Britain evacuates embassy staff from Iran
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4
Stanley G Logan
The minimum response to the thuggery of a religious fascist tyranny is cutting it off completely from the civilized world. Let's not forget that the American hostage taking was sanctioned by the then zealot terrorist leader, khomeini, and that in a country where people are tortured and murdered in the streets for peacefully protesting against the regime, this act of vandalism and thuggery must have been sanctioned by the regime's current terrorist leaders.
-2
some14some
Summary of Sensational Headline News !
2
Triumvere
First the Arab League and Syria, and now Russia and Iran. Hard to get a better indication than this that "you've gone too far."
-10
Bebert61
Doesn't feel so good when it happens to you, right? Maybe if you think of them as the South-West Asian branch of the "Occupy" movement, only with possibly better hygiene than their American compatriots, this can be spun as a positive event.
Also, the British should credit these protestors for not using laser-guided bombs against British property, (unlike the British over this past Summer).
0
KuroShadow
No one is fooled by this pantomime.
-6
NetNinja
Well, it's looks like the party has officially started. Burning the "Union Jack" Bad move. I better buy water and rations as the world gets ready to plunge into darkness.
Iran will use it's nuclear weapons.
0
Elbuda Mexicano
Let me guess, they really wanted to invade an AMERICAN embassy but since the next best thing was the UK?? Boy oh boy these fools running Iran make the American Republican party seem like they actually have brains. UK please do not let these idiots in Iran pull you into some kind of war, this is just a ploy, a trick by these religious fanatics running Teheran, not worth it, for now. IMHO.
1
Elbuda Mexicano
Moscow said it hoped “the Iranian authorities undertake necessary measures to immediately restore order, investigate what happened, and prevent a repetition of such incidents.”
But the IRANIAN AUTHORITIES are most like behind this stupid incident, so Moscow, how are they going to investigate themselves??
2
Wolfpack
No big deal. Wait until they take your embassy employees hostage for a year and half before getting really upset over it.
2
seiryoden
If the Occupy Movement were invading the NYSE and the LSE and throwing petrol bombs you might just have a point. But you don't.
There was a Green Revolution in Iran a while back - you may remember seeing a brave young woman murdered on Youtube. However while Iran was in turmoil, Embassies weren't invaded, looted and burnt. I don't particularly like my native British government in its current Tory incarnation; I do however like the Vienna Convention which attempts to ensure that people of good conscience can provide civil service to their countries in hostile regions without fear of punishment. thereby advancing diplomacy.
Oh and please tell me more about the laser-guided bombs that Britain has launched against Iran. Any reputable source would be welcome. Covering the past 50 years or so,
-6
NeverSubmit
"World" outrage? Really, I have yet to meet anybody today that appears to be outraged by this.
Maybe the Iranian authorities should have pepper-sprayed the students point-blank in the face to disperse them like they do in the States.
2
Triumvere
Wow, this is dumb. Word about town is that the "protesters" were all Basij Militia.
0
JeremiahW
@Neversubmit (cool name!Is there a t-shirt?)
THat's the spirit! When I saw this story I too immediately wondered how I could bring in an American angle and defend the poor Iranian government. This has black ops written all over it!
2
Antonios_M
Iran should be more wise and not let these things happen. We can not afford another war of this scale. Iran is not Iraq and the consequences of a conflict against the west would be huge.
1
YuriOtani
NeverSubmit, they are responsible for the safety of the diplomats and the Embassy and property. I think the Iranian government was behind it as well. Question will the embassy reopen? The Iranian government has had it chance to go through the British top secret. Will they trust them to protect their Embassy?
-1
Virtuoso
If Jimmy Carter had had the courage to treat Iran's holding of US diplomats as hostages as an act of war -- which it was -- and reacted forcefully in 1979, none of this would be happening now.
-2
SushiSake3
"Britain led a chorus of .."
Sounds like a choir.
The London International Outrage Choir. :-)
0
Okinawamike
Maybe the Iranian authorities should have pepper-sprayed the students point-blank in the face to disperse them like they do in the States.
Verse a bullet point-blank in the face, ya I would think that would be better.
