Iranian students target U.K. Embassy

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

TEHRAN, Iran - About 200 students threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy on Sunday, calling for the expulsion of the country’s ambassador because of the standoff over Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines.

Several dozen policemen prevented the protesters from entering the embassy compound, although a few briefly scaled a fence outside the compound’s walls before being pushed back, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

The protesters chanted “Death to Britain†and “Death to America†as they hurled stones into the courtyard of the embassy. They also demanded that the Iranian government expel the British ambassador and close down the embassy, calling it a “den of spies.â€

Britain’s Foreign Office said there had been no damage to the compound.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman in London, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said diplomats were working normally inside the embassy.

“There is a police presence outside and there is no risk to those inside,†said the spokeswoman.

Britain and Iran are at a standoff over the 15 seized sailors and marines. Britain said they were in Iraqi waters when detained, but Iran has contended the Britons entered its waters illegally.

British government and defense officials refused to discuss a report that claimed a Royal Navy captain or commodore would be sent to Tehran as a special envoy to negotiate the return of the personnel.

The official would deliver an assurance that British naval crews would never deliberately enter Iranian waters without permission, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Transport Minister Douglas Alexander said Britain was engaged in “exploring the potential for dialogue with the Iranians.â€

“The responsible way forward is to continue the often unglamorous, but important and quiet diplomatic work to get our personnel home,†Alexander told the British Broadcasting Corp.’s Sunday AM program.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett appeared to soften rhetoric against Iran Saturday — though she stopped far short of the apology sought by many in Iran.

“I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen,†Beckett said in Bremen, Germany, before returning to England. “What we want is a way out of it.â€

Bush: 'Inexcusable behavior'

President Bush on Saturday called for the release of the sailors and marines and labeling their capture “inexcusable behavior.â€

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17896952/

Edited April 1, 2007 by LuckyStrike

[GaryC 7]

Oh boy! I hope they beef up the security at the embassies. I wouldn't like to see another takeover.

[mawilson 2,133]

Oh boy! I hope they beef up the security at the embassies. I wouldn't like to see another takeover.

Wouldn't that be, basically, a declaration of war?

The 1979 takeover was an invasion of US soil by a foreign force, and should have been met with force in arms.

[Dean/Gra 0]

TEHRAN, Iran - About 200 students threw rocks and firecrackers at the British Embassy on Sunday, calling for the expulsion of the country’s ambassador because of the standoff over Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines.

Several dozen policemen prevented the protesters from entering the embassy compound, although a few briefly scaled a fence outside the compound’s walls before being pushed back, according to an Associated Press reporter at the scene.

The protesters chanted “Death to Britain†and “Death to America†as they hurled stones into the courtyard of the embassy. They also demanded that the Iranian government expel the British ambassador and close down the embassy, calling it a “den of spies.â€

Britain’s Foreign Office said there had been no damage to the compound.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman in London, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government rules, said diplomats were working normally inside the embassy.

“There is a police presence outside and there is no risk to those inside,†said the spokeswoman.

Britain and Iran are at a standoff over the 15 seized sailors and marines. Britain said they were in Iraqi waters when detained, but Iran has contended the Britons entered its waters illegally.

British government and defense officials refused to discuss a report that claimed a Royal Navy captain or commodore would be sent to Tehran as a special envoy to negotiate the return of the personnel.

The official would deliver an assurance that British naval crews would never deliberately enter Iranian waters without permission, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

Transport Minister Douglas Alexander said Britain was engaged in “exploring the potential for dialogue with the Iranians.â€

“The responsible way forward is to continue the often unglamorous, but important and quiet diplomatic work to get our personnel home,†Alexander told the British Broadcasting Corp.’s Sunday AM program.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett appeared to soften rhetoric against Iran Saturday — though she stopped far short of the apology sought by many in Iran.

“I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen,†Beckett said in Bremen, Germany, before returning to England. “What we want is a way out of it.â€

Bush: 'Inexcusable behavior'

President Bush on Saturday called for the release of the sailors and marines and labeling their capture “inexcusable behavior.â€

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17896952/

Only 200 students? May be thats all the money they had to pay out til they sell some more oil. Why is it that only students are involved in these kinds of things? What about carpenters or doctors, or housewives, but no it is always "students". The guy with the rock looks like a wino., or should I say homeless person? Somebody help me I'm really trying to be politically correct here.

