As expected the Iranians have released Roxana Saberi, the journalist with dual American/Iranian citizenship. She was arrested in january and charged with trying to buy a bottle of wine. The charges were later increased to include those of spying. Her first trial lasted barely an hour and she was sentenced to eight years in prison. The President, Mr. Ahmadinajad wrote a letter to the judge of the appeals court asking for leniency which passed a two year suspended sentence thus setting her free to get back to the US. This case shows the Iranians in a very poor light. First, they charge her with one offence and then later make it much more serious thus giving the impression that the charges were trumped up. That is not to say that Ms Saberi could not be a latter day Matahari but the manner of how the entire case was conducted makes it seem that Iranian judges are a bunch of clowns. Second, the fact that she is released after a letter from the President shows that the judges carry out orders of higher authorities. Third, this is clearly a victory for Obama and Hilary Clinton who had gone on the offensive and demanded her release showing that Iran, for all its huffing and puffing, is scared of the US after all. This is a clear strategic and moral victory for the US who have demonstrated that their citizens are untouchable no matter what crimes they commit. A year or so from now we may expect Ms Saberi to write a book describing her time in jail and painting Iranian government in the worst possible light. No doubt the book will be banned in Iran and some copies may be burnt in public demonstrations bringing further ridicule for the lack of free speech. Fanatics are stupid.