Reports out of Iraq claim that US troops raided an Iranian Consulate, confiscated documents and arrested several people. While the news is dwelling on the rhetoric of Maliki telling the Mahdi Army to disarm and Bush's speech, in which he mentioned Iran and Syria, it at least appears the administration is intent on making this initiative one of action and not just talk. As many as six Iranians are said to be detained. Iran has summoned the Iraqi and Swiss ambassadors. They're displeased. The location has been handed over to Kurdish troops.
U.S. troops raided an Iranian consulate in northern Iraq late Wednesday night and detained several people, Iran's main news agency reported today, prompting protests from Tehran just hours after President Bush pledged to crack down on the Islamic Republic's role in Iraqi violence.
Iran released news of the raid through its Islamic Republic News Agency in a dispatch that was broadly critical of Bush's plan to deploy about 21,500 more troops to Iraq.
The IRNA report said that U.S. forces entered the Iranian consulate in Irbil, in Iraq's Kurdish-dominated north, and seized computers, documents and other items. The report said five staff members were taken into custody.
The Iranian foreign ministry appealed to the Iraqi government to obtain the release of its personnel.
thanks Bluto, always nice to hear from the lunatic fringe. Oh yea, the Dems goal is to destroy America. they may do it but it's not their goal
Posted by: ifonlymccainhadwon | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 12:15 PM
"Oh yea, the Dems goal is to destroy America. they may do it but it's not their goal..."
Oh yea? They *may* do it, but it's not their goal? Are they stupid, or what? It helps to have clearly defined goals. Right? Or are you saying because they clearly have no defined goals, they might *accidentally* destroy America?
Jesus H. Christ
Posted by: Phoenix | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 12:45 PM
I think by invading the consulate we have declared war on Iran. The consulate, ususally anyway, is a soverign piece of real estate. It may be physically in Iraq (or wherever), but it is considered Iranian land. I'm not so sure we can be at war with three separate nations.
Posted by: Tom | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 01:14 PM
The Iranian government has a lot of gall to bitch about the inviolability of embassies.
Posted by: Steven Den Beste | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 01:40 PM
"they may do it but it's not their goal"
I don't pay any attention to what they say. As cops say "I watch their hands". You want to know someone's intentions, you watch their hands not their mouth.
Posted by: Purple Avenger | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 01:45 PM
The Iranian government has a lot of gall to bitch about the inviolability of embassies.
That's just the point. Bush has validated their invasion of our embassy (in response to what they claimed was US destabilization of their government) by invading their embassy (consulate) in response to his claims of their destabilization of his puppet government in Iraq. How can these people be so stupid? By doing exactly the same thing, he has literally put the US on an equal moral footing with the Ayatollah Khomenei.
Bush doesn't have the right to make our nation the stupid, thoughtless, and irresponsible bully that he is. What's he going to do next - launch a sneak attack on a Japanese harbor?
Posted by: Kevin T. Keith | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 02:15 PM
I excerpted and linked at U. S. troops raid Iranian not-a-Consulate. http://www.smalltownveteran.net/bills_bites/2007/01/u_s_troops_raid.html
Raid yes, consulate no. Persian speak with forked tongue. Shocked!
Posted by: Bill Faith | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 02:23 PM
It appears that Iran used to have a consulate in Irbil, but has not had one for several years. However, they have an agreement in principle announced a month ago, to open a new consulate in Irbil.
From the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline, dated 11 Jan 07
"Iraqi President Jalal Talabani concluded his visit to Tehran on November 29..."
[skip]
"The statement also stated, according to ISNA,...that Iraq should allow direct air links with Iran and help with the opening of Iranian consulates in Irbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah;..."
Posted by: Dave in W-S | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Must have written a bad link. Try this:
http://www.rferl.org/reports/iran-report/2006/12/45-041206.asp
Posted by: Dave in W-S | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 03:41 PM
Ah yes, Keith T. Kevin wrote: " Bush doesn't have the right to make our nation the stupid, thoughtless, and irresponsible bully that he is." I rercreate as best I can: " I don't want to insult anybody, Mister." "Now that's a wise policy, a wise policy. But if you did, I assure you if you did, your knees would tremble. You would stand, how shall I put it, in awe. But insult a President. Why not insult a President?" When you have few to no facts, you are not able to articulate a reasonable argument but you are full of rage (for some reason, perhaps your life stinks), why not insult a President?
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 05:24 PM
I can't help but wonder about the term "Diplomatic Immunity" when I read about the Iranian Embassy raid.
Posted by: hobo | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 05:35 PM
Well, Mr Hobo, you wonder probably because you are a civilized human being. Unfortunately, I don't see our enemies as being in that category. Why? Because they see it as virtuous and rightious to murder others regardless of whether they are an enemy or not, a combatant or not, or a woman or child or not. Murder as sanctity and holiness. I call that savagery. I'm not sure savages qualify for immunity, but I could be wrong. I almost feel I am insulting real savages. Besides I hear the "consulate" was not a consulate yet. Time will show us the truth of this matter.
Posted by: Fred Beloit | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 06:04 PM
"I can't help but wonder about the term "Diplomatic Immunity" when I read about the Iranian Embassy raid."
A consulate is NOT an embassy.
I'm old enough to remember 1979, so screw'em. Payback is a bitch.
Posted by: Purple Avenger | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 06:38 PM
70% of the American people do not want an increase in troops in Iraq. At lest 10 Republican senators do not want any increase.
Bush's poll ratings are continuing to drop, his speech last night was pathetic. I felt sorrow for him, contrast his demeanor last night with last Oct 24th when we were "absolutely winning".
Bush has conyinually made bad decisions.
Posted by: John Ryan | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 07:01 PM
"I think by invading the consulate we have declared war on Iran."
Darn. I wonder what they'll do? Do you think they might get mad at us and make a bad move? You know, a move that might piss us off? Maybe piss off other countries, too? You know, the kind of move that would make *all* countries, friend or foe, sort of poop themselves? Man. That would be so bad. It might be so damned bad we'd have to nuke them off the planet to make the world safe and happy. Good thing we have some force next door. Booyah!
Posted by: Phoenix | Thursday, January 11, 2007 at 09:16 PM