Iran Demands Release Of Embassy Staff Detained In Iraq

[Flabbergasted]

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7006110035


January 11, 2007 2:12 p.m. EST


Linda Young - All Headline News Staff Writer
Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - Five Iranians were detained by a multinational force after an overnight raid on Tehran's diplomatic mission, Iraqi officials said Thursday. At about 3 am local time, troops entered the building in the Kurdish-controlled northern city of Irbil located some 220 miles from Baghdad.

According to a senior Kurdish official speaking on the condition of anonymity, troops confiscated computers and documents and detained five staff members.

Under dispute was whether a raid had taken place or not. CNN news reported Thursday that an American official disagreed with official reports from Iran that claimed the troops broke a gate open and conducted a raid of the consulate.

"No shots were fired. No altercation ensued," the U.S. official told CNN. "It was a knock on the door and 'Please come out.' "

The Iranian embassy in Baghdad sent a letter of protest to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry for what it called an "illegal move" on Thursday as reported on the Web site of the Islamic Republic News Agency, Tehran's official media.

The embassy has also called on the Iraqi government to help win the immediate release of its five detained staff members, IRNA reported.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Oh, the irony.

[Jacobin]

7. Yeah. There is that

Oh man, this is not going to be good, with Bush being all 'justified' and snarky. He's pushing them hard. he wants a war with Iran in the worst way

[3waygeek]

21. And that's exactly how it'll be fought...

in the worst way.

[Poll_Blind]

2. 'Please come out', backed up by tanks helicopters and soldiers. n/t

PB

[rodeodance]

6. short story. It does not say IF they came out with the Please.

[leftchick]

3. they are detained by the USA no fucking MNF

give me a break. :puke:

[htuttle]

4. "Iran Held Hostage: Day 1"

[superconnected]

8. hahhahha

:rofl:

[Jacobin]

9. Maybe it'll bring back what's his name

the guy whose nightly news show started then and only ended a couple of months back...damn, having a senior moment and can't remember his name

[clmbohdem]

11. Ted Kopel?

[Jacobin]

13. Thanks!!

Me: :dunce:

[Richard Steele]

10. Your memory is as sharp as your wit!

So, how do I go about buying stock in the "Middle Eastern
Yellow-Ribbon-Manufacturing" sector?

[Catch22Dem]

36. 443 to go? (n/t)

[Phrogman]

54. Normally, that would be very funny...

Its deadly serious stuff happening now.

Here comes another WW

[Monkeyman]

5. Can you say start of the attack on Iran

[peacebird]

12. I am afraid you may be right - seems like we have fired the first salvo in an attempt

to goad Iran into retaliation....

The Kurdish region of Iraq is pretty peaceful, no? And the Kurds have no real beef with our soldiers (well - until now)

hmmm... maybe this is georgies great "unification plan" for Iran. Tick off the Kurds enough that they join forces with the Sunni and the Shia to kick us out of their country? The enemy of my enemy is my friend?

:eyes:

[Martin Eden]

14. They'll be well treated in Gitmo

Let's hope * enjoys similar treatment in The Hague.

[theoldman]

15. If it were our Embassy we would be screaming bloody murder.

[halobeam]

16. you are not kidding

[Flabbergasted]

17. God, can you imagine that.....! n/t

[section321]

18. It was our embassy 27 years ago.

Which only justifies this more in *'s mind.

Most people don't view news events in context, and therefore I think many people my age and older will have no problem accepting this as "serves em right" because they remember seeing our embassy held hostage for over a year.

I'm viewing these events in the context of intentional provocation against Iran in the hopes of escalating the GWOT into a broader war and even I'm having a hard time giving a crap whether it pisses off the Iranians or not.

[Penndems]

19. Agree, up to a point

When the Iran college students overran our Embassy back on November 4, 1979, the entire world was outraged. The Iranians were clearly the aggressors, violating Article 22 of the 1961 Vienna Conventions. Fifty-two people were held hostage for 444 days. We were the victims of a student-led, government-backed, coup d'etat.

Flash forward to January 11, 2007. This time, we - the American people -are the aggressors. We're doing exactly what those Iranian college students did to us, without provocation, back in November 1979. Now, we're the aggressors in violation of Article 22.

Two wrongs do not make a right here. There was a right way and a wrong way to handle this situation with the Iranian Consulate staff. We chose the wrong way, and now we look every bit as bad as the Iranian students.

[Solon]

23. We aren't doing the same thing those students did in 1979...

Those students were securing the new government of Iran from a coup by the U.S. Government, like what happened in 1953. The Iranians have a long memory, and during the revolution, they remembered that the coup against Mossedegh was staged from the U.S. Embassy.

