The president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has “pardoned” and will be releasing the 15 British sailors and marines. “They are free after this meeting, and can go back to their families,” he said.
The soldiers are not expected to fly home until Thursday, and one can only hope it all goes as planned. Even with the disagreement as to where the soldiers were captured still unresolved, it will be good to have them heading home.
Posted by Ross Stewart
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63 Comments
Iran is not the problem. There are only two “terrorists;” The Zionists controlling Israel and George W. Bush and his gang of murdering thugs.
The US military and the Iraqi citizens are the victims.
Spin that as you may…
Ed just keep spinning. If you get dizzy set down.
Wow! That must really PISS the cons off!! Something solved diplomatically and without bloodshed!
Very true Kev. Must be a great disappointment to the America-hating neo-con BushBots. They have been itching for an excuse for more war; their beloved leader wants another chance to wear the jumpsuit and play warrior.
HT,
Indeed. George was so looking forward to sporting the codpiece yet again.
This is how grownups solve problems: diplomacy. Been a while since we’ve seen that.
The British Hostage situation wasn’t our affair. It was handled by the British perhaps?
Again, the conspiracy driven Libs think that the Right must be plotting and planning something.
Such maroons.
“The British Hostage situation wasn’t our affair.” Yea, but a lot of BushBots were sure trying to encourage escalation and war. Same guys calling for the US or Israel to start a war there. Same guys who told us how easy Iraq would be. Liars all.
If it’d had been us, there wouldn’t have been any hostages.
We would have blown to pieces an Iranian warship from 175 miles out.
Don’t do as we do . . . do as we say.
Or something.
Oh, s***!
Check this out:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/abc_news_exclus.html
ABC News Exclusive: The Secret War Against IranApril 03, 2007 5:25 PM
A Pakistani tribal militant group responsible for a series of deadly guerrilla raids inside Iran has been secretly encouraged and advised by American officials since 2005, U.S. and Pakistani intelligence sources tell ABC News.
The group, called Jundullah, is made up of members of the Baluchi tribe and operates out of the Baluchistan province in Pakistan, just across the border from Iran.
It has taken responsibility for the deaths and kidnappings of more than a dozen Iranian soldiers and officials.
U.S. officials say the U.S. relationship with Jundullah is arranged so that the U.S. provides no funding to the group, which would require an official presidential order or “finding” as well as congressional oversight.
Tribal sources tell ABC News that money for Jundullah is funneled to its youthful leader, Abd el Malik Regi, through Iranian exiles who have connections with European and Gulf states.
Jundullah has produced its own videos showing Iranian soldiers and border guards it says it has captured and brought back to Pakistan.
The leader, Regi, claims to have personally executed some of the Iranians.
******
We’re hiring TERRORISTS to form death squads in Iran.
Now what would we do to a country that did that to us?
Oops, I keep forgetting. They hate us for our “freedoms.”
Republican,To be sure Bush (Cheney) is jumping at the bit to start something in Iran. It’s been know since we went to Iraq. If the mission had really been accomplished we would be there now!So when war does break out in Iran who will be the maroon then?
Secretly advised are the key words CapnAmerica.
Where have you been all these years?
The CIA has been doing this kind of stuff since there was a CIA.
Hey diplomacy works, how about that. Too bad Bush got busted for financing terrorists who kill Iranians. Kinda makes it hard to justify a war on terror when the Bush administration openly finances members of the Taliban.
Doug,
What part of this statement in Capn’s post did you not understand?
“U.S. provides no funding to the group”
Yea, Reagan never sold arms to Iran either.
Obviously it had nothing to do with Eisenhower, Stennis, or Nimitz.
Then too, the U.S. had secret CIA advisors in a little post-colonial land that led to failure of the clients to beat their adversary, so the U.S. ultimately had to send American soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen to win the war, and now we have a nice black wall in the Washington Mall with 50,000 names on it to commemorate our victory.
We also have several hundred thousand middle-aged men who several times a year, 40 years after returning home, wake up in terror believing mortar shells are exploding around them.
That war had a draft, but still disproportionately used poor and working class kids, because middle-class and affluent ones got college and grad school deferments. The deferees included people like Dick Cheney, fer instance.
The British sailors and marines are back home.
We’re going to have to get used to the fact that there are more than 1 billion Muslims, and find a way to have a peaceful coexistence. Fifty years ago, every American knew that communism threatened to destroy our nation. The Soviet Union possessed a nuclear arsenal that was capable of destroying not just our nation, but civilization, and whether or not our State Department experts doubted that the Soviets were potentially reckless enough to trigger Mutual Assured Destruction, the American people were propagandized to fear that the Soviets were so inclined.
