Wednesday, February 07, 2007
The Iranian hostage crisis
Iran on Tuesday accused the U.S. of responsibility for the abduction of an Iranian diplomat snatched from a Baghdad street on Sunday by men wearing Iraqi army uniforms.
The incident, which Iran called a "terrorist act," was the latest escalation in a brewing Cold War between the U.S. and Iran that is increasingly being played out in Iraq, where President Bush has pledged to hunt down Iranian agents suspected of arming Shiite insurgents to attack U.S. forces.
Rather than denying it, I say that we promise to give him back in 444 days. Before that, it will be out of our hands.
Jules Crittenden has written a somewhat more serious analysis.
6 Comments:
By 
, at
Wed Feb 07, 09:27:00 AM:
Together with the mysterious death of Iran's top nuclear scientist, could this mean that we actually have a plan to do something to thwart our enemies? Color me dubious, but staying tuned.....
By 
Tom Gara, at
Wed Feb 07, 10:42:00 AM:
Basically you are cool with the US government acting like Iranian revolutionaries. Awesome.
By , at
Wed Feb 07, 11:46:00 AM:
From the government of Iran news agency:
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-203/0609098378181726.htm
Envoy protests against attack on embassy building in Pretoria
Pretoria, Sept 9, IRNA
Pretoria-Iran-Protest
Iran's ambassador to South Africa expressed deep sorrow over attack on the embassy building in Pretoria and stressed that the South African government was responsible for safety of foreign diplomats in that country.
Mohammad-Ali Qanezadeh speaking to IRNA on Saturday said according to Vienna Convention all governments have the duty of protection of all foreign diplomats in their territory.
He added the Vienna Convention also stresses on compensation for the damage to the political representatives and foreign diplomats by the host country.
Qanezadeh denied any kind of political motives of the robbers for the last night event.
Referring to the primary report of the police and existing witnesses, the Iranian ambassador said the attackers entered into the embassy compound with the intention of stealing embassy 's cash.
The ambassador said Iran's embassy submitted an official letter of protest to the South African foreign ministry and has requested for an investigation so that the perpetrators of the crime could be detected and go under legal prosecution.
A group of 8 armed men on Friday evening entered into Iran's embassy building in Pretoria, capital of South Africa.
The armed robbers kept the only diplomat present in the building for 1.5 hours.
The armed group took all the money in the embassy's safe and left the diplomat with tied hands and feet.
The Iranian diplomat was later found and rescued. Police has started its investigation of the case.
__________
Such lawlessness. Horrible! I'm glad they are demanding compensation for this outrage.
By skipsailing, at
Wed Feb 07, 02:43:00 PM:
Yet another skirmish in the war of words.
this link takes you to a farsnewsagency release:
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8511170496
It's interesting because the article blames both the Iraqi government and the US military.
but its toothless as well, IMHO. What are the Iranians going to do? End diplomatic ties with Iraq? If they go that route they give up any semblance of "cover" their agents might claim.
So they will bluster and whine and make bombastic statements but there doesn't appear to be much they can do.
if the guy is being held by US, good. If the guy is being held by some other group, good. The bottom line is that we warned Iran and they, better than most, should understand the climate in Iraq.
so let these jerks "condemn" for 444 days. Sauce for the goose.
By Dawnfire82, at
Wed Feb 07, 08:50:00 PM:
"Rather than denying it, I say that we promise to give him back in 444 days."
Hah. We said exactly the same thing in class yesterday when we read this on the news. Then, or upon the inauguration of the next President. You know. Whichever.
"Basically you are cool with the US government acting like Iranian revolutionaries. Awesome."
Your naivete is astounding.
By , at
Thu Feb 08, 11:40:00 PM:
All those who were held hostage should be allowed to sue the goverment of IRAN for all those days when they were being threatened with death
