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| Iran |
| White House: No talks with Iran on prisoner swap |
| 2003-08-01 |
| The White House on Thursday denied a report that talks are being held between the United States and Iran on a possible exchange of senior al Qaeda figures in Iran for U.S.-held members of an anti-Iran terror group. The United States has "communicated to Iran the importance of turning over senior members of al Qaeda," a senior Bush administration official said. "No quid pro quo, no negotiations, no exchange." The report said the possible exchange may involve members of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MEK), who struck a deal with U.S. troops in Iraq during the war for a cease-fire, following a series of clashes between coalition troops and MEK fighters. The MEK was backed by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, and he allowed it to carry out training activities in his country. The group’s aim is to replace Iran’s religious government with democratically elected leadership. And for this they’re designated a terrorist group? (yeah I know, no double standard) Iran Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi confirmed reports that had been circulating for weeks, saying that his country was holding what he said was a "large number" of al Qaeda members, but he would not name them. U.S. officials said those in custody included Saif Al Adel, al Qaeda’s military chief, and Suleiman Abu Ghaith, along with two other al Qaeda members. |
| Posted by:Rafael |
| #14 What Regan,Bush sr.,Bush jr.all have in common is the courage to do what needs to be done.All the other Priesdents in between were ethier appeasseniks or just plain cowards. What Aris,NMM,and alcoholic/drug addict Stevey R.etc... have failed to accept or understand is that we finally have a Priesdent with enough brass in his balls to take the fight to the enemy,in the enemys home. I for one am damn glad we have leaders like Bush,Blair,and the Spainish Pries.(sorry Mr.Priesdent for not remembering your name). Berlisconi,I think. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-8-2 9:14:35 AM |
| #13 Point is, we really don't know how long the new dictator-for-life son-of-a-Shah would last either. Or indeed how he would act towards the West and Islamic fundamentalism, had he actually lasted. Actually, the reason the Shah was deposed was because he wouldn't make common cause with the mullahs, like the Saudis have done. Carter sold him down the river by telling him that the US would not resupply him if he cracked down hard on his opponents. (Given that all his weaponry was American, this would have presented him with serious problems). The reason the Ayatollah was in France was because the Shah would not tolerate his ilk like the various Arab emirates have done. Women were forbidden to wear scarves anywhere (in France, it only applies to schoolgirls). Carter is ultimately responsible for what the people in Iran are going through today, and for our geopolitical problems with respect to Iran. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-1 7:04:01 PM |
| #12 Before the Shah of Iran there was a Prime Minister actually, whom the US helped overthrow, but that's a different discussion. Like I said, the Shah preceded the Shah, even before Mossadegh (the Communist) became a big shot. Aris needs to get his head out of Communist works of literature and read some actual history once in a while. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-1 6:56:27 PM |
| #11 Aris: Correct. We have no way to predict how junior would have acted then. But we know what he says in public now. |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-8-1 4:44:42 PM |
| #10 Aris: Good point, the long term result could have been about the same. NMM: Not a very good point. Love it or hate it, this administration is not much like Regan's. Different world, different priorities, mainly different people (yes, yes I know - Cheney and Rumsfeld). Each party contains about 35% of the population, each group with varying goals and beliefs. There is no brush big enough to accurately paint an entire major American political party. You don't have one, neither does Ann Coulter. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2003-8-1 4:10:30 PM |
| #9 "Before the Shah of Iran, there was the Shah of Iran, just as before the Queen of England, there was the King of England. " Before the Shah of Iran there was a Prime Minister actually, whom the US helped overthrow, but that's a different discussion. Point is, we really don't know how long the new dictator-for-life son-of-a-Shah would last either. Or indeed how he would act towards the West and Islamic fundamentalism, had he actually lasted. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-8-1 2:13:35 PM |
| #8 And if a Democrat had pulled that Iran-Contra crap--there would have surely been another Starr Chamber A Democrat would never have had to pull that stunt - he would have had the full support of the Republicans and conservative Democrats for upfront funding for the Nicaraguan freedom fighters. If a Democrat had funded Communist rebels, of course, it would have been a different story. Let's face it - Democrats wanted to fund the Sandinistas, but were prevented from doing so by public opinion. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-1 12:37:58 PM |
| #7 If a dem pres has pulled that, NMM, the only reason there would have been a star chamber is because the commies in this country would have gone berserk because the pres wasn't aiding rapist Danny-boy to create the utopia they just know is around the corner. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-8-1 12:36:29 PM |
| #6 Not Mike Moore: Zhang--"Commie loving"!?! --that's so 1950's. Not only does he not deny it, he seems to think Communism is a good thing. Too bad he can't seem to bring himself to move to that Communist paradise on earth called Cuba. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-1 12:33:59 PM |
| #5 Of course, if Carter had shown a little more backbone, the Shah's advanced cancer would have magically disappeared. Before the Shah of Iran, there was the Shah of Iran, just as before the Queen of England, there was the King of England. Hard to believe that the Greek shall inherit the earth. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-1 11:56:21 AM |
| #4 Of course, if Carter had shown a little more backbone, the Shah's advanced cancer would have magically disappeared. He would still be in power I tell you!! And the people of Iran would have converted to Christianity. And Panathinaikos would have won in Greece's Soccer league. Why, commie-loving Democrats??? Why are you doing this to us? *snicker* |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-8-1 11:36:34 AM |
| #3 Zhang--"Commie loving"!?! --that's so 1950's. And if a Democrat had pulled that Iran-Contra crap--there would have surely been another Starr Chamber |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-8-1 10:49:01 AM |
| #2 No deals with Iran?! Haven't we heard THAT from another Republican administration? OOPS Admiral Poindexter has left the building! It's sad that commie-loving Democrats reduced the Reagan administration to having to fund the Nicaraguan freedom fighters via parts sales to Iran. If not for Democratic sympathy for the Sandinista Communists, Iran-Contra would never have happened. Of course, if Carter had shown a little more backbone, the Shah would still be in power, and Iran would not be sponsoring terrorist groups against us or continuously threatening our oil supplies. Just another one of the reasons I am glad Carter remains a one-term ex-president. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2003-8-1 10:40:13 AM |
| #1 No deals with Iran?! Haven't we heard THAT from another Republican administration? OOPS Admiral Poindexter has left the building! |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-8-1 9:17:17 AM |