Iranian soldiers during a march in 2006
Posted on 03/23/2007 12:51:40 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
The most ominous detail about Iran's seizure of 15 British Royal Marines in the Shatt-al-Arab waterway on Friday morning is that the servicemen were reportedly taken into custody by the navy of the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The IRGC is a powerful, separate branch of the Iranian armed forces. Soaked with nationalist ideology, it has grown into a state within a state in Iran, with its own naval, air and ground forces, parallel to official government institutions. The IRGC is directly controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, the ultimate font of religious and political power in Iran.
The IRGC also has its own intelligence arm and commands irregular forces such as the basij — a voluntary paramilitary group affiliated with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — and the Quds force, which has been accused by the U.S. of supplying material to Iraqi insurgents bent on killing American soldiers.
The IRGC is also known for its clandestine activities including logistical support for militant organizations like Lebanon's Hizballah, which it helped to set up in the 1980s, and several Shi'a militia groups in Iraq. The IRGC's activities are often a thorn in the side of Iran's Foreign Ministry, which is forced to repair the ruptures in Tehran's diplomatic relations with countries the Guard has inflamed with its self-directed adventures. Nevertheless, it has been one of Iran's main instrument in projecting power and influence over the last few decades.
Because the IRGC's actions are always interwoven with the religious-nationalist ideology of Iran's hardliners, extricating the British may be complicated.
(Excerpt) Read more at time.com ...
Iranian soldiers during a march in 2006
The United States delivered 79 F-14 Tomcat fighter jets to Iran before 1979.
Exact same comment I made on another thread.
And it's the standard Arab trick: "don't talk to me, it's those other guys." Then they all go sip sweet tea together and snicker and snicker about how the dumb infidels fell for it.
Maybe it's time for us to clandestinely fund a matching group that just happens to have its own air force, navy, and army. Every time something like this happens, they could respond with force while, at the same time, the US could say, 'gosh we just don't have any control over those guys, sorry 'bout your city'.
I have a feeling that if the Brits respond firmly, a whole new 'line of communication with the guards' will suddenly be discovered by the Iranian government.
In a way, the west brought this on by letting them get away with hiding behind the Hezzies in Lebanon. They've apparently decided this whole 'acting through proxies' thing is cool.
We still have to back up our British cousins.
It's that or admit we are damnable ingrates.
The world's caving in to Hezbollah is coming home to roost.
The time has come to deal with Iran. We must be prepared to make sacrifices and heavy casualties. We cannot continue to put off an inevitable encounter with Iran.
Let us strike Islamofascists at our will!
We are fortunate that we, Americans are in a better position than our cousins. They have Londonistan, after all.
Plus it will give practice for might have to be done later.
Heh heh, good one. I haven't seen the movie yet, looking forward to it.
Let us strike Islamofascists at our will!
Yes! MUCH better than waiting for them to hit us again.
Also, we owe a solemn debt of honor to the Brits. It will honor us to help get their men back.
President Bush should strike Iran while he still can.
Screw what the Democrats think. Let them impeach him.
It's impossible to convict President Bush thanks to Senator Lieberman and the like in the Senate.
Is this punishment because the Brits pulled out of Iraq?
I miss the old days. Didn't it seem that an act of war, used to really be an act of war?
bttt
IRANIAN PRESIDENT SUDDENLY CANCELS U.S. VISIT
May Have Feared Arrest Upon Arrival For Hostage Crisis
May Have Feared British Military Interception Of His Aircraft
DENVER -- The leader of Iran's terrorist regime, Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suddenly cancelled his United Nations visit scheduled for this weekend despite his receiving a visa from the Bush administration. The Iranian government claims the visit was cancelled because the visa came in too late for Ahmadinejad to go, but that holds no water because the UN meeting hasn't even had the time firmed up yet. Now the rest of the story . . .
Fifteen British Royal Marines and sailors are being held hostage by Iran. Gunny's sources say Ahmadinejad may have cancelled because he feared arrest upon arrival in NYC. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is reported to be outraged and may have called President Bush to request Ahmadinejad's arrest. Word of the possible plan may have gotten back to Iran or Ahmadinejad may have smelled the deal.
Another inside source reports to the Gunny that the Iranian president may have feared a British military intercept of his aircraft, which could be forced down somewhere so that British SAS commandos could capture Ahmadinejad.
The Gunny is working to try to verify the reports through independent sources.
Developing . . .
Fair point. Jimmy Carter enabled that entire affair. And, frankly, we haven't been any better.
I agree completely.
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