Posted on 06/30/2005 2:37:13 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The US says it is examining reports that Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took part in the 1979 hostage-taking at Tehran's US embassy. Some of the former US hostages have said they recognise Mr Ahmadinejad as one of their captors.
But three Iranians involved in the action, as well as Mr Ahmadinejad's own staff, have denied that he took part. Mohsen Mirdamadi, the hostage-takers' leader, told the BBC that the new president had not been there.
Another top student leader, Abbas Abdi, also denied the allegations as did Hamid Reza Jalaiepour, a third hostage-taker.
The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says the three former students are now reformists who oppose hardliners like Mr Ahmadinejad, and would have no reason to hide his involvement now. Questions raised Photographs have appeared on the internet showing a young bearded man leading a blindfolded American hostage - alleging that this was Mr Ahmadinejad a quarter of a century ago.
But the man in the photograph appears much taller than Mr Ahmadinejad, and looks nothing like other pictures of him as a student which can be found on his website, Frances Harrison says. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the allegations should be taken seriously.
"I think the news reports and statements from several former American hostages raise many questions about his past," he said. "We take them very seriously and we are looking into them to better understand the facts." One former hostage said he was sure the man was Mr Ahmadinejad. "This is the guy," retired army colonel Chuck Scott told AP news agency. "There's no question about it. You could make him a blond and shave his whiskers, put him in a zoot suit and I'd still spot him." Four other former hostages agreed with Mr Scott, but at least one disagrees. A total of 52 US citizens were taken hostage after a group of young activists climbed over the embassy wall during the Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the Shah and brought Ayatollah Khomeini to power.
|
The picture they are using for the comparison is his old student ID. In the ID, his eyebrows appear further apart than in those two pictures, so, naturally, they state emphatically that it's NOT him.
I'm like, he's older........and he's SCOWLING!
Have you all seen the student ID?
He sure does. The early focus on the other guy was a red herring.
You may not be as old as I am, but it sure is a name I'd like to see crossed off a list.
There does not seem to be a whole lot of curiosity amongst our media intellects as to the progression of nuclear warfare in Iran.
http://rescueattempt.tripod.com/id28.html
I caught that last night when I saw his pic first tiem, I just got home to edit my website
I haven't seen it. I don't watch the news, I read FR instead.
I haven't.
That I know of. I've seen a few dozen pictures in the last two days.
That's him alright.
The new President of Iran is one of the hostage takers of 1979.
Everyone who has been responding to my private e-mails believe it is him also.
The resemblance is too great.
The Iranians have admitted that he was one of the revolutionaries.
I still don't know why they are trying to deny he was IN the embassy.
Makes no sense.
And we've got pictures.
This is an undated picture of Iranian president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, released by Mardomyar, Ahmadinejad's campaign website. Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran on Saturday June 25, 2005. (AP Photo/Mardomyar, HO)
AP - Jun 30 11:10 AM
That looks like the guy. Thanks for the pic!
But they are comparing him to the guy right next to the hostage.
This is the same guy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.