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.
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Well, this ought to set off the liberals:
Rumsfeld named Pepsi 400 grand marshal
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1434363/posts
I don't get you. What is it with you and ozone? I know people from Iran and Iraq personally. That is what I posted.
It's arrogant to assume someone knows more than another person - especially on the Internet.
Bingo! Only a liberal thinks this way.
I don't want to get in the middle of anything, but I was reading an Iraqi blogger before the war, and that one has now moved out of country. That one was very hot on US coming in and praised US. Not very encouraging.
I'm very well aware of the giant strides we are making there, and I'm aware of 99.9% of the people who support us there. I was pointing out Riverbend to you because you're basing your opinions on Iran on a few rich kids you happened to meet in college. Riverbend is the equivalant of those rich kids only she lives in Iraq. She's was greatly pleased with the way things were run when Saddam was in charge. Of course, she represents 1% of the people of Iraq, just like your friends probably represent 1% of the people of Iran.
And how do you know that I don't know people from Iran or Iraq personally? (I do, by the way)
How do you know the other poster didn't?
Go back and read post 146.
Yeah, we're just starting to figure out just which of those people you know and what your little agenda is.
This kid was telling us that Iran must be OK because he goes to school with some Iranians who aren't unhappy with the mad mullahs.
LOL, I'll bet it's driving them NUTS!
I apologize if it seemed I was taking sides. I was just extremely surprised when I read from this blogger the other day, that had moved out of Iraq after being so pro-America before the war (keeping in mind this is only one person out of millions).
Your "perspective" sounds cold as ice and inhuman.
But then again, I'm one of those who wants the good people of Iraq to be free. Iran, too.
(pssssst...the "person" you're addressing is against the strides for people "like that"...)
Isn't that exactly what YOU are doing?
You've got a lot to learn, IMO.
Nice!
Listening to Brit Hume on Foxnews and his leadoff is about the new facts on the new President of Iran!.....
Very good !!
YES!
Nailed Him!
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