{"id":562,"date":"2023-09-20T15:34:34","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T19:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/how-much-is-an-americans-freedom-worth\/20\/09\/2023\/"},"modified":"2023-09-20T15:34:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T19:34:34","slug":"how-much-is-an-americans-freedom-worth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/how-much-is-an-americans-freedom-worth\/20\/09\/2023\/","title":{"rendered":"How much is an American&#8217;s freedom worth?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><em>\u201cThe 360\u201d shows you diverse perspectives on the day\u2019s top stories and debates.<\/em><\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\" style=\"max-height: 640px\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox caas-img-loader\" style=\"padding-bottom:67%\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/u2YGxzFPbWrtsYkTi1WpVA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAw\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2023-09\/a7ae6140-57e3-11ee-bdef-1c2054a7d78f\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A montage with Iran flag, outline of the country, silhouettes of five people, redacted text\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/PhsKCu4FCZIq1dICBMINEQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA--\/https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/creatr-uploaded-images\/2023-09\/a7ae6140-57e3-11ee-bdef-1c2054a7d78f\" class=\"caas-img\"\/><\/noscript><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\"><span class=\"openArrows icon\"><svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\"><path d=\"M12.372 0.92C12.372 0.414 12.782 0.004 13.287 0.004L21 0L20.996 7.712C20.996 8.217 20.586 8.628 20.08 8.628C19.574 8.628 19.164 8.217 19.164 7.712V3.183L12.337 10.011L10.988 8.663L17.816 1.835H13.287C12.782 1.835 12.372 1.425 12.372 0.92ZM1.835 17.816L8.663 10.988L10.012 12.337L3.183 19.164H7.712C8.218 19.164 8.627 19.574 8.627 20.08C8.627 20.586 8.218 20.995 7.712 20.995L0 21L0.004 13.287C0.004 12.782 0.414 12.372 0.92 12.372C1.425 12.372 1.835 12.782 1.835 13.287V17.816Z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\">Photo illustration: A\u00efda Amer for Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images (2)<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2>What\u2019s happening<\/h2>\n<p>Five Americans who were <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/american-prisoners-freed-iran-head-083439863.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:freed from prisons in Iran;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">freed from prisons in Iran<\/a> as part of a deal brokered by the Biden administration were with friends and family after returning to U.S. soil on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<p>In exchange for their release, the United States agreed to unfreeze $6 billion in Iranian funds and to let five Iran nationals out of U.S. prisons. The deal reportedly came after years of negotiations, as part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to ease tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Relations between the two longtime adversaries had become especially hostile after then-President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.<\/p>\n<p><a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/jamesfoleyfoundation.org\/american-hostage-reports\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dozens of Americans;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">Dozens of Americans<\/a> have been freed from captivity abroad over the past year. The most high-profile case involved WNBA star <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/video\/griner-bout-wnba-star-freed-130827148.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Brittney Griner;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Brittney Griner<\/a>, who was held in Russia for nearly 10 months before being exchanged for notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in another controversial deal brokered by the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p>There is a long history of U.S. presidents from both parties making concessions to free Americans held captive abroad, often in Iran. Both <a data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.factcheck.org\/2022\/12\/trump-swapped-prisoners-too\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Trump;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">Trump<\/a> and his predecessor, Barack Obama, exchanged prisoners with Iran and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. The<a data-i13n=\"cpos:5;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.history.com\/this-day-in-history\/iran-hostage-crisis-ends\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Iran Hostage Crisis;cpos:5;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \"> Iran Hostage Crisis<\/a>, which played a major role in Ronald Reagan\u2019s victory over Jimmy Carter in the 1980 election, ended when the United States agreed to unfreeze nearly $8 billion in Iranian assets.<\/p>\n<h2>Why there\u2019s debate<\/h2>\n<p>Republicans have uniformly condemned Biden for making this latest prisoner swap.<\/p>\n<p>They argue that the White House effectively rewarded Iran for taking American citizens hostage with billions of dollars that the country can use to fund terrorism and create havoc in the Middle East. Many make the case that Biden\u2019s willingness to pay such a high price will only give Iran \u2014 and other U.S. adversaries \u2014 more incentive to hold Americans hostage in the future. Such criticism isn\u2019t exclusive to Biden\u2019s political rivals. Even some people who were themselves previously detained in Iran have <a data-i13n=\"cpos:6;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/international\/archive\/2023\/08\/iran-evin-political-prisoners-diplomacy\/675099\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:made the case;cpos:6;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">made the case<\/a> that paying for the release of American prisoners makes it more likely that others will be held for ransom.<\/p>\n<p>But supporters of Biden\u2019s deal say $6 billion is a small price to pay to spare Americans from the horrors of captivity in Iran and argue that, while a \u201cno concessions\u201d policy makes for a strong political soundbite, it doesn\u2019t actually accomplish anything in the real world. Others are hopeful that this latest prisoner exchange will help create a diplomatic pathway for the two countries to reach a new agreement to keep Iran from producing a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n<h2>What\u2019s next<\/h2>\n<p>There are still <a data-i13n=\"cpos:7;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/jamesfoleyfoundation.org\/american-hostage-reports#_ftn1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:dozens of U.S. nationals;cpos:7;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">dozens of U.S. nationals<\/a> wrongfully detained in other countries, including two permanent residents who are currently being held in Iran and were not included in the latest deal. The White House has <a data-i13n=\"cpos:8;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/ir.usembassy.gov\/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-return-of-american-detainees-from-iran\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:warned Americans;cpos:8;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">warned Americans<\/a> not to travel to Iran, stating that they should have \u201cno expectation that their release can be secured\u201d if they are taken captive.