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Watching
one of Iran's naive American hostages, Sarah Shourd, come out of 14
months of captivity in Tehran and into the light of freedom in Oman, I
had a number of responses.

First, of course, I was happy she was
free, although her two "hiking" companions remain in prison in one of
modern Persia's infamous jails. There - we got the good wishes out of
the way first.

But second, I would take her aside in a private
room at the Sultanate of Oman's gorgeous international airport and give
her a good talking-to:

"Just exactly what did you three modern
Marco Polos think you were doing, supposedly hiking in the rugged
mountains of Kurdish northern Iraq near - or over - the border to Iran?
Did you know where you were? Did you care? Did you know there was a war
on?"

A little history lesson: The Iranians have an odd craving
that has evinced itself from time to time throughout history. We all
know about Iran's taking dozens of Americans hostage in 1980, but did
you know that this delightful habit is a tradition for them? The first
hostages the ancient Persians took were Mongol diplomats.

Sarah,
next time, try the Rockies or the Smokies - or someplace where the
Canadian Mounties or the Norwegian military will be the first faces you
see when you meet someone.

I have to admit that it sure was swell
of Iranian... >>>