0
Elbuda Mexicano
Virtuoso the USA had just finished? About to finish the Vietnam conflict/war and had no stomach for another Vietnam style mess but this time over in Iran and let alone with a spineless yellow belly like ex president goober eating Jimmy Carter was. Maybe the USA should have asked israel for a bit of help? Too easy for us to second guess history with 20/20 hindsight right??
6
Foxie
Let's say, the Iranians are "evil" (okay, not the Iranians, but the ruling mullahs). Who are the "good guys"?
The British, who for decades interfered with their colonial policy in the affairs of Iran? Or the Americans who have deposed a prime minister for economic reasons to reinstate the Shah? Read up on the TPAJAX Project.
Yes, storming an embassy is barbaric but honestly - what we have done in the West with the people in Iran, is far worse.
3
tkoind2
The signs of war are growing. I have a great love for Iranian traditional culture and for her people. The tragedy here is that the people of Iran are not represented here. Only their tyrannical and insane current leadership, who I am sure are behind these attacks.
The innocent masses of Iran have tired in vain to remove this current government. They will be the true victims should any war come. And for the world it will be one more nation lost to ongoing, unending war and violence.
I sincerely hope some other solution can be found soon.
-1
Wurthington
I doubt very much that "the world is outraged". I'm no fan of Iran... but that headline is blatant propaganda against them. Many more headlines like that and bombs will fly.
2
Ben_Jackinoff
It is interesting that some participants here seem to think that there is little to nothing wrong with citizens of a country attacking an embassy on their soil.
Yes, we are also all responsible for that one time when Ugg hit Glugg with the club in the cave one million bc.
1
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Maybe Iran wants to make sure the US arsenal is in good shape, and wants a couple of fat boys dropped on it to prove they do.
0
Joseph Garrett Baxter
Dear Virtuoso
It is deluded to try and understand these things completely and then to say that if Jimmy Carter did so and so we would not be in this mess. In that case I could say that if the USA government and CIA did not place people in the Iranian government before Carter's time then we would not be in this situation. The USA screwed up the system there a while ago and not something that Carter should be blamed for. Another point is that there were rumors that the hostages were being kept there until Reagan was elected in order to help him get elected.
0
Elbuda Mexicano
Foxie's comment is valid but this is no excuse for Iran to attack the UK embassy!! I'm sure the UK embassy here in Tokyo must be on high alert! As well as the USA embassy! The religious fanatics in Teheran only want to provoke a diversion from their own internal political problems!! Bill Clinton ordered Lybia attacked when The Monica Lewensky scandal made headline news right?? Here Teheran is raping it's own people night and day. But it will not work! We all know they are evil and up to no good! Ask any Sunni Arab and they will let you know how they feel about Iran.
0
SuperLib
Overall not much can be done. It's Iran. They'll continue to get their little pot shots in. The world will express outrage with statements but not much else will change. Hawks will call for force that will never come. Liberals will use irans actions against the UK to condemn the US. And tomorrow will be Thursday.
0
JeremiahW
It makes sense. Iran president Ahmadinejad was one of the hostage takers in 79 and look at him today! It is amazing how there is a plausible conspiracy for everything, if you look hard enuf and your heart is in the right place.
-3
NeverSubmit
Scenario 1: Iranian Police hold back
AP News Headline: World Outrage as Iranian police allow storming of Embassy
Scenario 2: Iranian Police arrest the protestors
AP News Headline: World Outrage as Iranian police brutally crackdown on peaceful protestors
Either way, the media will try to smear Iran.
Syria is getting blamed for not allowing protests but Iran is getting blamed for allowing them. It's a double standard and Nato will never be pleased until the current governments in Iran and Syria are toppled. Expect more and more smear articles in the days and weeks to come.
Perhaps they might even go back to the ole "WMD" line, it worked last time didn't it.
Deja vu anyone?
0
Ben_Jackinoff
If the comment is valid, then it follows that attacking the embassy was as well. I feel both were not.
4
Ben_Jackinoff
Violently attacking an embassy has nothing to do with being peaceful. Iran allows no protests it does not want to exist. Witness the recent and violent squelching of election protests.
