US forces storm Iranian consulate (Kurdish region)

BBC ^ | January 11. 2007

[Hoosier-Daddy]

You're starting to slip over the edge...

[r9etb]

I suspect the Administration had the goods on them ... Someone is supplying the artillery and intel to the insurgents.

Probably correct, on both counts. One suspects that the intel folks have done a good bit of communications monitoring in that facility.

[nuconvert]

thanks

[terrytyson2007]

I would say it is, judging that embassies are considered foreign soil.

If you ask me, this might make sense on an operations level--investigating whether documents reveal any concrete evidence of Iranian involvement with the ongoing hostilities in Iraq--but on a PR level it is terrible. We announce we're sending in more troops, essentially rattle the saber at Iran and Syria, and then commit an act of war.

We can sit around all day and say they've had this coming to them, but knowing Iran, they'll play this up as much as they can, and frankly, as dirty as their hands are, we're the ones who have rushed to action here.

[TET1968]

"Counter Terrorism" on a roll.

[TET1968]

"isn't this considered an act of war?"

The Iranian takeover and kidnapping precedent says "No".

[Schnucki]

The Iranian takeover and kidnapping precedent says "No".

It's not that I'm against this action. I think it's actually a great idea when considering the fact that Im-a-nut-job (their president) was involved in the attack on our own embassy in Iran back in the 70's.

I just hope that other nations see it in the same light.

[Schnucki]

We can sit around all day and say they've had this coming to them, but knowing Iran, they'll play this up as much as they can, and frankly, as dirty as their hands are, we're the ones who have rushed to action here

I think that we'll never win the PR war, since everybody loves to hate us, but I disagree that we rushed into action here.

It's not an embassy, but a consulate, and diplomatically speaking the difference is apparently significant.

Maybe there's something wrong with me, but I get a good, clean feeling from this.

In any case, regarding dirty hands, here's an interesting reference from Cap Huff:

Article 55
RESPECT FOR THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE RECEIVING STATE

1. Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.

2. The consular premises shall not be used in any manner incompatible with the exercise of consular functions.

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall not exclude the possibility of offices of other institutions or agencies being installed in part of the building in which the consular premises are situated, provided that the premises assigned to them are separate from those used by the consular post. In that event, the said offices shall not, for the purposes of the present Convention, be considered to form part of the consular premises.

http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/BH444.txt

[terrytyson2007]

Good post. To be honest (and uninformed), I never knew there was a difference between consulates and embassies.

I still think, however, we're in a nasty mess and definitely have more and more forces against our favor rather than in our favor. (That's that PR war you and I agree we'll always be on the receiving end of.)

[Cap Huff]

The information was actually posted by AdmSmith, not me:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1765759/posts?page=18#18

I'm glad it is of help in clarifying the situation.

[PhilDragoo]

Nice. Let this be the new paradigm. Surround and say surrender or be killed. And mean it.

[TET1968]

Those who hate America will see it as unlawful.
Those that support Counter Terrorism will be quiet. Israel won't object, that's for sure.

[melancholy]

We never attack diplomatic missions. Now that we did; expect an all out air war against Iran this spring or earlier.

At last, some good news to accomplish the following:

1- Orphan and eliminate Hamas and Hizbollah
2- Protect the Lebanese government
3- Make Assad pull a Qadhafi
4- Cut supplies of terrorists, weapons and cash from Syria and Iran
5- Get rid of the Iranian nukes and military
6- Change the regime in Iran.
7- A loud and clear message to the world; particularly to Russia, China and their proxy, North Korea: we’re the only superpower and we’ll do what’s best for us and you can’t do a damn thing about it!!

Gee, where did I hear all this before? Such a simple solution! LOL

[Grampa Dave]

Real world/time intel and rapid appropriate actions based on that intel will win in the WOT.

[Grampa Dave]

"It reports that a number of vehicles cordoned off the streets around the building, while US soldiers warned the occupants in three different languages that they should surrender or be killed.

In December, US troops detained a number of Iranians in Iraq, including two with diplomatic immunity who were later released.

Thursday's raid came as US President George W Bush unveiled his new strategy in Iraq, which included increasing troop numbers and a commitment to stop Iranian support for "our enemies in Iraq".


AV are you getting glassy eyed and "home sick" when you read something like this.

Some great intel work here with 3 languages.

[Grampa Dave]

The Clintoon made embassies fair game during his bombing and killing of Serbian Christians. The ChiCom Embassy got bombed and hit.

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3815476c05e1.htm

US Media Ignores Reports Showing US Deliberately Bombed Chinese Embassy

Foreign Affairs Front Page News
Source: The Reagan Information Interchange
Published: 25 Oct 1999 Author: Yoichi Shimatsu, Pacific News Service
Posted on 10/25/1999 23:17:16 PDT by Yosemitest

[tcrlaf]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that an act of war???

[ASA Vet]

Yep

[romanesq]

Blindfolded and frog marched through the streets to cheering crowds of Kurds.
Thank you.

[nkycincinnatikid]

Counsulates are equivalent to KFC's. Only embassies have extra territorial status as far as I know, and then again not even embassies where the current Iranian regime is concerned.