Iran convicts American journalist of espionage

This is a sad day for Roxana Saberi and her family. Iran convicted the American reporter of spying on Iran for the United States and sentenced her to eight years. As one online reporter aptly stated, "Where is the outrage? Why aren’t Americans calling for immediate action by the Obama administration to free American journalist Roxana Saberi?"

And...I also ask...where is the outrage? But, then I think, will "outrage" help or hurt her? Will angry Americans only deepen Iran's resolve to imprison Roxana Saberi? Yet how can we remain silent, as one of our own journalists is wrongly convicted during a secret trial in Tehran?

This marks the first time Iran has found an American journalist guilty of spying.

Saberi's father told NPR that Iranian officials duped his daughter into making incriminating statements by promising to set her free.

President Obama is "deeply disappointed" by the news, according to a White House official. For the past 30 years, diplomatic relations between Iran and the United States have remained at a standstill (if not volatile). Most likely, the verdict will dampen the Obama Administration's efforts to open up communication with Iran and to improve relations.

But hope remains. Roxana's attorney plans to appeal. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she will continue to monitor the situation closely and hopes to get Roxana home soon.

"Posturing," my Iranian friend tells me. He believes the Iranian government is trying to make a point to the international community. All the talk, all the press, all the efforts to free Roxana have backfired and only fueled the Iranian government to convict her. In the meantime, some Iranians may want to sabotage efforts to heal relations with the United States. Is Roxana a pawn...leverage in negotiations with the U.S. government?

Please light a candle or say a prayer for Roxana Saberi tonight. And visit the website: FREE ROXANA!

There must be a way to bring her home peacefully.