BREAKING: Battle Breaks Out At Top Of Revolutionary Guard Over Hostages
According to an Iranian military source, a battle has broken out between two of the nations’ top Generals. Tomorrow, Sunday April 1, The Times of London will report the following:
THE fate of the 15 British marines and sailors held in Tehran may
depend on the outcome of a power struggle between two of Iran’s top
generals, write Uzi Mahnaimi and Marie Colvin.
According to an Iranian military source, the commander of the
Revolutionary Guards has called for them to be freed.
Major-General Yahya Rahim Safavi is said to have told the country’s
Supreme National Security Council on Friday that the situation was
“getting out of control” and urged its members to consider the
immediate release of the prisoners to defuse tension in the Gulf.
However, Safavi’s intervention was reportedly denounced by another
senior general at a meeting of high-ranking commanders yesterday.
Yadollah Javani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards’ political
bureau, was said to have accused him of weakness and “liberal
tendencies”. Javani is said to have demanded that the prisoners be put
on trial.
Reports of the clash emerged as Terry Waite, who was kidnapped in
Beirut while trying to negotiate a hostage release in 1987, offered to
travel to Tehran to try to secure the release of the 14 servicemen and
one woman.
“I don’t think one needs to be afraid of these people, but one does
need to have respect for their point of view, whether you agree with
it or not,” said Waite, who spent almost five years as the hostage of
an Iranian-backed fundamentalist group in Beirut.
“I would rather like it if they would prove their humanity by giving
me access to the country and the people being detained.”
In Tehran, tension was expected to increase further today with a huge
demonstration by students outside the British embassy. The protest was
being organised by the Basij, a paramilitary force of about 10m people
paid by the regime.
At similar protests in the past, they have shouted, “Death to Britain”
and thrown stones. An Iranian official said security was being
increased in case the embassy was besieged.
The developments followed a warning by Safavi, the Revolutionary
Guards commander, that Iran should prepare for a possible invasion,
which he believes could come as early as next month.
US military exercises in the Persian Gulf involving two aircraft
carriers, 100 aircraft and 10,000 personnel have fuelled fears in
Tehran that America may be on the verge of launching airstrikes
against Iran’s nuclear programme.
Many military officers believe the British naval party intercepted on
March 23 was part of a ploy to test Iran’s readiness for an invasion.
Tens of thousands of Basij, the force that provided the shock troops
for the Iran-Iraq war, have been sent to the Iraqi border.
Iranian military sources said the Supreme National Security Council
had concluded on Friday evening that Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme
leader, should order the release of the British naval personnel on
Safavi’s advice.
However, according to one account, which could not be confirmed,
Javani described Safavi’s recommendation as tantamount to treason.
The demand for a trial was backed by advisers to Khamenei. “The
British aggressors must be tried and dealt with according to Iranian
laws,” said Ayatollah Mojtahed Shabestari, an influential cleric.
Iran’s ambassador to Moscow, Gholamreza Ansari, said a legal process
was already underway. “If there is no guilt, they will be freed,” he
added. But he denied that he had said they could face trial. Other
officials called on Britain to send a delegation to Tehran to resolve
the crisis.
Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, urged Iran to resolve the
crisis peacefully and said London was open to talks.
A reply was sent to an Iranian embassy letter asking London to
acknowledge that its sailors had trespassed in Iranian waters and to
confirm that it would not happen again. The Foreign Office refused to
reveal its response.
Javier Solana, the EU policy chief, said he hoped to talk directly to
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
The Brits are open to talks? Good grief. If the dissention among the Iranian military ranks is indeed true, now is the perfect time to apply stern and steady pressure on Iran regarding the British captives. “Talks” are good when both sides are willing to listen. And, we are all aware of Iran’s listening capabilities or lack thereof.
I’m so tired of inability of foreign leaders to conjure up original ideas when dealing with these lunatics. Give the Iranians ten days to release the soldiers. If they fail to comply, take out their one and only oil refinery, build up a naval blockade in the Persian Gulf, and stop all imports to Iran. The whole country would come to a screaching halt. If they continue to hold the British captives, the pressure should then be increased again and in a more forceful manner.
I guess what I’m pushing for action. Believe me when I say I have more inhumane ideas regarding how this situation needs to be handled. But, I will refrain.
Justin T. Cooke, M.D.
March 31st, 2007 at 9:25 pmI smell BULLSHIT! The only facts that are certain is that fifteen British sailors were abducted from Iraqi waters by Iranian motherfuckers, and they continue to be held.
This is an act of war, and no matter how much enemy cock Nancy Pelosi gobbles up during her trip, it ain’t gonna do SHIT for NOBODY!
Analogy (that bears expanding) time: you come home to Iran raping your lovely wife, the United Kingdom. You don’t say, “Gee, Iran, I’m really upset that you are raping my wife. Tell you what–get off my wife, and I’ll suck your dick. You can even put it in my butt, if that’s what it takes.” And then you sit there and watch as time goes by, as Iran mocks you by making your wife write letters apologizing for marrying you in the first place, and saying on video camera that Iran is a much better lover than you ever were. Your neighbor, the United States couldn’t help but notice all the noise, knocks on your door and asks if there is anything he can do. “No, I’m sure this rapist will blow his load eventually, it’s best to just wait it out.”
FUCK THAT SHIT. The time for action was before these Brits were captured.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:49 pmIf the reports of dissention among the Iranian military power elite is true, it suggests that there are those who are questioning the value of humiliating a handfull of (illegally) captured “enemy” troops to the very real prospect of either Bush or Blair growing a pair of “Reagan balls” and militarily reminding Iran that they are NOT in any way, shape or form, a SUPERPOWER.
Actions have consequences. Even an Iranian can understand that.
April 1st, 2007 at 4:46 amthe iranians have been listening to rosie on the view, so they know the Brits went into iranian waters to be captured, so the west can justify an invasion. they now realize this was a set up and are not ready for direct conflict. the sailors will be released soon. thanks rosie.
wow, typing that hurt my head.
does rosie hang her self upside down so she can find her t.v remote? also she might find a tasty snack as the fat folds reverse, exposing God knows what.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:12 amSay what you want about Rosie, she was great as the executioner in 300.
April 1st, 2007 at 6:51 amHmm. Maybe the Ayatoldya got super pissed after watching that 300 movie, and Zack Snyder will be responsible for sparking WW3 with his neo-nazi, homophobic, xbox generation republikkkan propaganda!
“If they assassinate me, all of Greece goes to war. Pray they’re that stupid! Pray we’re that lucky.”
April 1st, 2007 at 6:53 amThe Inanian’s are playing to the world Liberals with their propaganda. There is no way they will release the hostages. The internal tension card is just speculation. I could see Iran claiming that the internal dissention is the reason the hostages were not released. Furthermore, Iran needs some way to entice Nancy Pelosi to become their spokesman. I predict you will hear Pelosi speaking out against the “Agressors” (Bush & the UK)before April 25th.
April 1st, 2007 at 4:24 pmThere you go, “Tehran Nancy”…I can see it already…
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:11 pm“Tehran Nancy”… I love it. I am going to start using that from now on.
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:46 pmI think “Iran nancy” is more appropriate since it sums up her plan for “Victory” in Iraq.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:17 pmOh, there are quite a few names I could call her.
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:23 pmrumsfeld47 - I think you are way off base: Iranians wouldn’t fuck their own mothers.
Otherwise, I agree with you 100%.
GW
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:14 pm