Former Iran Hostage Fears History Will Repeat If Yemen's President Enters U.S.

[The Northerner]

A former Iranian hostage is "thunderstruck" that the U.S. is considering allowing beleaguered Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh to enter the country for medical treatment.

Barry Rosen and 51 other Americans were taken hostage by Iranian students on Nov. 4, 1979 after President Carter allowed the deposed shah of Iran into the U.S. for medical treatment.

"This is absolutely putting [Americans working in the embassy] in total danger," said Rosen, who served as the press attache in the American embassy in Iran when the building was stormed. Rosen and the others were held for 444 days.

Rosen, who is now executive director of public affairs at Borough of Manhattan Community College, said the chance of Yemenis invading the American embassy in the capital city Sana is a "good possibility."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/News/iran-hostage-bad-idea-give-visa-yemens-leader/story?id=15247121

[sabrina 1]

1. He's a dictator, but he's 'our' dictator, at least for now, until he's not.

US Foreign policy so badly needs to be changed regarding our support for these dictators, not just this one, but all the others we are currently supporting, while their people suffer the consequences.

Which is why going after anyone based on the claim that 'he is a dictator' is so hypocritical.

[RZM]

2. Hate to say this, but . . .

Last edited Wed Dec 28, 2011, 07:01 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't see why this man's predictions about Yemen are more valuable than anybody else's. It illustrates an important question about the relevance of one's life experience to assessments of world events.

Certainly his experience has given him insights into things that most people know nothing about. He would be a valuable source for what it was like to live in Iran during the revolution, what being a hostage was like, the difficulties of re-integrating oneself into society after such an experience, etc.

But does his experience back then qualify him to talk about the public mood in Yemen today? Is he an expert on Yemen or Saleh? Were a new hostage situation to occur in Yemen, then I think he would be a valuable source. I'm not trying to disparage him or what he went through, but I don't see how he could tell us anything new about what might happen in Yemen.

I think better sources would be people who have studied Yemen closely and are familiar with life and politics there. A sample of the opinions/predictions of actual Yemenis would be valuable as well.

[DURHAM D]

4. He was with the State Department.

I recall Barry as being the face/image of the hostage situation as they paraded him around blindfolded. He was one of the hostages who received some sort of medal for valor or something.

Given his prior experience and current work I would assume that he knows a great deal about the situation. IOWs he is a perfectly good source. You on the other hand not so much.

[RZM]

5. Nice unnecessary dig there

Unfortunately, I never claimed to know much about Yemen. I'm not qualified to predict what might happen were Saleh given treatment here. I kind of doubt there would be a hostage situation, but that's just a hunch out of the blue. It's not more valuable than anybody else's opinion. And it's much less valuable than the opinion of people who know about Yemen.

I don't doubt that Rosen conducted himself well during the hostage crisis. Nor do I doubt that he has knowledge of many matters, especially what it's like to be a hostage. All I said was that I see no evidence he's qualified to predict what might happen in Yemen. If it turns out he is a Yemen expert, I'll happily say that I was wrong.

[ThomThom]

3. all americans should immediately leave

or risk their freedom and possibly their life
not a good place to be
abroad is not a good place to be
come home everyone before it is too late our government has created a situation where is not healthy to be American
drones could kill you at any moment, if you are not grabbed by someone with a cause