But then again, what else is new? Unfortunately, the US and world media seem to be ignoring this new hostage crisis in Iran.

Swiss diplomats seeking to visit Haleh Esfandiari, a leading Iranian-American academic jailed in Iran, have not been given access to her, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars said yesterday.

In addition, Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and lawyer who has taken on Ms. EsfandiariÂ’s defense, confirmed yesterday that two lawyers from her office had been denied permission to visit their client but she said that they would continue their efforts.

Iran announced Monday that Ms. Esfandiari was being accused of trying to foment a velvet revolution there. The Wilson Center and her family had avoided asking the United States or other governments to intervene until she was sent to Evin prison two weeks ago.

The Swiss government, which runs the American Interests Section in Tehran in the absence of diplomatic relations between the United States and Iran, requested that a consular official be allowed to visit Ms. Esfandiari but no such visit was granted, Lee H. Hamilton, the director of the Wilson Center in Washington, said at a news conference there.

He said other governments had intervened on Ms. EsfandiariÂ’s behalf since she was jailed on May 8, but declined to say which ones. The Swiss Embassy in Washington referred questions to the State DepartmentÂ’s Office of Iranian Affairs, which said the United States government has made repeated requests about Ms. Esfandiari.

This is just as egregious as the taking of hostages in 1979 by Iranian militants (including, it is believed, the current Iranian president). Will the US government have the guts to take a firm stand against this rogue regime, and demand freedom for this American citizen, backing that demand up with serious action if the proper response is not forthcoming? or will it simply be a replay of Jimmy Carter's weak-kneed response to an act of war by the Islamists n charge there?

I think Senator McCain unintentionally got it right recently

Bomb, bomb, bomb
Bomb, bomb Iran!

Posted by: Greg at 10:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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