Iran to PAY for Americans to Visit. Hostage Time Again?

Ready for America Held Hostage, Part 2?

Iran is paying cash incentives for travel agencies to bring Western tourists to Iran -- especially Americans.

Iran has said it would offer cash incentives to travel agencies to encourage Western tourists to visit the country, giving a premium for Americans, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported Tuesday.

The proposal is Iran's latest bid to reach out to ordinary Americans in an attempt by the Islamic Republic's political leadership to show that its quarrel is with the U.S. administration — not U.S. citizens.

It came as the United Nations Security Council deliberates a draft resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran for its disputed nuclear program.

"Iran's tourism department will pay US$20 (€15.7) per person to those who attract European or American tourists to the country," the agency quoted Mohammed Sharif Malakzadeh, deputy head of the department, as saying.

Now just a minute.

Why exactly is Iran suddenly eager to have Americans and other Westerners in its land?

Is it because Iran wants to enjoy more of our Western culture?  Hardly! Iran is busy these days censoring Western music, smashing satellite dishes, and deliberately slowing internet access, all in an effort to keep Western culture out.  Iran doesn't even want its people to use the term "pizza" because that's a Western word.  (Pizza in Iran is now "elastic loaves."  Yum!)

Is this just a goodwill gesture to help Americans come to know and love Iran?  It's possible, but unlikely.  Keep in mind that "Death to America" is routinely chanted at public gatherings in Iran.  This is the same Iran that just awarded a prize to students who designed a pilotless plane for use in "suicide attacks." 

Besides, if Iran just wanted better P.R. in the U.S., there are plenty of ways to achieve that goal without physically paying to bring isolated random tourists to the country (not even opinion leaders -- just random tourists who may or may not tell anyone about their impressions).  That's an awfully slow way to achieve the ostensible goal of building goodwill.

I see only one reason Iran wants Americans on its soil:  As potential hostages, and as "human shields" in case military options are considered against Iran.

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Update 11/1/06:  I see that Captain's Quarters has reached a similar conclusion.

Comments

[Don]

I'm surprised you can even fly to Iran without being labeled as a terrorist.

Iran is a beautiful country if you actually do research on it. I would love to visit, although I would fear how I am treated because of war mongering by my leaders.

We invaded both their neighbours Iraq and Afganistan, killed and raped countless innocent people...and Iran is STILL able to welcome us! Granted they may use westerners as human shields if we attack...yes if WE ATTACK THEM. How many countries has Iran nuked? How many countries has USA nuked, or attacked and will continue to attack? At lease one side is TRYING to reach out.

The only bad thing I can say about Iranians is that they don't call pizza pizza, other than that they sound like a very logical, friendly, and intelligent nation. It will be a lose lose situation if WE decide to wage war on them.

[Gina Cobb]

With all due respect, Don, your ideas about Iran are not very well informed. If you think the "only bad thing" about Iran is that it doesn't call pizza pizza, you have a lot to learn about life in Iran today! You take your Western freedoms and luxuries for granted. In Iran you would not be allowed a satellite dish, high-speed internet access, Western music, or the freedom to protest without risking arrest, jailing and death. Your wife or girlfriend would be stuck in a burka all the time. If she wore a swimsuit in your own backyard, she could be arrested, put in jail, and even killed. If a person in Iran renounces Islam, they are put to death by hanging. Is that OK with you, Don? Is this hanging of a young woman for "un-Islamic behavior" OK with you?:

http://www.iran-press-service.com/cgi-bin/moxiebin/bm_tools.cgi?print=208;s=1_15;site=1

If you ever do take that vacation to Iran, you'll learn more about Iran than you ever imagined.

You might also want to consider the State Department's travel advisory on Iran:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_920.html

Be grateful for where you live, and stop trying to tear down the U.S. and other Western countries that are the world's greatest beacons of freedom and prosperity.