2
JeremiahW
You have a point. Great Britain will bring all of its military might down on Iran and steal all a the oil there , like bush did in Iraq. I too can all too easily foresee the Royal Navy sending at least fifty aircraft carriers and a half dozen nuclear subs they have to Iran. Let's not forget the massive,hair-trigger retaliation the British engaged in a few years back when the Iranian Navy took those British sailors prisoners for being on the wrong side of int'l waters in the straits of Hormuz.
3
Ben_Jackinoff
JeremiahW,
We have to forgive some people for getting the US and the UK confused. They both begin with the letter 'U' after all.
4
zichi
the "world" is outraged, I don't think so?
2
JeremiahW
Britain is of the 1 percent. Iran is part of the 99. I heard it at a protest the other day.
2
Patrick Smash
JeremiahW,
We Brits could borrow an aircraft carrier off France and some suncream from the US and send the mighty British army over to Iraq to teach them a lesson. Not a military lesson of course, maybe a music lesson, perhaps a song or two, like "Rule Britannia"; that would sort 'em out.
-1
NinjaDave
Less outrage than Heysel or Hillsbrough i bet.
3
JeremiahW
President Obama will have to give a speech. It is Britain's only hope.
-3
johninnaha
Time for the great, freedom lovin' US of A to step in and save these poor Iranians from their terrible tyrannical leader.
Like they did in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.
It's about time for another war, people are getting bored.
1
JapanGal
Lucky for the Brits, none were taken hostage. They would have had to send in Austen Powers to rescue them.
0
bass4funk
@Jerimiah
As you know, the anointed one can prevail over everyone and of course, he would save the British, even Austin Powers can't do what he can. Either that or send in Jimmy Carter as a last resort.
-2
Arthur Dumbolov
Well, that was barbaric, but at least West have received signal that people are tired and want changes.
0
Elvensilvan
@Arthur Dumbolov,
People always want changes, specially governments in unstable condition. Give them what they want now, and they'll be at it again after a few months, asking for another.
But letting embassies get attacked by protestants (or rebels, militant groups, etc) is a very grave crime. How many embassies would pull out of Iran because to this?
1
Bgood41
Simply deja vu. Action speaks louder than words. This is the real mind and heart of the Iranians Shiite Muslims under the authoritarianism / theocracy of misguided religious conviction. Shame to the Russian and Chinese who are still protecting the Iranian regime like in Libya & Syria. Barack Obama sounded like lacking the intelligent to understand these protesters are indeed part of Iranian government's policy. What U.N. is going to do? Oh yea, The Chinese and Russian twin will try their best to water down this event, and another letter from the U.N. to the dear Mullahs..I guess! One good news, Mexican Embassy is safe. However, if ruled by Iran; the drug cartels are in big troubles.
0
CrazyJoe
Iran should treat these protesters the same way they do dissidents.
1
some14some
UK should have done it as soon as its Ambassador was expelld from Iran.
-1
Elbuda Mexicano
This is just a careful plan by Iran! To divert attention from their real problems!!!
-1
unreconstructed
johninNaha
No worries there. It is well known in the US that Obama basically loathes your country. Supposedly it goes back to treatment of a grandfather in Kenya (he never met...) who was tortured by his colonial overlords. The State Dept, since 09, has been instructed to call the Falklands the Malvinas. The bust of Churchill presented to Bush by your ambassador after 9-11 was returned unwanted after Obama' s inauguration. In discussing the attack on the embassy in Teheran yesterday our affirmative action president referred to it as "The English Embassy," a gaffe that even Palin would not make.
0
DS
Embassies are soveriegn territory. The host nation has the absolute responsibility to prevent this kind of action, regardless of cost. Allowing them to be invaded is tantamount to an invasion of the embassy's territory.
I thought embassies also had their own security personnel. American embassies generally have Marines to guard them- how about the Brits? It's embarrassing if the embassy's own security staff did nothing to prevent this despicable event.
Unfortunately, there will be no repercussions of any real consequence. The UK has emasculated their military to the point of impotence. They have no air/sealift capacity to speak of, no ability to project power independently. Their only options are to squak impotently, or ask Uncle Sugar to smack down the bully.
