NEWSLETTER

August 22, 2016

Another Source Of Income

The State Department issued a warning on Monday urging U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Iran (see below).

Why? Because Iran has made "the detention of Americans a priority", or in simpler terms, Iran is looking to capture US citizens and make money off of taking them hostage.

Turns out the Obama administration’s recent non-ransom payment of $400 million in cash to Iran was viewed by the Iranians as just that, i.e., RANSOM, and further incentivized the Iranians to grab more Americans.

This should come as zero surprise to anyone who knows that paying ransom only invites more kidnappings and more ransom demands. And it certainly comes as no surprise to those of us who've been warning against appeasing Iran for quite some time now.

And although Monday's warning also expressed "particular concern about commercial airlines doing business with Iran" (this as American companies such as Boeing continue to pursue million-dollar business deals with Iran), let's not forget Secretary of State John Kerry's recent European road show (in May), trying to drum up business in Europe for Iran.

Nevertheless, and lest anyone be confused by all these mixed messages, the State Dept issued a disclaimer at the end of its warning, emphasizing that "the U.S. government's ability to assist U.S. citizens in Iran in the event of an emergency is extremely limited."

"Extremely limited"? Who knows, maybe the State Dept has exhausted this year's budget for ransom payments?

Washington Free Beacon  |  August 22, 2016

State Dept. Warns: Iran Seeking to Capture U.S. Citizens

By Adam Kredo

Iran-Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Photo: AP / Vahid Salemi

The State Department issued a warning on Monday urging U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, which has made the detention of Americans a priority.

The latest travel advisory, which emphasizes Iran’s desire to capture U.S. citizens, comes on the heels of a growing scandal over the Obama administration’s decision to pay Iran $400 million in cash on the same day that it freed several U.S. hostages.

The payment has been cast by lawmakers and others as a ransom payment and prompted increasing concern among U.S. officials that Iran is making arresting Americans a priority.

The travel warning is meant to “highlight the risk of arrest and detention of U.S. citizens, particularly dual national Iranian-Americans,” according to a State Department announcement on Monday. “Foreigners, in particular dual nationals of Iran and Western countries including the United States, continue to be detained or prevented from leaving Iran.”

“U.S. citizens traveling to Iran should very carefully weigh the risks of travel and consider postponing their travel,” the warning adds. “U.S. citizens residing in Iran should closely follow media reports, monitor local conditions, and evaluate the risks of remaining in the country.”

Iran continues to imprison Americans, particularly those holding dual Iranian citizenship, according to the State Department.

“Iranian authorities have detained and harassed U.S. citizens, particularly those of Iranian origin,” the travel warning states. “Former Muslims who have converted to other religions, religious activists, and persons who encourage Muslims to convert are subject to arrest and prosecution.”

The Obama administration expressed particular concern about commercial airlines doing business with Iran. This warning comes as American companies such as Boeing continue to pursue million-dollar business deals with the Islamic Republic.

“The U.S. government is concerned about the risks to civil aircraft operating into, out of, within, or over Iran due to hazards from military activity associated with the conflicts in Iraq and Syria,” the warning states. “The FAA has advised U.S. civil aviation to exercise caution when flying into, out of, within, or over the airspace over Iran.”

The warning emphasizes that “the U.S. government’s ability to assist U.S. citizens in Iran in the event of an emergency is extremely limited.”

Original article here.


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