Many news agencies in America are very biased and very often you would see me complaining about it on Slashing Tongue. I have also complained about many of them that they just talking and spewing hate for the sake of money and ratings.

And then comes along some journalist that earns nothing compared to the amount earned by fat cats like Keith Olbermann and Sean Hannity and does an act of defiance and patriotism something so stunning that it really inspires us about our occupation.

First, she was taken in for having a bottle of wine. This is an accusation so baseless that even her closest neighbors poured cold water over it. They cannot believe that there would be such a situation with a mild person like her who lived next to them and was so nice.

Then came the charge of her being a journalist without having the proper licenses to be one. Of all the charges that was the most sane one. She really could have been operating unintentionally and then she got caught. That I could believe to a certain extent. The thing that also would have made doubts linger was the fact that the entire trial was shrouded in secrecy. If it were a charge of operating without a journalism license, there would really be nothing for her to hide.

It all suddenly then became a mockery when the charges were changed to spying. She was again tried in secrecy and they found her guilty at such warp speeds as though this was a trial of a person trying to pay his speeding ticket. In which right minded person would try a case in 1 day when the defendant is pleading not guilty to one of the most serious charges there is.

It is clear to anybody that is watching this that the Iranians were really not bothered with Roxana Saberi at all. All they were trying to do was to hide behind a woman’s skirt with hope that the US would grant them added concessions in the future.

The masters at that trade are the North Koreans. They have just kidnapped 2 Americans and put them in torture camps. They would also conduct a show trial for them and use them as part of a package of bargaining chips that are to be used. This package includes the anger shown at a US training session in South Korea, the satellite launch and so on and so forth.

This is also something that Ms Saberi knew. But rather than being used like a pawn, she fought back. The US warned not to treat her harshly and the Iranians promise to treat her humanely despite putting her in one of the most notoriously tough prisons in Iran.

She has now gone on a hunger strike in one of the most toughest prisons in the world. She sends the message that no matter what the Iranians do, she want to make sure that she gets out without being a political victim. She put herself at risk rather than putting her country in a difficult position. That is something really extraordinary.

This to me is bravery to one of the highest degree possible for a journalist to carry out. It is really not easy to stand up in a place where even in the open, it would not be safe for an American citizen. She has now tuned the tables on the Iranians.

It is as if a statement to make that is “Release me at once or my death would be on your hands.” Her death due to starvation would be one of the most embarrassing things for Iran to deal with. It would also alienate them from the international community even more than they are right now.

I believe that this would end with the Iranians voluntarily giving her up on some special day such as Eid or the Ayatollah Khaemini’s birthday. Still it is something that I really look up to her for. It is a great action that she took.

Slashing Tongue would like to wish her and her family the best of luck.

Michelle Malkin » Roxana Saberi blogburst
Free Roxana Saberi « If you’re bored, do some good
On Hunger Strikes and Roxana Saberi | Human Rights Now – Amnesty Internatio..

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