0
lostrune2
Hahaha, they still haven't learned to booby-trap embassies in Iran yet?
Just let the striking workers in UK have a go at the Iranian embassy and call it even.
0
NuckinFutz
I say booby trap the whole compound, evacuate, let the protestors (government sponsored thugs) occupy the place - and then blow the whole lot to a million pieces!
0
DS
There used to be a day that tinpot dictators like Ahmadinejad (sp) were quickly slapped down. If they dared to challenge the 'big dogs', they got bitten. I guess there is only one big dog left, and he is busy chewing a bone already.
IMHO, it's better for politicians to say nothing at all then proclaim how disapponted they are, how Iran's behavior is "unacceptable". Obviously, it IS acceptable, because it was accepted without retaliation.
0
Piracy
Britain hits at Iran financially, and who suffers? The ordinary people.
Is it such a surprise the ordinary people might do this in reaction? Does it have to be a conspiracy?
I see Iranian police in the pictures. I see a lot of them in fact. Looks like they are doing their job to me. Is it hard to believe they got overwhelmed by failing to predict how serious the riot would be? Is it easier to believe the conspiracy theory? Really?
If I were going to go with a conspiracy theory it would be the simple fact that the press has been bucking for war with Iran for years now, and an event like this will get spun. Consider the allegation of world outrage.
-1
Triumvere
You are incredibly naïve.
-1
Piracy
And you easily believe what sounds nicest to you rather than accept what might be true.
1
Patrick Hattman
If Iran is truly such a threat to world peace, then let's have the Russians and the Chinese coordinate an effort to contain them, instead of the U.S. always playing the role of world policeman. I'm sick and tired of this country involving itself in wars in the ME that cost us so many dead and wounded and cause our national debt to skyrocket.
0
Triumvere
Right back at you.
You are acting like Iran doesn't do stuff like this all the time: set up rallies, pay protesters to attent, use the Basij to forment conflict and then pretend that the gov't doesn't have a hand in it. Hell, that is what the Basij exist for. This isn't some sort of coked-out tinfoil-hat fantasy. It's entirely consistant with Iran's past behavior.
Yet because you don't like the political implications...
0
TigermothII
While true to a very large degree, this argument gets tiresome as well. Yes, Britain and the US - and other nations as well - have long abused power in controlling the middle east for their own purposes, both for oil/economic reasons and strategically. But the colonial age has seen it's day and gone. The problems in the middle east now reside more with their own leaders and their abuse of power and their people, and their inabilities to forget old hatreds and strive for anything better. And by that I mean the militant, religious, crazy loons who inevitably seize and retain power, not the average 'person on the street' who is likely just as tired of it all as the rest of us.
Being an Anglophile and very much not a fan of our current President, I thought this horrible as well after reading an article on it. But further reading and research showed that in truth, the bust of Churchill was on loan and not a permanent gift. It was slated to go back to Britain some time ago, and the President was just returning it as per protocol. Lesson is don't take everything that you read as gospel. Now giving the Queen an iPod was rather stupid, but poor gift choices are the American way as my father's collection of 'Aqua Velva' attests.
How come every time there is a protest it is concluded that the protestors are 'students'? I saw one 'woman' (difficult to tell in ninja hood scarf) that look about 70. And why do foreigners in third world nations feel need to burn our flags? I dislike the government of Iran, but would never think of burning their flag, and would be appalled if I saw anyone here in the US doing such a thing. Lastly, I wonder what that dude is going to do with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth? If you 'hate' the British why would you want a picture of their monarch? Given historical provenance now though he could make a few bucks on eBay.
0
YuriOtani
So will the UK shut down the Iranian embassy in London and order them to leave the country?
-1
BurakuminDes
The Iranian regime - and their tea-towel wearing "spiritual leader " / Ayotollah grub and his ilk are pathetic. Let's all hope the long-suffering and downtrodden Iranian people one day rise up and destroy the germs running the show there.
0
BurakuminDes
Arthur Dumbalov - Dumb by name, Dumb by nature.
0
Triumvere
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/11/29/iranian-riots-at-british-embassy-portend-troubling-isolationism.html
Not conclusive proof, mind you, but good evidence that this event being backed by the gov't is not merely possible, but has a pretty good chance of being true (and not just some far out theory).
