PING!
Posted on 04/04/2007 9:58:35 AM PDT by IrishMike
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran on Wednesday freed the 15 detained British sailors and marines in what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called an Easter gift to the British people. Prime Minister Tony Blair said he bore "no ill will" toward the Iranian people. Iranian state television said the 14 men and one woman, who were seized while on patrol in the northern Persian gulf on March 23, would leave Iran on Thursday. An Iranian official in London said they would be handed over to British diplomats in Tehran.
Ahmadinejad's surprise announcement came at a news conference shortly after he pinned a medal on the chest of the Iranian coast guard commander who intercepted the sailors and marines.
"I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released and I know their release will come as a relief not just to them but to their families," Blair said outside his No. 10 Downing St. office. "Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting, either."
Blair added, "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: We bear you no ill will."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
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Blair is talking to the Iranian people and not to the tyrannical Iranian mullacracy.
Do they mean “British HOSTAGES” ? Thank God Pelosi got them out of there....good to see the legislative branch dictating our foreign policy. Chalk one up for all the lawyers and judges who have our constitution in their sites!
PING!
I like the fact that British FEMALE hostage is adhering to muslim law....look out amerika, here they come!
Yes, the timing of their release just after Pelosi’s trip was an attempt to strengthen the political Left in the West, but it won’t have a significant political impact.
And as an Easter present to the people of Iran, let’s blow that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s head off right then pin a medal on the rifleman......
Good for the Brits. They were very lucky. This will give the “Gushing Heads” BS fodder for at least a week.
Eleven in the picture; four hands in the air.
Five of them said to hell with the Iranians pointing the guns at them and saying “smile or else”.
Of course the left is saying wonderful things about how well they were treated as is obvious by the smiling cheers in this picture.
I would bet four careers are DOA in Britain; those that were just too quick to cooperate with Iranian interrogators.
Count on the Dems/Pelosi to take credit.
It’s already begun. The media has begun spinning Syria’s role in the release already. Ahmadinejad and Assad coordinated this whole production with the Democrats. And it’s going to work to perfection.
I wonder what was said that we or the rest of the world will never hear?
Don’t forget though, the Russians are on our side on the nuclear weapons issue, and Russians are the world’s greatest chess players. Dubya & Cheney are good chess players too, and Bush is darn good at Texas Hold-em poker.
I figured the Pelosi trip to Syria would be used to diss Bush and Blair and help the Dems. Looks like I was right...
“I think next time I want to give someone a gift, I’ll steal an item from them first, and then magnanimously give it back.”
It’s called an “Income Tax Refund”. ‘Tis the season, apres tout.
Good for the Brits, I hope no one kissed Irans A$$.
Ive really made a point to avoid 2nd guessing the Brits on this but as more and more comes out I think it’s time for them to back off and clear out of the Gulf Region. They are only a liabilty and hinderance now. It’s really too bad. We really need a strong ally but it looks like the UK has fallen into the surrender monkey camp.
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