to make it. Rare is the person who wouldn't applaud it were their loved one a hostage in deplorable conditions for 8 years, as one of these hostages was.
There’s a lot of things I would for my family. Basically anything. I’m not looking to set a precedent or solidify a past wrong one. Biden sits in a different seat than I do.
Yes, Biden does, and I'm sure he made his decision with much deliberation and knowing there would be blowback. Whether or not one likes Biden, he is our leader, and leaders have to make tough, sometimes unpopular, decisions. I see the opposing view on this, but I probably would have made the same decision as Biden. We owe it to our citizens as long as there isn't a clear and present danger to the country. Sometimes painful sacrifices need to be made. I don't think this was one of them.
He made the easy decision. Let’s not make him out to be a warrior. The easy thing to do is pay the money. I’m not claiming I would have done it differently, but it was the easy way out. Don’t try to claim it was the courageous way.
I don't buy that at all and know of no basis for such a conclusion. I can understand you disagreeing with the decision, but i think it's preposterous to assert it was an "easy" one. It's also insulting to the President.
So paying money to free prisoners is the hard decision, but telling their families we don’t negotiate with terrorist states, because it’s just feeding the bears, so they’re gonna sit in prison is the easy way out? I don’t see it, but again, I’d have done the same thing.
The long-range answer to this issue is for Americans to stay the hell out of countries like Iran and Russia. Although I would love so much to go there!
Pretty sure the current GOP would blast Biden if he didn't take the deal, so the GOPs thoughts on the matter mean little. I'm torn on the issue, but overall am glad the deal was struck. I do think we we should increase efforts to keep citizens from visiting these terrorist states
It was held money. We released it. End of day it was their “found money” There’s a pile of held money.
Next weeks headlines: UK freezes $7b of cash from Iran these are coordinate efforts that we have no idea what is really going on.
This is your stance? I don’t think there’s anyone on this board that doesn’t know it was sanctioned cash. I’m sorry if I didn’t directly note that.
Dynamic inconsistency - Wikipedia. In a game theory context, an announced government policy of never negotiating with terrorists over the release of hostages constitutes a time inconsistency example, since in each particular hostage situation the authorities face the dilemma of breaking the rule and trying to save the hostages. Assuming the government acted consistently in not ever breaking the rule, it would make it irrational for a terrorist group to take hostages. (Of course, in the real world terrorists might not act rationally.)
So Biden got beat at political theatre once again. It was an equal swap, 5 for 5, with Iran getting $6B in unfrozen funds. It's not an equal swap by any means and Biden on top of that said it is only supposed to be used for food and medicine. That's like giving Josh Heupal a gift card to Denny's and saying all he can use it for is salad with no dressing and no toppings. Yeah right, it's all-you-can-eat buffet baby!! So by negotiating this farce, it sets up the next situation where maybe they kidnap 100 people to release 105B in funds. This won't stop and Iran really wants Biden to win re-election now that they know they can play ball with him and his administration.