Posted on 04/10/2009 9:01:42 PM PDT by nuconvert
When pundits and politicians talk about “negotiating with Iran,” it conjures up an image of well-dressed statesmen sitting in elegant rooms, talking about the niceties of international relations. But this is only a part of the picture; much of the process is conducted in little hotel rooms by secret intermediaries, and they talk about very unpleasant things, such as torture and blackmail. At least one recent “breakthrough” in relations with Iran was extorted from Great Britain and the United States by an Iranian proxy group in Iraq that kidnaped five British civilians two years ago, and, in the secret negotiations that have been conducted by anonymous middlemen two and three arms’ lengths away from the British Government, have offered to swap them for Shi’ite terrorists in American hands.
At the end of last month, an Iranian-sponsored terror group in Iraq announced that they had reached agreement with Her Majesty’s Government that would result in the staged releases of five British hostages in exchange for several terrorists held by American forces. Not only that, but the Guardian reported that “efforts to finalize the deal were a factor in Britain’s move to re-engage publicly with Hezbollah’s political wing in Lebanon this month.”
In simple English, if the story is true, we and the Brits appeased the Iranians on two levels: we agreed to release their killers and the Brits legitimized Hezbollah. Both we and the British officially reject dealing for hostages.
Kidnaping works most of the time (otherwise they wouldn’t do it), as Tony Soprano would be one of the first to tell you. It works for the Mafia, the Somali pirates, and for terrorists, including Iran’s ruling mullahs. I saw this first-hand in the mid-1980s, when I was an intermediary for the Reagan Administration, dealing with the regime of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, whose terror instrument, Hezbollah, had taken several American hostages. Like every other democratically elected leader I know of, Reagan could not bear the thought of American citizens being deprived of liberty, and the actual circumstances were even worse: American hostages were being tortured to death. In the course of winning the release of several American prisoners, Reagan made numerous public and secret gestures in favor of the mullahs, and they responded by toning down their anti-American rhetoric, and by calling a temporary halt to the kidnapings. When the Americans agreed to sell weapons to the Iranians, the mullahs ordered Hezbollah to release some hostages. The world saw the “diplomatic” gestures and proclamations, but the secret hostage negotiations were a central part of the story.
I have no doubt that similar secret talks are being conducted today. Iran now holds three American hostages: Robert Levinson, Roxana Saberi, and Esha Momeni. Levinson is an ex-F.B.I. agent who disappeared a year ago while in Iran (I am told he is imprisoned far from Tehran). Saberi is a freelance journalist arrested in Iran at the end of January, and held in Evin prison in Tehran. She has just been formally accused of espionage, for which several Iranians have been executed in recent weeks. Momeni, a graduate student from Cal State University, was conducting research on the Iranian women’s movement (a particularly sensitive theme for the regime, which has just rounded up several of the leaders of the women’s rights movement), and was jailed, again in Evin, last October. She was released from prison three months ago, but remains blocked in Iran.
It may not be entirely coincidental that Iran’s key Asian ally, North Korea, has just taken two American hostages, female journalists who work for Al Gore’s “Current TV.” Do you think the president will refuse to listen to Gore when he begs for help for his people in that awful place? Do you think the president will refuse to act when the parents, children and spouses of the others come to him and implore him to do something to saved their loved ones? On the evidence we have, he agreed to release dangerous terrorists when the government of Great Britain asked him to do it. He can hardly refuse his own people.
The Iranians have successfully manipulated Western policy for decades, and not only, as is often claimed, because they are clever tacticians. Brutality is more characteristic of this regime, and hostage taking is one of their trademarks. It works, in part because nobody has any doubt about their willingness to torture and kill Western hostages, whose bodies would unfortunately fill a good-sized morgue. No wonder that Secretary of State Clinton gave the Iranians a letter about these unfortunate Americans during her “informal” encounter in the Hague.
The president’s promise to change the world by showing “respect” to our enemies was never going to succeed, and the mounting number of hostages seems to demonstrate that our enemies believe they can push him around. There was a moment–in 2003-2004–when the Iranians were frightened of President Bush, but that passed, and I don’t think they view Obama as a dramatic change from the last Bush years. They are doing what they are doing, taking hostages because that is what they do, and because they know it works. Just as the scorpion explained to the crocodile, who thoughtfully gave the scorpion a ride to the other side of the river, only to be stung. “Why?” cried out the croc. “Because I am a scorpion.”
pong
That's the impression he is giving the world, that he is a weak leader.
