Iran backs down, sets Brits free
They try to make it sound as if they are being generous and calling it a "gift to the British". Trying to save face and avoid anihilation is more like it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263924,00.html
Ahmadinejad Says British Troops Will Be Freed
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
TEHRAN, Iran - Fifteen British sailors and marines seized by Iranian naval personnel have been pardoned and will be freed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference Wednesday, but he vowed his country would not tolerate invasions of its borders by any country.
"I announce that the great people of Iran and the Islamic Republic, even having legal rights to try these military people, in honor of the prophet's birthday, will be freed as a gift to the people of the United Kingdom," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to reporters, clerics and civil servants at a small hall in Tehran.
Soon after the press conference, Iranian TV showed images of Ahmadinejad shaking hands and chatting with the British troops in front of the presidential palace in Tehran.
Several of the British personnel, dressed in suits, were shown individually thanking the president for his forgiveness. An interpreter standing next to Ahmadinejad translated the English and Farsi.
In his speech, Ahmadinejad also said the British government had "sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry pledging that it (entering Iranian waters) will not happen again." There was no immediate confirmation about the letter from London.
Ahmadinejad asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair not to "punish" the crew for confessing that they had been in Iranian waters when they were seized by Iranian coast guard. Iran broadcast videotapes of some of the crew giving confessions, infuriating Britain.
In London, the British government welcomed the news.
A spokeswoman at Blair's office said: "We welcome what the president has said about the release of our 15 personnel. We are now establishing exactly what this means in terms of the method and timing of their release."
An Iranian diplomat in London, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, said that the servicemen would be handed over to British diplomats in Tehran.
"They will go through some brief formalities and then they will go to the embassy," the diplomat said. "They can go on a British Airways flight to Heathrow, they can go through the UAE, it is up to the British Embassy in Tehran in coordination with the Foreign Office here."
Aboard Air Force One, U.S. President George W. Bush's national security spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said Bush "welcomes the news."
The European Union, which said it stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with London in the standoff, also said it welcomed the news.
"We are very pleased. We hope they are all well and can go home as soon as possible," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Moments before making the announcement, Ahmadinejad interrupted his speech to pin a medal on the commander of the Coast Guards involved in capturing the British personnel in the northern Gulf on March 23. Two other Coast Guards came on to the podium and saluted during the ceremony.
"On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian coast guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters," he said. "We stand in the way of any invasion by any country."
The release of the 15 would bring to an end a standoff sparked when the crew was seized as it searched for smugglers near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, a waterway that has long been a disputed dividing line between Iraq and Iran. Britain denied Iranian claims the crew had entered Iranian warters.
The announcement came after Iran's state media reported that an Iranian envoy would be allowed to meet five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in northern Iraq. Another Iranian diplomat, separately seized two months ago by uniformed gunmen in Iraq, was released and returned Tuesday to Tehran.
Ahmadinejad said Iran was not seeking a "confrontation" when it intercepted the British, "but the deplorable conduct of the British government led to the prolonging of this incident."
He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.
"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he asked of the British government.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263924,00.html
Ahmadinejad Says British Troops Will Be Freed
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
TEHRAN, Iran - Fifteen British sailors and marines seized by Iranian naval personnel have been pardoned and will be freed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at a press conference Wednesday, but he vowed his country would not tolerate invasions of its borders by any country.
"I announce that the great people of Iran and the Islamic Republic, even having legal rights to try these military people, in honor of the prophet's birthday, will be freed as a gift to the people of the United Kingdom," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to reporters, clerics and civil servants at a small hall in Tehran.
Soon after the press conference, Iranian TV showed images of Ahmadinejad shaking hands and chatting with the British troops in front of the presidential palace in Tehran.
Several of the British personnel, dressed in suits, were shown individually thanking the president for his forgiveness. An interpreter standing next to Ahmadinejad translated the English and Farsi.
In his speech, Ahmadinejad also said the British government had "sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry pledging that it (entering Iranian waters) will not happen again." There was no immediate confirmation about the letter from London.
Ahmadinejad asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair not to "punish" the crew for confessing that they had been in Iranian waters when they were seized by Iranian coast guard. Iran broadcast videotapes of some of the crew giving confessions, infuriating Britain.
In London, the British government welcomed the news.
A spokeswoman at Blair's office said: "We welcome what the president has said about the release of our 15 personnel. We are now establishing exactly what this means in terms of the method and timing of their release."
An Iranian diplomat in London, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, said that the servicemen would be handed over to British diplomats in Tehran.
"They will go through some brief formalities and then they will go to the embassy," the diplomat said. "They can go on a British Airways flight to Heathrow, they can go through the UAE, it is up to the British Embassy in Tehran in coordination with the Foreign Office here."
Aboard Air Force One, U.S. President George W. Bush's national security spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said Bush "welcomes the news."
The European Union, which said it stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with London in the standoff, also said it welcomed the news.
"We are very pleased. We hope they are all well and can go home as soon as possible," said Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
Moments before making the announcement, Ahmadinejad interrupted his speech to pin a medal on the commander of the Coast Guards involved in capturing the British personnel in the northern Gulf on March 23. Two other Coast Guards came on to the podium and saluted during the ceremony.
"On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian coast guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters," he said. "We stand in the way of any invasion by any country."
The release of the 15 would bring to an end a standoff sparked when the crew was seized as it searched for smugglers near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, a waterway that has long been a disputed dividing line between Iraq and Iran. Britain denied Iranian claims the crew had entered Iranian warters.
