Argo-inspired bill aims to compensate Iranian hostages

[Don]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21978344

When the 52 Americans held hostage inside the US embassy in Tehran were released in 1981, they agreed to not sue Iran for damages in a US court.

But the survivors of the ordeal have taken a new tack to receive compensation for what they went through - and the latest effort has been spurred on by the Oscar-winning film Argo.

Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia has put forward a bill that would create a surcharge on the fines levied against US companies doing business with Iran against embargo. It aims to compensate each former hostage $10,000 (£6,600) per day - more than $4m per person.

[StevePerryHair]

After seeing the movie, one thing that bothered me a lot, was that the embassy wasn't emptied much sooner. The revolution didn't start that day. From what I know, it went on for months. I can't understand why they left them there so long, when they knew the US backing the shah would be a problem. Where was their intelligence? I think the US owes them compensation. Too bad it's too little too late though, since they are mostly elderly or dead now.

[No Surprize]

Argo was a very good movie & intense in some scenes. Best picture worthy? No. As far as compensation, I'm sure back then people weren't aware

that you could be compensated. Now, you are sued at the drop of a dime. And I'm pretty damn sure that those people who were caught up in the

Iranian conflict were just happy to escape with their heads still attached.