Today the experts believe that terrorism cannot be extirpated, but at the same time, it will incur only limited damage in terms of loss of human life and property destruction. According to a recent Atlantic Monthly article by a Middle East expert, Muslim culture relies on a mutual obligation and interdependence ethos. People do things for others, and expect favors to be returned. One of the main impacts of our invasion in Iraq was a severe disruption in Iraqis’ ability to maintain these interpersonal relationships. Iraqis want us to leave so that they can restore them.
Writers here who say that Americans who oppose an indefinite occupation are “traitors” need a reality check: the Dems won majority seats in both houses of Congress last November precisely because a majority of Americans want our young men and women to come home. Sooner rather than later.
Are only the 35% of Americans who approve of the Bush-Cheney administration’s actions and the neo-con agenda “true red-blooded patriotic Americans”? Is it reasonable to conclude that a two-thirds majority of Americans are “traitors”?
What about the 90% of Brits who now think the invasion was a mistake (and have forced Tony Blair’s resignation), who want their sons and daughters to come home? Or the vast majorities of continental Europeans, Asians, Latin Americans, Australians and Canadians who don’t think America should be militarily occupying the Middle East. The earth is their planet too. What America does has consequences for them, for good or ill, and they are rightly concerned.
The beautiful thing is that the Brits showed how diplomacy can handle potentially hot issues.
The sad thing is that we have people in our State Department who are just as good at diplomacy as the Brits, or anybody else in the world, but we also have Darth Cheney, KKKarl Rove and, of course, the peanut, putting macho stupidity ahead of adult behavior.
Yeah Republican, this is the same administration who denied the existence of secret prisons, denied torturing civilians, denied using chemical weapons on civilians, claimed they knew where WMD were in Iraq, etc. The same people who were involved with Iran-Contra are working with the Bush regime.
Why would the CIA even be doing business with a terrorist group if we are supposed to be conducting a war on terror? Anyway, the ABC report noted that money isn’t given directly, it’s funneled through other sources. So regardless of how you want to whitewash the facts, your hero Bush finances terrorism. So the best thing we can do in fighting terrorism is to impeach Bush and imprison him for treason (which won’t be the first charge of treason against his administration).
“So the best thing we can do in fighting terrorism is to impeach Bush and imprison him for treason (which won’t be the first charge of treason against his administration).”
Please, do it. I’ve been asking you people to quit talkin’ and start chalkin’. Don’t give me the story about there is not enough time. Libs = all talk, no action.
Impeachment at this point would be a waste of time. There are too many Republicans in the Senate who will not break with Bush to convict. All it would be (at this point) would be a partisan show almost as bad as the Republican partisanship.
Instead, the best course of action is to refuse to rubber-stamp Bush’s legislation. That the Democrats in Congress CAN and SHOULD do.
They also should make it clear the initiatives such as minimum wage HAVE been passed by the House and that it is the GOP in the Senate and the White House who are blocking it.
Cons = 100% obstructionist 100% of the time
Diplomacy?Thats what did it?Really, you mean it has nothing to do with that Iran got EXACTLY what they wanted.My only guess is that the English have never had or got rid of any type of Code of Conduct for their military. The actions of the British Sailors and Marines was atrocious and sickening. Some or all should be held in prison and tried for treason by a military court and face execution is found guility.
Article II am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense.
Article III will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist.
Article IIIIf I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy.
Article IVIf I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way.
Article VWhen questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.Article VII will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.
Impeachment can come after investigation. The problem is that the Bush regime has committed so many crimes, and new ones keep on popping up, that the Congress is overwhelmed. They had to waste time finishing up what the lazy Republican congress failed to do.
How many millions died because of Chamberlain’s “diplomacy.”
Diplomacy must mean that you cowtow to your enemy and give in to blackmail and capitulation.
How many millions could have been saved had Europe not appeased Hiltler? Had he been stopped in 38 or 39?
“Impeachment at this point would be a waste of time. There are too many Republicans in the Senate who will not break with Bush to convict.”
It is not a matter of “counting votes”, it’s a matter of doing what you think is right. Stop sticking your finger into the wind. If Bush has done what you people say he has done (lied, people died, blah blah), IMPEACH. Stop making excuses.
“The problem is that the Bush regime has committed so many crimes, and new ones keep on popping up, that the Congress is overwhelmed.”