The announcement came after Iran's state media reported that an Iranian envoy would be allowed to meet five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in northern Iraq. Another Iranian diplomat, separately seized two months ago by uniformed gunmen in Iraq, was released and returned Tuesday to Tehran.
Ahmadinejad said Iran was not seeking a "confrontation" when it intercepted the British, "but the deplorable conduct of the British government led to the prolonging of this incident."
He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.
"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he asked of the British government.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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I can see the headlines now: "Iran to free hostages - Thousands in America disappointed there will be no war." 0 -
Good! That should send oil prices back down to the 50s. 0 -
I won't believe it until the Brits are off the ground and out of Iran. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
I can see the headlines now: "Iran to free hostages - Thousands in America disappointed there will be no war."
WRONG.
The headline is:
Iran to free hostages -- Bush's fault there will be no war0 -
I just figure the whole thing was media hype on the part of Iran, with never any intention to do anything else. 0 -
No, the Iranians didn't back down, Bush did.
Iranian diplomat seized in Iraq two months ago was released yesterday:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/03/ap/world/main2641792.shtml
It's called "prisoner exchange." The Iranians release the Brit sailors and we're giving them back some of their guys that were captured in Iraq. The U.S. government is also letting an Iranian envoy "meet" with 5 other Iranians being held in U.S. custody, or is that just a coincidence? Our government cut a deal, they'll give back some Iranians and the Iranians will release the British sailors.0 -
quote:Originally posted by warriorsfan
No, the Iranians didn't back down, Bush did.
Iranian diplomat seized in Iraq two months ago was released yesterday:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/03/ap/world/main2641792.shtml
It's called "prisoner exchange." The Iranians release the Brit sailors and we're giving them back some of their guys that were captured in Iraq. The U.S. government is also letting an Iranian envoy "meet" with 5 other Iranians being held in U.S. custody, or is that just a coincidence? Our government cut a deal, they'll give back some Iranians and the Iranians will release the British sailors.
Like I said, Bush's fault. [:D]0 -
Arrrrgghh! Pull the nukes out of storage... Put the nukes back in storage... this is a waste of time and money,,,, lets drop one of thes freedom candles and give this planet that Rodney King philosophy you get after crap hits the fan...... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by warriorsfan
No, the Iranians didn't back down, Bush did.
Iranian diplomat seized in Iraq two months ago was released yesterday:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/03/ap/world/main2641792.shtml
It's called "prisoner exchange." The Iranians release the Brit sailors and we're giving them back some of their guys that were captured in Iraq. The U.S. government is also letting an Iranian envoy "meet" with 5 other Iranians being held in U.S. custody, or is that just a coincidence? Our government cut a deal, they'll give back some Iranians and the Iranians will release the British sailors.
Yep, It's been happening that way for hundreds of years.
Too bad Bush didn't decide to just nuke the whole middle east. Go ahead and pull the troops out... Then drop a few nukes!0 -
I don't understand why we were involved.
Doug0 -
quote:Originally posted by warriorsfan
No, the Iranians didn't back down, Bush did.
Iranian diplomat seized in Iraq two months ago was released yesterday:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/03/ap/world/main2641792.shtml
It's called "prisoner exchange." The Iranians release the Brit sailors and we're giving them back some of their guys that were captured in Iraq. The U.S. government is also letting an Iranian envoy "meet" with 5 other Iranians being held in U.S. custody, or is that just a coincidence? Our government cut a deal, they'll give back some Iranians and the Iranians will release the British sailors.
Hmmmm! I wonder why we didn't use the official protocal of sending his head back in a feed sack and his burnt mutilated body hanging from a bridge. Bush needs to learn the ways of these people and not offend them so. The man was in 2000 as he was in 2004 and remains in 2007 A total freaking idiot... and what really blows.... is he might still be the best choice for a leader in America today. Man thems' some sour apples right there let me tell you what....0 -
Doug,
quote:I don't understand why we were involved.
Because Bush has a penchant for caring more about foreigners than he does about American servicemen - Iran knows that and used it to their advantage.0 -
If I'd been corn holed and abandoned by my country I don't know if they'd want me back.
They might not like what I'd have to say about the endeavor.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
I don't understand why we were involved.
Doug
Because Tony Blair stepped in front of a political bus (figuratively speaking) when he went into Iraq with us.
There's nothing wrong with helping an old ally0 -
what prophet's birthday is he speaking of?
Ben0 -
Can't you just feel the disappointment from all of the rabid neo-con desk jockeys? Be patient, Bush will still find a way to expand the war. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by woodshermit
Can't you just feel the disappointment from all of the rabid neo-con desk jockeys? Be patient, Bush will still find a way to expand the war.
I hear they're already planning a peace protest march![:D]0 -
...ha ha ha...IF Bush had anything at all to do with it...the slimey diaper heads had a little more respect for him (Bush) than they did for 'ol peanut headed Carter, the whimp...[;)]
...amazing, that no matter the subject, the lefties always bring Bush into the conversation, I guess with only one working brain cell it is impossible to have more than one thing on your mind...[;)]
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WAAAAAAA ![:D] Come on Monkey ![:D] 0 -
...my comment was not directed towards monkey, I like monkey (though we dissagree)...he usually has facts he uses in his replies, and I don't consider him a far left bomb thrower...unlike others that let their emotions/mouths blather on, because their sore loosers...[;)] 0 -
Where do I sign up to be a neo-con ??
And do I get bombs 'n stuff for helping to convince others of the righteousness of The Global Neo-Con Conspiracy.
I'm ready.
Doug0 -
Colt,
Thank ye much.[8D][:)]0
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