White House Statement on American Hostages in Iran [November 9, 1979]

The seizure of more than 60 Americans in our Embassy in Tehran has provoked strong feelings here at home. There is outrage. There is frustration. And there is deep anger.

There is also pride in the courage of those who are in danger and sympathy for them and for their families. But the most important concern for all Americans at this moment is safety of our fellow citizens held in Tehran.

The President shares these feelings. He is pursuing every possible avenue in a situation that is extremely volatile and difficult. His efforts involve many countries and individuals. Many of these efforts must of necessity be conducted without publicity, and all require the calmest possible atmosphere.

The President knows that no matter how deeply we may feel, none of us would want to do anything that would worsen the danger in which our fellow Americans have been placed.

He calls on all Americans, public officials and private citizens alike, to exercise restraint, and to keep the safety of their countrymen uppermost in their minds and hearts. Members of the families of the American hostages with whom the President met this morning have asked to join with him in this appeal. The President expects every American to refrain from any action that might increase the danger to the American hostages in Tehran.

One similarity is that there were riots and embassy attacks all over, not just in Iran that year. Amid all the chaos the USSR invaded Afghanistan. And Israel instead of trying to block iran's nuclear program as they are today, was trying to stop Iraq's at Osirek back then.

1979 : (SAUDI ARABIA : UPRISING 'IN THE NAME OF THE RETURN TO THE PURITY OF ISLAM' IS BACKED BY LIBYA & SOUTH YEMEN, INVOLVING INSTRUCTORS FROM EAST GERMANY, CUBA AND THE PFLP AND INCLUDING COMMUNISTS IN COMMAND POSITIONS; SOME OF THE PARTICIPATING YEMENIS HAD BEEN TRAINED IN IRAN, AND HAD RECEIVED WEAPONS VIA THE IRANIAN EMBASSY IN SANA)

NOVEMBER 20, 1979 : (SAUDI ARABIA : GRAND MOSQUE SEIZURE IN MECCA; TERRORISTS TAKE MUSLIM PILGRIMS HOSTAGE- See SOVIET BACKED 'PILGRIM UPRISING'------ See LIBYA, S YEMEN, IRAN, E GERMANY, )

and :

OCTOBER 1979 LATE : () Our embassy in El Salvador was attacked by leftists a week or so before the Iranians took over our embassy in Iran.

And somewhat like today only not as deadly, a mob attacked our embassy in Libya only that time it wasn't a consulate in Benghazi :

DECEMBER 2, 1979: (AFRICA : LIBYA, ATTACK ON US EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI) A mob attacks the US Embassy in Tripoli, Libya. The 21 people inside are able to escape unharmed.

“The President shares these feelings. He is pursuing every possible avenue in a situation that is extremely volatile and difficult. His efforts involve many countries and individuals. Many of these efforts must of necessity be conducted without publicity, and all require the calmest possible atmosphere.

The President knows that no matter how deeply we may feel, none of us would want to do anything that would worsen the danger in which our fellow Americans have been placed.”

Thus with this brilliant strategy, President James Earl Carter cruised his way a year later to a 10-point, 44 state, 489 electoral college vote landslide debacle.

Thanks, Jimmy.

Wow, what a wuss of a statement. No wonder they didn't fear him. Hostages were released the same day Reagan was sworn in.
I have the Des Moines Register from that day with the dual headlines of Reagan's swearing in and the hostage release.

They knew Reagan would kick their asses.

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