So, now you won’t impeach because he has done SO MANY impeachable offenses you don’t where to start?I know you can do better than that.
“How many millions could have been saved had Europe not appeased Hiltler? Had he been stopped in 38 or 39?”
If only we could have had a conversation with him. It would have been peaches and cream.
How many millions could have been saved had Europe not appeased Hiltler? Had he been stopped in 38 or 39?
How many can be saved if we stop Bush?
But Mr. Huie, the Democrats promised the American people they would do these things. Can they not deliver on their promises? Does that mean they are liars? :)
Doug,
Let’s see some proof of your allegations. Well, never mind…you can’t even get a quote right when you see it on the same page and it is provided for you by a fellow Democrat!
Come on Doug, let’s hear your proof.
Yeah, Chamberlain did that. Talked to Hitler and came back with a peace treaty.
HOW’D THAT WORK OUT?
Can’t wait for Nancy to bring back a peace treaty.
Remember we don’t even think about OBL anymore and that we did not go into Iraq to fight the war terror we there to liberate the Iraqi’s. Huh Rebup.
Republican, you have to be absolutely hopeless if you think the Bush regime never claimed that Iraq had WMD. Rumsfeld said he knew exactly where they are. These other stories have been covered in the media (unless you watch that news parody called Fox News).
Secret CIA prisonshttp://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/International/2007/04/04/3914531-sun.html
Chemical weapons used on civilianshttp://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10901.htm
Torture of civilianshttp://www.cbc.ca/news/background/arar/
As for you Fleety, you know an investigation always precedes an impeachment. That’s why the Republicans searched forever to find some crime to pin on Clinton. Firing travel agents? Old land deals where Clinton lost money? Sheesh, I dream of those sorts of scandals now.
“As for you Fleety, you know an investigation always precedes an impeachment.”
Then bring it and stop making excuses.
Um Fleety, there are already investigations going on. Turn off Fox Noise and tune into some real news for a change.
How come you Republicans aren’t upset that Bush is financing terrorists?http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=67&ItemID=12410
Would anyone else consider the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia aSale weapons to terrorist.
Doug, Doug, Doug…
WMD’s? Watch this video about WMD’s in Iraq. http://republikan.typepad.com/republikansan/2007/04/democratic_part.html
Secret Prisons Doug? Guess who runs these Secret Prisons.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4440664.stmbbc news
You neglected to mention Doug that these secrets prisons were part of the Ethiopian system. Agents just went there to look for Al Queada. The Prisoners were captured, detained and transfered by Ethiopians to other Ethiopians, not Americans.
The prisoners were never in American custody, said an FBI spokesman, Richard Kolko, who denied the agency would support or be party to illegal arrests. He said U.S. agents were allowed limited access by governments in the Horn of Africa to question prisoners as part of the FBI’s counter-terrorism work.http://www.sierratimes.com/07/04/04/CIA.htmhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17935971/
Mr. Arar? You mean the guy who the Canadians who was outted by Canadians and those Canadians later admitted they were at fault?
“Canadian officials apparently told US officials Arar was no longer a resident of Canada. United States claimed that the RCMP had provided them with a list of suspicious persons that included Mr. Arar. So Doug, this advice was given by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to the U.S. The U.S. acted appropriately upon receiving the information that had the data on Mr. Arar.
Later on the Commissioner for the RCMP said this, “Mr. Arar, I wish to take this opportunity to express publicly to you and to your wife and to your children how truly sorry I am for whatever part the actions of the RCMP may have contributed to the terrible injustices that you experienced and the pain that you and your family endured.”
This is the fault of the RCMP not the U.S. and the RCMP acknowledged it was their fault.
Mr. Arar received 10.5 million dollars from Canada, because Canada screwed up, not the United States.
Next!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/world/middleeast/05weapons.html?ei=5065&en=9cdce962bc943746&ex=1176436800&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print
The second link discusses White Phosphorous, which is allowed as a conventional weapon against enemy combatants.
Doug,You really don’t understand! Their terrorists are the evil enemies of our christian Eden; our terrorists are freedom fighters! They hate us for our freedom; we hate them for their turbans. We are on a crusade for our holy faith against Satan’s infidels; they are on a crusade for their holy faith against Satan’s infidels. You need to get your doubletalk straight!
Republican, if, as you claim, all Iraqis are “enemy combatants” (whatever that means) then why are we there liberating these enemies? The weapon was used against civilians. ‘nuf said.