<\/p>\n<h2>Perspectives<\/h2>\n<hr\/>\n<h3>Supporters<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Rescuing captured Americans is expensive but worth it<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe that getting wrongfully detained Americans home is worth the high price that rogue states such as Iran and Putin\u2019s Russia typically try to exact.\u201d \u2014 Peter Bergen, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:9;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/opinion-price-freeing-us-hostages-004710237.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:CNN;cpos:9;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">CNN<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>A good-faith deal with Iran sets the stage for much more important negotiations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe [agreement] will go well beyond getting imprisoned U.S. citizens out of Iran and releasing frozen Iranian oil funds for humanitarian reasons. It may well be the basis for making sure that Iran will refrain from attacking American troops, endangering international shipping lines and arming Russia for its war in Ukraine. Most importantly, the prisoner swap might be a decisive step for the West in reaching a new informal nuclear limitation agreement with Iran.\u201d \u2014 Klaus W. Larres, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:10;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/ransom-realism-closer-look-biden-123253778.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Conversation;cpos:10;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Conversation<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>There was no way to free those prisoners without major concessions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cHere&#8217;s the bottom line: There are no good deals with Iran, only bad and worse ones.\u201d \u2014 Aaron David Miller, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:11;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/foreignpolicy.com\/2023\/08\/14\/iran-us-prisoner-swap-deal-nuclear-negotiations-talks-sanctions-biden\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Foreign Policy;cpos:11;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">Foreign Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s easy to talk tough when you\u2019re not the one trying to bring Americans home<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThough a no-concessions policy for hostage-taking might be fine as a political position, it further victimizes innocent hostages and risks leaving them to die or languish in foreign prisons for years.\u201d \u2014 Jason Rezaian, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:12;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/opinions\/2023\/09\/02\/bill-richardson-death-legacy-hostage-diplomacy\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Washington Post;cpos:12;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">Washington Post<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Critics<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Biden has ensured that the price will be even higher next time<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce again, the administration is jacking up the price that this country\u2019s enemies can demand for the return of Americans they seize.\u201d \u2014 Editorial, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:13;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2023\/09\/bidens-iran-catastrophe\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:National Review;cpos:13;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">National Review<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The deal will lead to more kidnappings in the future<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you are an adversary in any way of the United States and you want some sort of concession, what&#8217;s going to be the quickest way to do it given the behavior of this Biden administration? Go out, target a dual national, target an American who&#8217;s visiting, trump up some phony charges, put them into prison, and then say, \u2018The only way you get them back is to unfreeze our assets or give us this concession in these negotiations.\u2019\u201d \u2014 Kimberley Strassel, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:14;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/podcasts\/opinion-potomac-watch\/a-6-billion-hostage-deal-with-iran\/018b2bcd-7e42-40a4-8ab2-a58589f9cd7a\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Wall Street Journal;cpos:14;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">Wall Street Journal<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>It\u2019s foolish to think Iran will ever be a trustworthy negotiating partner<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not a regime it is possible to form a real d\u00e9tente with, and it\u2019s suicidal for the White House to behave as though it is.\u201d \u2014 Editorial, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:15;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/09\/12\/biden-iran-prisoner-swap-shows-he-will-work-with-terrorists\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:New York Post;cpos:15;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">New York Post<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Biden gave Iran billions that will inevitably be used to harm the U.S. and its allies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe deal amounts to a ransom payment that will fund the terror-sponsoring regime\u2019s malign activities across the Middle East while doing nothing to curb Iran\u2019s progress toward a nuclear weapon.\u201d \u2014 Jonathan Schanzer &amp; Enia Krivine, <a data-i13n=\"cpos:16;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/bidens-iran-hostage-deal-imperils-israel-and-rest-world\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Washington Examiner;cpos:16;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0\" class=\"link \">Washington Examiner<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Photo illustration: A\u00efda Amer for Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images (2)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/iran-prisoner-exchange-how-much-is-an-americans-freedom-worth-190613940.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&ldquo;The 360&rdquo; shows you diverse perspectives on the day&rsquo;s top stories and debates. Photo illustration: A&iuml;da Amer for Yahoo News; photos: Getty<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/how-much-is-an-americans-freedom-worth\/20\/09\/2023\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=562"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/562\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}