Remember the Pueblo? In 1967 or 1968 N. Korea captured a US Navy ship with all hands except one I think was killed during the capture. It was an electronic surveillance ship operating in international waters. Totally unarmed except for small arms. This was during the Vietnam War, Lyndon Johnson was president. The US did absolutely nothing about this except bellow and bark. They ended up letting them all go after more than a year in captivity. They kept the ship and all the ultra sensitive electronic equipment on it as well as all the printed documents. The war in Vietnam was very unpopular at the time just as the conflict in Iraq is unpopular with some folks. Therefore I dont think anything will happen in this situation. I believe the Iranians did this knowing that UK would do nothing, just as N Korea did. They did this for several reasons; they wanted the price of oil to increase because they are hurting financially, they want to take the news away from the nuclear subject, they want to quiet their own opponents at home.

By the way, USN Cdr, Lloyd Bucher, was court martialed for the Pueblo incident. He failed to follow standing orders to scuttle the ship if capture was imminent, although almost assuredly all hands would have been lost due to the nearly freezing water temps. They would survive not much more than 5 minutes in the frigid January water. They also had grenades that they could have placed on top of the equipment and it would have burned all the way thru the equipment, but they didn't do that either.

Oh boy! I hope they beef up the security at the embassies. I wouldn't like to see another takeover.

Hey Gary, now that Luz is finally with you dont you have more important things to do that be on the computer? I know why my Sweetie gets here in about a month and a half I will disappear. lol

[GaryC 7]

Oh boy! I hope they beef up the security at the embassies. I wouldn't like to see another takeover.

Hey Gary, now that Luz is finally with you dont you have more important things to do that be on the computer? I know why my Sweetie gets here in about a month and a half I will disappear. lol

She isn't here yet. 5 more days. I am sure I will be scarce for a while after that.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Did Blair whine more when he heard about this?

"I don't understand why they're doing this" *waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah*

The Iranians smell weakness.

[mawilson 2,133]

Did Blair whine more when he heard about this?

"I don't understand why they're doing this" *waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah*

The Iranians smell weakness.

Gupt,

Earlier you suggested that Britain should roll over and hand over sovereignty of the Falkland

Islands to Argentine.

Now you seem to be saying that Britain should "toughen up" and kick some Iranian butt.

So, do you prefer a weak Britain or a strong Britain? You can't have it both ways.

Whose side are you on, anyway?

[Dan J 277]

Oh boy! I hope they beef up the security at the embassies. I wouldn't like to see another takeover.

Wouldn't that be, basically, a declaration of war?

The 1979 takeover was an invasion of US soil by a foreign force, and should have been met with force in arms.

Embassies are not exactly foreign soil, at least not in the sense of being on the land of another country. Embassies are on land owned of the foreign country, but is not subject to local laws. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterritoriality

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Did Blair whine more when he heard about this?

"I don't understand why they're doing this" *waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah*

The Iranians smell weakness.

Gupt,

Earlier you suggested that Britain should roll over and hand over sovereignty of the Falkland

Islands to Argentine.

Now you seem to be saying that Britain should "toughen up" and kick some Iranian butt.

So, do you prefer a weak Britain or a strong Britain? You can't have it both ways.

Whose side are you on, anyway?

[Caladan 19]

Oh boy! I hope they beef up the security at the embassies. I wouldn't like to see another takeover.

Wouldn't that be, basically, a declaration of war?

The 1979 takeover was an invasion of US soil by a foreign force, and should have been met with force in arms.

Under the circumstances, yes; under international law, not necessarily. Embassies are on the soil of the foreign country but not subject to its laws. So it can't be invaded, because it's its own land, but it can't have force of law, because it's not under its jurisdiction.

According to NPR this morning, Iran's backing off the video 'confessions', and the UK and Iran are negotiating the release of the sailors.