Because our president is a wimp . . .

kidnapped Americans will be held hostage by terrorist governments until they pay $500,000 ransom.

There's no other way to interpret this chain of events.

The American woman released by Iran on Tuesday after more than a year in prison said she was grateful to Iran's president for her freedom shortly before she boarded a flight to the Gulf sultanate of Oman where her mother greeted her with a warm embrace.

Iran freed Sarah Shourd, 32, after arrangements were made to satisfy Iran's demand for a $500,000 bail.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100914/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_us_hikers