The CIA sends people to these foreign prisons so they can be tortured. Duh. Apparently you are new to the story. The Canadian civilian that was sent there wasn’t sent to be tortured by the Canadians, he was sent there to be tortured by American allies on behalf of America.
Really, do you Republicans work this hard to be clueless? And where are those WMD, other than the ones we are using on civilians? Quoting a bunch of Democrats who were provided false intelligence by the Bush regime doesn’t help your case. This is the same Bush administration who lied to Congress telling them that Saddam went to Africa to get nuclear weapons materials.
Seriously, turn off the Fox Noise channel and get informed. But what should I expect from people who openly endorse a President who supports a terrorist group that tries to provoke another war.
More info on more secret prisons which comes to a complete shock to the willfully ignorant Republicans.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101644.html
It must be easy to support Bush when you know so little. But they’re just fighting a religious war and Bush is their prophet.
Republicans really have no credibility to talk about anything anymore. They are here sitting on their lazy ass beating their chest about how brave they are but aren’t serving in the war they love. So why is it Republicans that you cower behind your computers? If you are too old or fat to serve you can still drive trucks for Halliburton (just don’t drink the water they provide our soldiers, it’s filthy).
So Republicans? Why are all of you such cowardly chicken shits? Go enlist now and put your money where your mouth is.
Wow Doug, step away from the drugs.
First, not once source I gave you from Fox News.
Where did I say all Iraqis are enemy combatants? Making things up again Doug?
Again Doug, the Canadian was deported by the U.S. back to his home country upon the advice received from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police. The CRMP explained later they were at fault and paid out $10 million dollars.
The Secretary of State Madeline Albright, Clinton and others were under the Bush Administration?
Come on Doug, I know your clueless, but gee whiz.
Please people ignore Doug, he can’t even read a sentence without attaching a conspiracy to it.
The people who died in Fallujah because of the chemical weapons were civilians. Perhaps you should actually get informed about something before commenting on it.
The Canadian civilian was coming home from overseas and got arrested in the U.S. The Canadian government has no jurisdiction in America. The Canadian government pleaded for him to be returned but was denied. They played no role in his detention or being sent to Syria to be tortured. So your claim that they were involved in the torture is an absolute lie. It wasn’t the Canadians who sent him off to a secret prison to be tortured. What drugs are you inhaling to get this sort of nonsense?http://www.ararcommission.ca/eng/AR_English.pdf
Try to keep in mind Clinton is not the President. Clinton did not invade Iraq. Do you realize what year it is and who is President? The war in Iraq is not Clinton’s fault and that’s absolutely pathetic that you have to resort to the old “blame Clinton” mantra. It shows you have nothing to argue with.
So not only are Republicans cowards they are quite ignorant too. Is this Paul I’m talking to? You all seem to share the same brain cell and talking points.
Doug,
Clinton and Albright gave those speeches on WMD when they were in office. Nice try, but no cigar, pun intended. :)
Pretty good revisionist history on the Canadian affair. The Canadians acknowledged what they did, the head of the RCMP retired in disgrace and a payment was made. How you gonna spin that Doug?
Regarding the civilians and white phosphorous:”San Diego journalist Darrin Mortenson, who was embedded with US marines during the assault on Falluja, told the BBC’s Today radio programme he had seen white phosphorous used “as an incendiary weapon” against insurgents.
However, he “never saw anybody intentionally use any weapon against civilians”, he said. ”
Want to spin that some more Doug?
Just admit you are wrong on all accounts and work privately as a spin Doctor and Apologist for the Terrorist Loving Liberal Left.
I already provided the report for you numbnuts, and it doesn’t say what you claim. Clinton didn’t invade Iraq, try understanding 21st century history.
The problem with chemical weapons is they don’t distinguish between a civilian and an insurgent. I can’t believe this needs to be explained to you. You can see the video for yourself.http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=380706614981602978Funny how they first claimed it was for illumination. Why the lies?http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4442988.stmBut it doesn’t look like any facts would sway you since you are so entrenched in believing lies to justify your holy war.
Yup, absolutely right, Doug.
The Clintonistas TALKED a big game against Iraq, but they weren’t going to INVADE and OCCUPY the place.
I believe that North Korea not only has an active nuclear weapons program but probably has some crude nuclear bombs constructed.
Is Kim Jong-Il better than Saddam?
There are ways to deal with tin-pot tyrants besides invasion and occupation.
The right-wing think it’s all or nothing.
Oh, and speaking of major contradictions, check out Colon Bowels saying in a press conference a month after taking office (February 2001) that Saddam was no threat because he was “in a box.”
