Average helicopter blades are about 16 feet off the ground.  Most people could not get tangled in the blades if they were jumping on a trampoline.  But, nevertheless,  if you are exiting a helicopter, you tend to bend forward – – just in case.   It’s an exaggerated sense of the survival instinct.  Another example?  If you find yourself hiking in the hills outside Iraq, take extra precautions not to “wander” into Iran.   It would be hard for any American – – let alone a self-described “expert” in Middle East government – – not to know the consequences of “accidentally” entering Iranian territory.  No rational thinking person actually believes Sarah Shourd was an American spy out to overthrow the Iranian regime.  So why do most rational thinking people accept that she accidentally wandered into Iran while hiking in Iraq?   

You know who really likes Iran?  Syria.   You know who really likes Syria?  Sarah Shourd.  Here are her musings about peace-loving Syrians who are being brutalized by Israel: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=e276b8706a88aca9e3a98dbbd5526d1d

These poor Syrians; the Israelis invaded their Golan Heights, tore  families apart, refused to acknowledge Syrian nationalist aspirations, and now keep peace-loving peoples separated by mine fields. (Sarah perhaps did not know that the mines were planted by the peace loving Syrians before they retreated from the Heights).

Perhaps Sarah also did not know that the peace loving Syrians used the Golan Heights to bombard Israel – – on an almost daily basis – – with rockets and missiles, killing scores of innocent women and children.  Perhaps Sarah was unaware that Syria poisoned the streams leading to the Sea of Galilee in an effort to kill Jews.  I am confident Sarah did not know that Israel conquered the Heights to stop the madness, and returned the vast territory based on Syria’s promise to stop the attacks.  They lied, more Jews died, and Israel finally put a stop to it.   None of these facts made it into Sarah’s blog. 

She is not the first American to be used as a voice for arab propaganda.  She is certainly not unique in her views.  What makes the whole thing mildly entertaining is that her peace-loving Iranian friends kidnapped her and held her as a prisoner for over a year.  These ingrates rewarded her blind loyalty by throwing her in jail.  On balance it may seem unfair, but when you consider the treatment women receive in Iran, a year in prison is Club-Med.   They did not stone her for her “crimes,” so perhaps they DID appreciate her efforts on the Persian-Syrian front.

Welcome home, Sarah.  From now on, I suggest you remain on the beaten path.