Yes, but they were just simple touristas...
U.S. Is Holding Iranians Seized in Raids in Iraq
NYT:
BAGHDAD, Dec. 24 — The American military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including men the Bush administration called senior military officials, who were seized in a pair of raids late last week aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces, according to senior Iraqi and American officials in Baghdad and Washington.The Bush administration made no public announcement of the politically delicate seizure of the Iranians, though in response to specific questions the White House confirmed Sunday that the Iranians were in custody.
Gordon D. Johndroe, the spokesman for the National Security Council, said two Iranian diplomats were among those initially detained in the raids. The two had papers showing that they were accredited to work in Iraq, and he said they were turned over to the Iraqi authorities and released. He confirmed that a group of other Iranians, including the military officials, remained in custody while an investigation continued, and he said, “We continue to work with the government of Iraq on the status of the detainees.”
It was unclear what kind of evidence American officials possessed that the Iranians were planning attacks, and the officials would not identify those being held. One official said that “a lot of material” was seized in the raid, but would not say if it included arms or documents that pointed to planning for attacks. Much of the material was still being examined, the official said.
Nonetheless, the two raids, in central Baghdad, have deeply upset Iraqi government officials, who have been making strenuous efforts to engage Iran on matters of security. At least two of the Iranians were in this country on an invitation extended by Iraq’s president, Jalal Talabani, during a visit to Tehran earlier this month. It was particularly awkward for the Iraqis that one of the raids took place in the Baghdad compound of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq’s most powerful Shiite leaders, who traveled to Washington three weeks ago to meet President Bush.
Over the past four days, the Iraqis and Iranians have engaged in intense behind-the-scenes efforts to secure the release of the remaining detainees. One Iraqi government official said, “The Iranian ambassador has been running around from office to office.”
Release them? Send them to Riyadh. Then laugh, or maybe some Iraqi 'students' can take some time off from death squad extracurricular fun and take over the Iranian embassy, so sorry
Continue reading "Yes, but they were just simple touristas..." »
- Hey, Maybe Barry Can Talk Them Out Of It
Good ole George would be shaking his head. NYT: Hezbollah Trains Iraqis in Iran, Officials Say By MICHAEL R. GORDON BAGHDAD -- Militants from the Lebanese group Hezbollah have been training Iraqi militia fighters at a camp near Tehran,...
- Iran Confirms It Brokered Truce Between Iraq And Sadr
What was that Newt Gingrich said, in the video below, about us being in a "phoney war"? From Pat Dollard: TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Officials in Iran confirmed for the first time Saturday that the country played an important role in brokering a recent truce...
- Iran In Iraq - Us Intelligence Report ..hyped Or Hurt?
Internal struggle in U.S. intelligence community delays report on Iran's role in Iraq The Bush administration will roll out its evidence for Iranian interference in Iraq, including details on intelligence operations and weapons and explosives support...
- Zarqawi Raid Yields Al Qaeda Treasure Chest
There have been 452 raids, and 109 kills since Zarqawi's home was hit by the United States: BAGHDAD, Iraq - American and Iraqi forces have carried out 452 raids since last week's killing of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and 104 insurgents...
- Talabani Hopeful After Meeting Insurgents
Is the campaign of terrorism in Iraq nearing its end? BAGHDAD, Iraq - President Jalal Talabani has met with insurgent representatives and is optimistic they may agree to disarm, his office said Sunday — the first time a senior Iraqi official has acknowledged...