Payback's a Bitch.
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| Iraq | |
| U.S. Forces Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq, Detain 5 | |
| 2007-01-11 | |
| Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. forces in Iraq raided Iran's consulate in the northern city of Arbil and detained five staff members, a state-run Iranian news service said. The U.S. soldiers disarmed guards and broke open the consulate's gate before seizing documents and computers during the operation, which took place today at about 5 a.m. local time, the Islamic Republic News Agency said. There was no immediate information on whether any of those detained are diplomats. The raid follows a warning yesterday to Iran and Syria from President George W. Bush in his address to the American people on a new strategy for Iraq. Bush accused Iran and Syria of aiding the movement of ``terrorists and insurgents'' in and out of Iraq and said the U.S. will ``seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies.'' Coalition forces arrested six people during ``routine security operations'' in the Arbil area, the U.S. military said in an e-mailed statement. The military didn't confirm that the consulate was raided and didn't say whether any of those detained were Iranians. The operation was ``part of an ongoing effort by coalition forces targeting individuals involved in activities aimed at the killing of Iraqi citizens and coalition forces,'' the military said. Arbil, about 320 kilometers north (200 miles) north of Baghdad, is the Kurdistan Regional Government's seat in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish area. The Iranian Embassy in Baghdad sent a letter of protest to the Foreign Ministry, calling for the Iraqi government to secure the release of the detainees, IRNA said. U.S. forces detained two Iranian diplomats in Baghdad in December. The men, suspected of weapons smuggling, were later released to Iranian officials in the capital. Deputy White House Press Secretary Scott Stanzel said on Dec. 26 those detainees had diplomatic status, and an investigation would be completed before ``characterizing their activities.'' Bush's approach to Iran and Syria ignores a key recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group -- diplomatic engagement with Iran and Syria to help end the conflict. He announced plans yesterday to send 21,500 more U.S. soldiers and Marines to Iraq.
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| Posted by:Steve |
| #32 I think it was a dual message to both the Iranians and the Kurdish leadership that allowed them in |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-01-11 20:26 |
| #31 They are operating with the knowledge of the Kurdish leadership and with Kurdish diplomatic immunity. Let's be honest here. Baghdad has no power in Kurdistan. It is the Barzanis and Talibanis who decide what goes on in Kurdistan. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-01-11 20:09 |
| #30 no, especially not on Iranians :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-01-11 20:06 |
| #29 Do the Kurds actually have the power to grant diplomatic immunity? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-01-11 19:40 |
| #28 Note this Iranian headquarters is in Arbil, the capital of Kurdistan and under Kurdish diplomatic protection. Just as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, who were recently arrested in Hakim's compound with bomb making kits and documents detailing Irainian operations, were invited and under the protection of Talibani. |
| Posted by: ed 2007-01-11 19:19 |
| #27 update on Drudge |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-01-11 18:26 |
| #26 I'll pay their delinquent parking tickets if they promise to execute these bastards. |
| Posted by: Hammerhead 2007-01-11 18:05 |
| #25 Unless that "consulate" was issued the proper documentation from the Iraqi elected government, and the persons involved have gone through the formal documentation and rituals involved, then there is nothing about diplomatic immunity involved. The host country has to recognize the embassy or consulate, and the personnel there, for the immunity to be claiming or in force. Otherwise, the Iranians and anyone else could just setup anywhere they wanted and claim diplomatic privileges - not how the whole thing has been ironed out over the past 2 centuries. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2007-01-11 18:03 |
| #24 Icerigger, pliers first! ;-) |
| Posted by: twobyfour 2007-01-11 14:58 |
| #23 Rope, tree... |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2007-01-11 14:56 |
| #22 Popcorn. Need popcorn. |
| Posted by: gorb 2007-01-11 14:26 |
| #21 How do you like that consulate shit boys! |
| Posted by: Ulimp Chating9177 2007-01-11 14:05 |
| #20 Maybe it's like one of them combo Mosque/Check Cashing/Cellphone places? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-01-11 13:47 |
| #19 If I were the Iranians, and depending what was in the house, I wouldn't claim it as a consulate, or the occupants as diplomats. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2007-01-11 13:38 |
| #18 I heard it was nothing more than a house with some Iranians. If the Iraqi government officially recognizes these "diplomats" or not could make a big difference. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2007-01-11 13:17 |
| #17 No link, but I understand that Iran claims it's a consulate, but it's actually something else and the guys captured are not diplomats. |
| Posted by: exJAG 2007-01-11 13:07 |
| #16 interesting development. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-01-11 13:00 |
| #15 ignores a key recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group I thought their key recommendation was sodomizing Israel? |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2007-01-11 12:40 |
| #14 Applying the CONSEQUENCES of the Golden rule to Iran: this is "others doing unto you" as a consequence of what Iran "did unto others". |
| Posted by: Ptah 2007-01-11 12:03 |
| #13 Umm, no, they did in 1979. And since we haven't had diplomatic relations since then, their diplomats don't have immunity from us Well yes, but since then, we haven't ever struck back or even really acknowledged that we're at war. Thank you, Mr. Peanut |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2007-01-11 11:41 |
| #12 five 3rd class tickets to Guantanamo please ...... that would ruffle a few feathers me thinks |
| Posted by: MacNails 2007-01-11 11:33 |
| #11 Uhm, did we just surreptitiously declare war on the Iranians?!?! Umm, no, they did in 1979. And since we haven't had diplomatic relations since then, their diplomats don't have immunity from us. |
| Posted by: spiffo 2007-01-11 11:28 |
| #10 Uhm, did we just surreptitiously declare war on the Iranians?!?! |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2007-01-11 11:13 |
| #9 Do consulate personnel and consulate grounds have diplomatic immunity? Depends. If they're only functioning in a lawful manner, we do nothing. If they play "gotcha" games, we neutralize them. Unless they're Mexican, that is, where we bend over and kiss their a$$es. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-01-11 10:36 |
| #8 Not from us. |
| Posted by: Chuck Darwin 2007-01-11 09:52 |
| #7 Do consulate personnel and consulate grounds have diplomatic immunity? |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-01-11 09:42 |
| #6 Since we only got 5 we're gonna have to keep them 4618 days. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-01-11 09:12 |
| #5 Now let's bomb the hell out of the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. Make the Chink hit in Belgrade look like peanuts by comparison |
| Posted by: mac 2007-01-11 08:56 |
| #4 Payback's a Bitch. |
| Posted by: doc 2007-01-11 08:39 |
| #3 The men, suspected of weapons smuggling, were later released to Iranian officials in the capital. Deputy White House Press Secretary Scott Stanzel said on Dec. 26 those detainees had diplomatic status, and an investigation would be completed before ``characterizing their activities.'' Very strong diplomatic condemnation and 7 course dinner to follow. Meanwhile, muzzrats chuckle, as IED's continue to kill US forces. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2007-01-11 08:13 |
| #2 ignores a key recommendation of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group -- diplomatic engagement with Iran and Syria I would say this is GOOD diplomatic engagement!! |
| Posted by: ARMYGUY 2007-01-11 08:11 |
| #1 Good. Now line them up against a wall and have them shot for aiding the enemy. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2007-01-11 08:00 |