Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, each Nation is sovereign, but across the airwaves of American television today we saw flashed three Americans who have been held by the leadership in Iran, three innocent Americans who crossed, by mistake, on a hike into the sovereign area of Iran. I make a plea today for the President of Iran to release those individuals. Today he sent a missive, a message to say that he would release them if we release Iranians who are held in American jails. I believe that the right thing to do is to assess the innocence of these Americans, and to be able to engage in diplomacy on setting them free. If there is any cause for any innocent person who happens to be of Iranian descent that is here in the United States jails, I know that our leadership and criminal justice system will engage. But to hold hostage our innocent Americans who, by accident, during a hike, conspicuously crossed over and admitted it was a mistake is a shame on the international front and does not do justice to human rights around the world. ____________________”