A group of Americans held hostage in Iran 25 years ago, held a reunion on Thursday and had advice on how to deal with the current crisis with Iran:
Joe Hall, an Army operations coordinator at the embassy, was interrogated and beaten. Hall, now 56, said a show of force by the U.S. early in the crisis could have prevented recent atrocities by sending a message of intolerance for terrorism.
“That part of the world was led to believe it could get away with murder, literally and figuratively,” Hall said. “Had there been adequate response initially, I don’t think we’d be in the situation we are today.”
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran over nuclear activities have mounted under its new president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran resumed uranium enrichment research this month, and the West fears the nuclear program will lead to nuclear weapons, though Iran insists it is only for civilian use.
“They got away with it,” said Richard Morefield, now 76, who was the embassy’s consul general. “And they continue to do it.”
All Things Beautiful has a huge roundup on the growing tensions with Iran today.
