Does everyone here agree that anyone presenting UN credentials must be granted immunity?

Yes, they must be granted immunity. If we cannot be sure that they are not a threat, then we need to take the proper steps by suspending diplomatic relations and requiring the Iranian delegation to leave the country. You cannot, however, make a practice of imprisoning foreign delegates or you will undermine foreign relations all over the world.

Does everyone here agree that anyone presenting UN credentials must be granted immunity?

Let's see...how could we get around this?

Police officer: "May I see your UN credentials and diplomatic passport?...Hmmm...these look fake to me. Hey Fred, why don't you put them in the trash can over there while I search the rest of this car..."

Five men with 50 passports? Sounds pretty suspicious to me. Frankly, I'm shocked they were released - diplomatic immunity or not. We are at war.

They should be kicked out immediately and Iran should put on the "A" list. I would have preferred to have tortured the hell out of them myself.

I would agree that we need to observe diplomatic immunity. That being said, I'd reduce the incidence of these types of problems by asking the UN to move out of our nation within 180 days.

Does everyone here agree that anyone presenting UN credentials must be granted immunity?

First point, I do not think it is accurate to say that they have UN credentials. Diplomatic immunity springs from the person being a diplomatic representative of a particular country, as decided by that country. Not the UN.

There is nothing to disagree with if you ask "is diplomatic immunity a good idea?" Diplomatic immunity is a cornerstone of the international system since before there were nation-states per se. Allowing diplomats, ours and theirs, to not fear reprisals from the country that they are in for the actions of their governments is a requisite for any dialogue in the international community. However, there should be (and somewhat are), very tight controls on who is allowed to come into a country on a diplomatic passport. I believe there are frequently agreed upon numerical limits, we try to check that this is not someone we have once deported or have reason not to want in the country, etc., etc. So, yes, diplomatic immunity is a necessary precondition to international relations of any sort.

Who needs terrorists when we have DIPLOMATS!

I say it's high time to expel some diplomats.

The Iranians sure protected our diplomatic immunity in 1979 didn't they? Dipolmatic immunity is based in reciprocity. If they don't observe it, we are not obligated to protect theirs. Can you understand that?

There's no innocent explanation for this, as far as I can tell.

If they had 10 passports apiece, no peace officer should be satisfied that they actually are diplomats until the State Department confirms it.

Another source familiar with the incident said agents determined that the men had diplomatic immunity and had to be released in any case.

Screw diplomatic immunity ...

When
1 - a half dozen "bunch" of Middle-easterners,
2 - show up taking PHOTO's
3 - of one of our major tunnel's,
4 - and have "FIFTY passports on them ...

I say ENOUGH ALREADY!! "LOCK 'em up till they gave a really good rationale for this, and I can't think of one!"

get them the hell out of this country! enough already!!

Powell will come up with one.

"...After cops discovered the men also were carrying some 50 passports, agents from the FBI, CIA and Secret Service were summoned, sources said. The men were questioned, found to be part of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's UN delegation and released..."


We are in a State of War! This is extremely suspect. How many more Americans need to die? How many before we realize that War is nasty. There is no room for Keystone Cops antics. The FBI should of held them, and then consulted with our MILITARY. And our HOME DEFENSE. They treated it as a civil matter. When it was not a civil matter. It is a military matter.

Note that the CIA, FBI and SS were called. I am pretty sure they would be able to find out if they were really Iranian diplomats.

Thats another thing that irks me these people come here get this diplomatic immunity and can do whatever they wish to..

What are the procedures for a Citizen's Arrest under a state of National Homeland Defense during war? Just wondering.

These persons were certified to the UN, not as diplomats to the US.

I think that the first thing that our State Department needs to do is to withdraw diplomatic protection to persons not certified as part of their government's mission to the US, i.e. no diplomatic passports/visas to those who come here to work for or at the UN.

The ability to collect parking fines alone should compensate NYC for the economic losses of 9-11.

Allowing diplomats, ours and theirs, to not fear reprisals from the country that they are in for the actions of their governments is a requisite for any dialogue in the international community.

In other words, there are implicit limitations to what is and what not protected by diplomatic immunity. "Diplomatic immunity" does not allow those who claim it a green light to break the laws of the host country.