Russians employed at Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactor suddenly depart in a body (rats leaving ship?)

Khorramshar News Agency via Debka ^ | 10-01-07

[yankeesdoodle]

The Khorramshar News Agency, which is published by the ethnic Arab underground of Iran’s oil-rich Khuzestan, reported early Oct. 1 that the entire staff of Russian nuclear engineers and experts employed in building the nuclear reactor at Bushehr had abruptly packed their bags Friday, Sept. 28, and flew back to Russia. The agency’s one-liner offers no source or explanation. DEBKAfile have obtained no corroboration of its report from any other source.

The story appears to have originated with the ethnic Arabs who live near the reactor or who come in contact with its Russian staff. If true, DEBKAfile can offer three hypothetical scenarios to account for the Russians’ precipitate departure:

1. Another crisis has cropped up in the patchy Russian-Iranian dealings over the Bushehr reactor. This is unlikely because Russian president Vladimar Putin is due for a high-profile visit to Tehran on Oct. 16, when he plans to sign a series of nuclear accords with the Islamic Republic. Furthermore, Moscow, like Beijing, stands foursquare behind Iran’s efforts to delay harsher sanctions for its continued uranium enrichment. Only this week, the two powers gained Iran two to three months’ grace by forcing a delay in the UN Security Council session that was to have approved a third round of sanctions.

2. Moscow or Tehran has been tipped off that a US or Israeli attack is imminent on the Bushehr plant and Iran’s other nuclear installations and acted to whip Russian personnel out of harm’s way.

[jveritas]

We shall see :)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks!

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

...that Russians sell you only worthless crap, as evidenced by Israel’s Syria raid.

...And laughing all the way to the bank......

[jerseygirl]

Yup. Tipped off....

[rfp1234]

A body of water?

[Marine_Uncle]

No use trying to second guess perhaps near future events if the report is indeed accurate. I can't see Iran's Qod units openly attacking US or Coaliton forces in Iraq.
They would have so much to loose, if we retaliated by wiping out all their western flank military bases and communications within a day or two campaign using our Airforce and Naval assests.
They have to consider a very large disproportional retaliation, that would make them look like fools.
The other options. Who knows. It will not be the first time the Russians have pulled out their engineering staff. Maybe the ruskies are welshing on the quality of nuclear fuel or something, and have pissed off the Persians. Lots of scenarios could be written. If the Iranians are coming up with their side of the agreement to pay for the services, why would the Russians just pull out.
Perhaps GWB promised currently retireing CJCS, General Pace, a gone away present, during the wonderful ceremony at Fort Meyers, as Admiral Mike Mullens assumes the watch, and figured he would place a friendly call to Putie to get his boys out while time permitted.
Then again. The report may be totally bogus.

[MrLee]

I’d be more concerned with reason #3.

[MHGinTN]

[GlennBeck08]

Thank you... I stink ;)

[MHGinTN]

Naw, and don't say that when you're using the name of a media guy I admire. (^:

[GlennBeck08]

Naw, and don't say that when you're using the name of a media guy I admire. (^: Seeing as you're still around.. how does one get a picture to post? I used an HTML tutorial I found on google and it got me nothing but italics.

[ken21]

my thought, 2!

[hlmencken3]

The Jerusalem Post has this story, citing the Times of London as its source.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1191257209652&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[John123]

Preparing for October 12?

Are you referring to the 12th Imam?

[MHGinTN]

Here's the FR addy to our quick and easy html tutorial [http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1555762/posts ]. Just click on the red.

[GlennBeck08]

haha.. I knew to click on the red ;) Thank you for that link, it’ll come in handy, it’s going to be added to my favorites and opened everytime I come here. It’s people like you, MHGinTN that make freerepublic.com the best web site on the algore invented internet.

[Cementjungle]

I think it’s a contract dispute over the comissioning process.

Something having to do with the cafeteria running out of vodka.

[MHGinTN]

You're more than welcome, N00b. (^:

BTW, you can always ask and freepers will come to your aid.

[LtKerst]

Moscow or Tehran has been tipped off that a US or Israeli attack is imminent on the Bushehr plant and Iran’s other nuclear installations and acted to whip Russian personnel out of harm’s way.

This would be good news.
just make sure AmadJihad is taking a Tour of the reactor..
and he survives for 2-3 days......like a Microwaved Chicken.

[hinckley buzzard]

I think we had a very similar report maybe six weeks or a couple months ago. Maybe this sort of thing happens regularly with the Russians. Or maybe it's BS.