Yes, Kim Jon Il, was only making a nuclear weapon that could take out a 40 square block of Seattle or Los Angeles.
Not much to worry about.
Perhaps the Republicans are upset because when Clinton went to war to restore democracy to the former Yugoslavia it was quick, victorious, and no American casualties. How many Americans are dying there now? None. And they were an industrialized first rate European country.
Bush invaded a country that was occupied, had no air force, navy, weakened infrastructure and barely an army. Iraq was under a long embargo and had already been invaded. And yet, Bush still manages to keep us in Iraq longer than America was involved in the second world war where we worked to defeat two superpowers.
Should I care what the Republican cowards on this thread think? No. They are cowards, liars and don’t have the facts on their side. They are just sadists who don’t care how many Iraqis and Americans die, as long as they can maintain their erections.
Doug,
Tell us how you really feel :)
Don’t worry Republican, we are safe due to the multi-million dollar missile program that works provided we know when the enemy is launching their missiles, they have a tracking system and it doesn’t rain. Another great program brought to you by the Bush regime.
Funny we didn’t have these problems before Bush ended the diplomatic program the Clinton administration started. Funny how talking to other countries works. However you hate America so what do you care?
Tom, as long as my friends are serving in the military I won’t give the pro-war, cowardly Republicans any quarter.
Doug,
I don’t blame you. Several of our daughter’s friends have signed up and are deployed, and we worry about them often. One of them called here last week to say hi to my partner and I, and we could hear the strain in his voice.
Those kids need to come home. But I heard on the news tonight that there are new, involuntary National Guard deployments being ordered.
:(
Ah yes Doug, the Italian Newspaper whose Editors belong to the Italian Communist Party. Real objective there…not.
And former musician turned journalist Paul Mason. Now there is a real authority on military. Perhaps the Pentagon might want to retain Paul Mason as a political adviser.
And tell me again how I hate America Doug?
Please explain that to me.
I’m not the one using communist sources from Italy and Terrorist News organizations that supplied the data to Paul Mason, it is you Doug – spreading the lies of terrorist. You are supporting the enemy of America.
Why do you hate America Doug?
I’m defending it and all you’re doing is tearing it down with socialistic journalism and out right lies.
Yup, Tom.
Makes one wonder how long our friend Nathan will get to enjoy his homecoming before he too gets another go round in the sandbox.
Don’t worry, Nathan, we’re doing our level best to keep you here guarding OUR shores, not Halliburton’s foreign branch . . .
Republican–
You’re not defending America. You’re defending Worst. President. Ever.
Big difference.
So Republican, you can’t deal with the facts so you engage in ad hominem “They are all commies!” so therefore they are wrong. Yet they have the video, the interview and so much more. I guess everyone is a commie. Absolutely pathetic. You are a coward, a liar and you’ll piss you pants if you ever had to be drafted and be the hero you wish you were. Go crawl in a dark corner and wet your diapers you loser.
U.S. protects Iranian opposition group in IraqPOSTED: 11:43 p.m. EDT, April 5, 2007State Department considers Mujahedeen-e-Khalq a terrorist group• Group’s camp in Iraq protected by coalition forces• Mujahedeen-e-Khalq provides valuable intelligence on Iran• Iraqi government demands group leave Iraqi soil
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/04/05/protected.terrorists/index.html
Hey if they want to make their own decisions maybe we should put in a new Iraqi government
“You are a coward, a liar and you’ll piss you pants if you ever had to be drafted and be the hero you wish you were. Go crawl in a dark corner and wet your diapers you loser.”Posted by: Doug | April 05, 2007 at 11:04 PM
Ah the personal attacks are back from CapnAmerica and Doug.
I knew it wouldn’t last. :)
I relay the message that the Editors of an Italian Newspapers belong to an Italian Communist Party and Doug takes that personally.
Strange don’t you think? :)
It’s not an insult when it’s the truth. You aren’t in Iraq serving in the war you support. Why not? It’s because you are a coward. Isn’t that simple enough for your pea brain to understand?
It that American soldier they interviewed a Communist? Why do you hate our troops by calling them Communists? Why aren’t you there with them you coward?
Your words mean nothing.
There are several carrier groups within striking distance of Iran.
Without the threat of force, diplomacy means NOTHING!
Personally, I would call the capture, abuse, and release of the 15 British military personnel a total propaganda victory for the Iranians, over the British. The USofA didn’t come out looking so good, either. Watch for Iran to use the valuable information gained in further attacks on the Britsh – and maybe on U.S. troops.Appeasement never works.