Posted on 04/04/2007 1:16:42 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Who Got the British Sailors Released? By Catherine Mayer/London and Azadeh Moaveni/Tehran
The President of Iran was clearly relishing his role as beneficent liberator of the 15 British Marines and sailors detained by Iran for nearly two weeks. At a press conference today, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the release a "gift to the British people" on the occasion of Easter as well as a commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's birthday. The smiling President then met with the British detainees, nodding his head munificently as they lined up to offer thanks for their release. "It is for Islam," he reminded one. He joked to another: "You ended up on a compulsory visit, didn't you?"
As much as today's events appeared to be another episode of the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad show, the Iranian president's actual role in ending the crisis may have been less than meets the eye. The office of the presidency in Iran does not really have a say in matters of foreign policy. Indeed, British analysts were quick to credit another political personage for the resolution of the drama. John Williams, the former Director of News of Britain's Foreign Office, asserts that Dr. Ali Larijani, the secretary general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was more important in calling the shots. "It seems that around the weekend, Dr. Larijani decided to settle this and took control," says Williams. "He has proved himself a significant power broker, a man who, if he feels it is in Iran's best interests, will do business with the international community." Other observers warn against giving Larijani too much credit. Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, they say, may have decided that Iran had squeezed as much advantage out of the situation as possible and simply got Larijani to do the legwork to end the crisis.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
The MSM will give the credit to Pelosi.
Thinking about this hostage release a bit more:
1)Pelosi and crew had to apply for visas (and security), before visit to Mid-east.
2) Thus the enemies knew ahead of time about the trip of an important US (yeech) politician before hand.
3) The question is whether they knew about her trip before - or - after the hostage taking.
4) Was this then just a total set-up if they knew of her trip before hostage taking,
5) Or were they just milking it until she arrived on ground, to fully embarrass Bush and Blair
6) And she’s to F##king stupid to know that she has been used as a duped pawn in this high stakes game!
(Geez! I sure wish that we had Valerie Plame on the ground to provide trip intel. Puke!)
This is silly.
Treating these captives "munificently" was an obvious PR move - to tweak the nose of Anglo opponents and to demonstrate "moral superiority". One can bet such was the consensus among Iranian leaders. They are not fools.
Brittania no longer rules the waves.
Their sailors are wusses, the way they gave in to the Iranians...acting like they were at a frat house party.
Today really made me sick when they shook hands with that murderous little Shite.
Our Navy men would never behave that way.
Could never have voted for him, but I admire his courage, defying his own party and standing alongside President Bush in the War on Terror.
How quickly people forget.
Are they actually out of Iran yet?
Not yet. They’re supposed to fly out some time tonight.
“I think it was the commander of the Nimitz Battle Group. Or fear of him anyway.”
I agree that this had alot to do with it. This enemy is really tough on everyone until they get stood down.
Yeah, the USS Nimitz is on its way...hmmmmm.
"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
-George Santayana
Here you go.......
“Iran’s abrupt release of 15 British sailors and marines is raising hopes the country might compromise on other disputes, most notably its nuclear program”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070405/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_willing_to_compromise
God help us, it did not take long for the useful idiots, traitors, and defeatists in the West to fall for the Iranian terrorist regime trick. Exactly as we discussed yesterday!
They should have refused to shake his hand in my opinion. An anti-semite and a barbarian he is, and deserves no thanks from those he took prisoner.
Jesse Jackson was about to fly over if Nancy P hadn’t freed the hostages.
England is now the new France. This could have been settled the minute the sailors were confronted but they were told to stand down. Shamefull, they can’t even protect themselves.
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