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U.S. Frees Friends of Iran's Military
(Wall Street Journal) David Locke Hall - In exchange for four Americans held by Iran, the U.S. freed seven Iranian men charged with smuggling goods and technology, including those with military applications, to Iran. One was convicted of hacking an American defense contractor to steal software. A second man was convicted of conspiring to enable Iran to launch its first satellite in 2005. Another was convicted of conspiring to buy and export marine navigation components and military electronic components. Three were awaiting trial for supplying Iran with microelectronics used in surface-to-air and cruise missiles. The seventh was convicted of smuggling advanced industrial components to Iran. These men's crimes posed a direct threat to U.S. national security. Most troubling is the equating of law-abiding Americans - guilty of reporting for a newspaper, advocating better Iranian-American relations, and preaching the Christian faith - with Iranians arrested for sending technology to a country preparing for war with the U.S. The writer served as an assistant U.S. attorney for 23 years, investigating and prosecuting unlawful arms procurement by Iran.