This more recent action that the U.S. government is doing in Iraq is clearly a provocation, not justified in any way shape or form.

[Penndems]

25. I must respectfully disagree here

Please see my post #24. You don't beat the shit out of a man, break his ribs, refuse him medical treatment and hold him hostage for 444 days to prove a point and secure a new government. The Iranians have been one of the foremost backers of state-sponsored terrorism for over twenty-six years. They don't get an iota of sympathy from me. The American people have long memories, too. (And yes - the United States was an ardent backer of the Pahlavi regime back in '53.)

When we entered the Iranian Consulate, we became our enemy. Going to the United Nations with evidence that the Iranians were funneling war materiel to the insurgents would probably have secured the goodwill and support of the world community.

I think Al would concur with my assessment.

[Solon]

28. And if we were under a foriegn backed dictator who killed thousands with Nazi...

trained secret police, do you honestly think we wouldn't have done the same thing? That's what the Iranians faced in 1979 after all, and, to be honest, back then, I would have sympathized with them.

Given your attitude, I assume you feel the same way about Americans, we have been sponsoring terror for over 50 years.

[brentspeak]

30. Let me see if I understand you on this: you're saying you would have SYMPATHIZED with the Iranian

hostage takers? That's your story, that's what you're saying?

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:

[Solon]

31. Damned near everyone in Iran at the time knew or was related to someone who was...

"disappeared" or tortured by SAVAK. What would you have done to the embassy of the government that trained them?

[brentspeak]

32. I sure as heck wouldn't hold anybody hostage, that's for damn sure.

[Solon]

33. True, but they wanted their dictator back...

to be honest, they showed remarkable restraint given their anger at the time.

[Penndems]

34. While I vehemently disagree with some of the actions undertaken by my government and

done in my name (such as the Iraq War), I love America and Americans - PERIOD. This is my country. I gave twenty years and God only knows how many hours of overtime in service to it. As anyone who knows me will tell you, my patriotism need not be questioned.

If you sympathize with the Iranians who held fifty-two of our people hostage, then I guess we have to agree to disagree. Having intimate knowledge of what one of those hostages went through certainly gave me a fresh perspective of what it's like to be beaten, bound and held captive with the butt of a machine gun pointed at your head simply because you're a citizen of a government that supported your opponent.

[Solon]

35. I don't question your patriotism, I just don't share it...

I've asked, repeatedly what YOU would have done that was different than those Iranian students if you were put in their place.

[Penndems]

37. Well, for starters, I sure as hell wouldn't have taken fifty-two innocent people

hostage because they represented a government I disagreed with! I would've taken both my anger and my argument to the Iranian government. The struggle and the deposition of the sitting monarchy should come from within. Those students should've treated the U.S. Embassy employees they same way they treated every foreign embassy who also supported Pahlavi: Give them time to get the hell out of the country. The U.S. Embassy was the only embassy to be overrun. Why?

I distinctly remember Iranian college students on U.S. student visas matriculating at D.C.-area colleges marching down K Street denouncing this country. Believe me, the people standing on the sidelines jeering at them weren't feeling the same love for them that you do.

God knows, they certainly don't at the State Department.

[Solon]

38. You do realize the Shah of Iran was in the United States at the time?

The Iranians ALREADY overthrew the government, then demanded that we turn over the Shah for the hostages. Don't tell me you didn't know that.

[Penndems]

39. Yep, I am fully aware of that

He was in the United States undergoing medical treatment for cancer. I was at the State Department; remember it well. I also remember the Iranian college students marching down K Street shouting, "Death to America". Not exactly words to inspire a waterfall of sympathy from your host country - you know, the one that issued them visas, so that they could come here and study in the first place, nor do I recall them overrunning the Canadian, Ugandan, Uruguayan, Japanese or Indian Embassies, or any other country delegation (who also supported the monarchy), as they did ours.

If you asking me to show compassion for them, forget it - you're wasting your time. My admiration is reserved for those who were held against their will for 444 days, and for the Iranian-Americans who emigrated to this country, love it and have made substantial contributions.

They would love to go back and visit their home, but only after the next revolution, when Ahmadinejad is removed from power.

[Solon]

40. None of those nations overthrew their government and installed a dictatorship...

Sorry that the Iranians weren't grateful for us raping and killing their family members. :puke:

[Penndems]

41. The indigenous indians of Uruguay would disagree with you

They were occupied by, and fought against, the Spanish, the British and the Portuguese back in the 15th century. These nationalities were considered to be occupiers and dictatorships. The early Uruguayans might disagree with you.

