Iran Up to Old Tricks

I'm no fan of George Soros and his anti-American leftist agenda, but Iran seems to have no problem of arresting and holding Iranian-Americans, claiming that they're spying and/or formenting anti-government activities.

Iran has imprisoned an Iranian-American affiliated with George Soros' Open Society Institute, the foundation said yesterday, marking the fourth dual citizen to be detained in Iran in recent months.

Open Society Institute, which promotes democratic governance and human rights, said Tehran-based social scientist Kian Tajbakhsh was imprisoned around May 11.

The other dual citizens arrested, detained or otherwise kept from leaving Iran include Haleh Esfandiari, a 67-year-old scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars; Parnaz Azima, a reporter for U.S.-funded Radio Farda; and a third person whom the U.S. government has not identified.

Iran has accused the Soros group of promoting "soft revolution" there - a term Iranian officials use to refer to a perceived U.S. plot to use intellectuals and others inside Iran to undermine the Islamic state.

Iran has seen that kidnapping/holding foreigners works - just look at the Royal Navy standoff. These four aren't even in the military and will be used just as surely as pawns in the mad mullahs diplomatic maneuverings against the West.

They can simply accuse these four of plotting against the government and demand action, regardless of whether there is actual proof. Proof is irrelevant as Iran surely knows that they don't need proof when bluster will suffice.