Well, if you want to compare where Obama is at with this situation he’s in now, compared to previous Presidents, you need to look at my list I compiled today... :-)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2226437/posts?page=43#43
Its only going to get worse under this quisling.
You have not been banned yet liberal troll?
You said — You have not been banned yet liberal troll?
—
If I were a liberal troll, I would have been banned by now..., just like you say... LOL..
Over 15,000 posts and counting.... :-)
You use some of that “convoluted reasoning” that I see with some others, too... LOL...
You haven’t been reading my posts then... :-)
I’ve already said that I only post here on Free Republic. I don’t even bother “looking” at any other boards, like some FReepers that I hear go over to DU for their entertainment...
You are a typical liberal. You are a liar and a coward.
I see you’re a tad bit touchy these days, aren’t you... LOL...
Not at all. A quick review of your posting history demonstrates without an iota of doubt that you are an Obama supporter and a liberal troll. You are just too much of a coward to admit it but cowardice is a trait of liberals so your action is expected.
I see you specialize in self-fulfilling prophecies... LOL..
As usual you are not making any sense and you are totally nervous because you are lying and hence the use of LOL in most of your posts, it is a sign of nervousness.
Ahhh..., now a psychologist, too, besides being a prophet... :-)
I see you wear many hats around here...
You might convince someone one of these days... LOL..
You’re right — no wars listed here — by intent...
No World War 1 and 2, no Korean War, no Vietnam War, no Gulf War 1 and 2 or Afghanistan
This list is only for military actions (not wars) and/or civilians taken hostage or killed (or government officials being killed or taken hostage).
Wars are one kind of thing — while actions in which countries try to “test you” are a different type of thing....
“Wars are one kind of thing — while actions in which countries try to “test you” are a different type of thing....”
HOGWASH!
Nothing “tests” nations against each other more than war.
And last I checked, WARS ARE MILITARY ACTIONS! And NOTHING has maimed, killed and changed the lives of people around the world more than wars.
I suggest you stick to whatever it is you do for a living(and it obviously isn’t foreign affairs, fighting wars and/or crisis) and leave “foreign affairs” and “wars” to those of us who do have in the past and/or are presently doing it now.
Class Dismissed!
Hey..., just telling you what I included and didn’t include... :-) , so you wouldn’t think I “forgot”.... LOL..
You’re more than welcome to put together your own list...
Didn’t you get the “message”...”Class Dismissed!”
Your “list” is BRAVO SIERRA!
and your making excuses for Hussein(who’s only been on the job 3 months by comparing him to other POTUS who were on the job for YEARS doesn’t excuse the FACT that Huessein has ALREADY proven that he is an INCOMPETENT FOOL and is gonna get a lot of Americans KILLED before his presidency is over!
His “bowing to a Arab MUSLIM king” “spit in the eye” of EVERY man & woman who ever wore the uniform of the U.S. military who fought and many died so that we wouldn’t have to BOW to any king, queen and/or foreign country.
Now I am FINISHED WITH YOU!
shezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
I see you like talking to walls... [since they don’t talk back... :-) ... ]
"Iran now holds three American hostages: Robert Levinson, Roxana Saberi, and Esha Momeni".
"Secondly, Iranian Officials like to assert their legitimacy (in the eyes of the world) by every so often arresting those of Iranian origins, if they can determine those arrested, or potential to be arrested, can be identified as Iranians e.g. born in Iran, or an Iranian Father by birth OR citizenship, regardless of “ethnicity”. <-- My previous point in another FR thread.
Robert Levinson is not of Iranian origins, but goes to show holding an American passport does not make one immune to being arrested in a "Lawless" Islamic Republic of Iran (Ex-FBI aside). Those of Iranian origins are easier to throw & keep in detention to instil fear & legitimacy. BTW, Ledeen forgot to mention Hoder (Hossein Derakhshan, funnily, was seen as pro-IRI based on his blog).
Most charges against those arrested include "anti-government activities" or "spies".
Other more recent news - FYI:
Arrest of Christians and Baha'is - Evin and Semnan Prisons They weren't missionaries based on what I know.
Also, very sad news:
Stop Child Execution - Delara Darabi is in Danger of Execution any day
And typical of those who cannot rebut FACTS;
you are left to posting personal insults.
Put that in your “list” and smoke it!
Sorry you don’t like my list...I’m getting rave reviews from others... :-)
You said — Semantics is a game played by those who are perpetually unclear on concepts.
—
Ummm..., you’re doing a good job of it... keep up the examples... LOL...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.