Nice talking with you. Sounds as if you're an ardent supporter of the Ahmadinejad regime who has, no doubt, done his own share of throwing dissenters into prisons, beating, raping and torturing. If you are, then we have nothing more to discuss.

Have a nice evening.

[Solon]

42. And you sound like an ardent supporter of the Bush Regime...

See? False accusations are FUN!!!!!! :sarcasm:

[The Rock2111]

43. Some people don't know when to quit. Thank you Penndems

for telling it like it was. The war on terror did not begin on 9/11. Your comments were spoken with both fact,authority and are without dispute - great job!

[The Rock2111]

45. What was I thinking?

Even if true, good for them, they got the ayatollah and well now the current regime = political islam. Guess how long dissension (that is everything we hold dear, like freedom of expression including a liberal website bashing the current regime)in that country would be tolerated for those glorious students.

[Name removed]

51. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MGD]

20. I remember all too well. I have zero love for the Iranians because of that business and...

and I'll just leave it at that.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

22. Oh yeah?

How do you feel about Americans? I mean now that the tables have turned.

[MGD]

26. How do I feel about Americans "now that the tables have turned" ?

No different than I ever have. How do you feel about Americans?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

27. So you're saying you have zero love for Americans?

"How do you feel about Americans?"

Except for the Chickenhawks, I've got respect for most of them.

[MGD]

55. I'm pretty sure I wasn't saying that.

"Except for the Chickenhawks, I've got respect for most of them."
I agree. I too have no respect for those who haven't served and then pontificate on matters of a military nature.

[Penndems]

24. Believe me MGD, I share your sentiments

One of the hostages, Alan Golacinski, was my boss over twenty years ago. A great guy, and a wonderful supervisor.

Al was the first person the Iranian students encountered when they overran the Embassy. He had the misfortune of standing near the entrance, talking with another Embassy employee when he was grabbed. Before holding Al against his will for 444 days, his kidnappers beat the shit out of him, and threw him out the front door of the Embassy. Something like that one doesn't forget anytime soon.

[AliceWonderland]

44. Zero love for "the Iranians"? What "Iranians" would that be, exactly?

What's with the collective punishment? No love for all Iranians? That's some pretty indiscriminate love-lacking there. Are Iranian staff members taken from their workplace supposed to be deserving of punishment for an act committed a quarter-century ago?

[The Rock2111]

47. No. Iranian citizens should not be punished for the actions of their

government past or present. However, make no mistake, they are our enemy because they are deceived by a government controlled media, like North Korea, they know no difference.

[Solon]

52. You do realize, I hope, that most Iranians, especially younger ones...

are now Ameriphiles, in other words, they pretty much LOVE everything American. It seems odd, but consider it cultural rebellion against the theocratic government.

[Tom Joad]

48. Yeah, don't understand this collective hate thing.

[MGD]

56. Who said anything about hate?

I only said I have zero love for them. In my mind, on an emotional attachment spectrum, that means that I'm completely indifferent to the Iranians so far as military action is concerned. Furthermore, I "left it at that" for a reason; that being, I don't want to cheer for war but, at the same time, I'm just not going to be outraged should it come to that. Iran is just a rogue nation pursuing nuclear weapons as far as I'm concerned. What's more, they are clearly a U.S. enemy (which of course makes them a frend to anyone who hates the U.S.). Ahmedinijihad should have listened to the UN but he didn't. The UN security council handed him a very serious mandate and he (most assuredly with the full support of the Guardian Council and the Supreme Leader, Seyyed Ali Khamene'i) has flatly disregarded it. They, not us, now bear the brunt of the responibility for their fate.

[Tom Joad]

49. I don't love or hate Iranians any less or more than Americans, Israelis,

Canadians, or anyone else. Taught that we were all of equal value.

[Selah]

50. Thank God you live in a country where you enjoy those freedoms!

[Tom Joad]

53. How could anyone take that away from you? The US is taking away people's right to life,

and liberty. People are dying because of US policies.

[lovuian]

29. "It was a knock on the door and 'Please come out.'

:rofl:

I mean troops knock on your door with guns and say come out

that is not an attack on the Iranian Consulate

lets be big Boys and admit what your doing
Bush in less than 24 hours attacked the Iranian Consulate

Its pretty obvious Bush's agenda

[VegasWolf]

46. Bush never gives a shit about rules of law. Texas pig farmer, world-wide joke. nt