0
Triumvere
It's customary to expel the ambassador of a country that has done the same to yours. Whether the whole embassy will go or not...
-1
BurakuminDes
Yes - thankfully they have - and let's hope these low grubs are never invited back!
0
TigermothII
If you think about it, this has to be government sponsored rather than 'students'. From the last round of 'elections' and the general protest against the government, I find it difficult to believe that a group of students would suddenly take such affront to the latest round of ongoing sanctions against their country (and based upon their countries "possible" pursuance of nuclear weapons, and in support of a nut job who regularly calls for the eradication of an other nation) that they would feel so compelled to take such an action. Plus in the past any student protest has been quickly and violently put down by the current regime, yet this one went on for hours. As if they could not stop unarmed 'students' if they wanted to.
0
TigermothII
The British ambassador was not expelled per say, but rather forced to flee so I should think this would not be cause for any action against the Iranian Ambassador in London.
-1
BurakuminDes
@ TigermothII - the Iranians and their Ambassador have been expelled mate. And credit to your mob for doing so - they are just awful.
0
zichi
The Brits have told the Iranians they have 24 hours to close their London embassy. Both Germany and Italy have also told the Iranians to shut down their embassies.
0
Triumvere
Actually, the Iranians had already made the decision to expell the ambassador prior to this fiasco: he (she?) had been given two weeks to leave.
0
YuriOtani
Triumvere, perhaps but did they also vote to trash the British Embassy and force all of the staff to leave? Their actions and or inaction are responsible for the closing of the British Embassy.
0
Triumvere
I'm not sure I grasp your objection, Yuri. I was simply pointing out that the British ambassador was already in the process of being formally expelled when the incident occured.
0
TigermothII
My bad - they did indeed and are expelling the Iranians.
Not my mob old boy. Unless I went to bed and woke up an Ayatollah!
0
YuriOtani
Triumvere, Ambassador is a single person. This closed the Embassy (stopping all services) and sending home the staff.
0
Piracy
Well Triumvere, that was certainly more mature than just jumping up and declaring me naive, wasn't it? I can tell you for sure that if you were going to change my mind, that last post did a much better job.
Last year, BBC said a protest on the Italian Embassy also had the Basij militia behind it, however they did not storm it. On the other hand, the U.S. hostage crisis was also carried out by students. This article blames students. Wikipedia also blames students: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011BritishEmbassyinTehran_attack
True that I don't want a war, but I think you might be imagining that I have come out swinging for the Iranian government. At least I hope you are not operating under that delusion.
1
Triumvere
Piracy,
I'm sorry if my post was offensive. I interperated your original post to indicate you thought that believing the Iranian government was behind the embassy take-over to be foolish - a position I, in turn, felt was foolish. Thus the tone of the post, which was perhaps ill considered.
I in no way meant to indicate you were a proponant of the Iranian government. Likewise, I doubt there are many here that truly want war with Iran, despite the occasionaly belicose language on display.
Yuri, Still not sure where we are in disagreement... it is possible, I believe, to expel and ambassador, but to still retain a low level diplomatic pressence at an embassy. I'm not sure if Iran originally ordered out the entire British delegation or just the ambassador. Clearly, after the crisis, the entire British delegation has been evacuated. In any case (whether the siege was orchastrated or not), Iran's failure to protect the embassy was deemed grounds to expel the Iranian delegation from Britian.
Are you refering here to the original Iranian gov't decision to expel British diplomats, the seige of the embassy, or Britian's decision to send the Iranian diplomats home in response?
0
jforce
PatrickHattman: You got it. I say pull everyone out, ignore Iran, and let's have our UN superpower allies China and Russia deal with them(although they probably won't). While we're at it, bring all the troops back from these awful places. Start focusing on the internal problems. So the UK got a smack in the face, at least no one was injured and they are getting their people out. If Iran want to behave like savages, let them. If they can't throw their insane leader out on their own, then that's their problem. If they want some wacky religion to dictate their global policy, then so be it. Turn the lights off and close up shop. Time to come home.
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