U.S. Troops Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq
Posted on January 11, 2007
This happened only hours after President Bush announced he would crack down on Iran’s involvment in Iraq’s violence. It looks like it aint just talk. (H/T) Riehl World View:
U.S. troops raided an Iranian consulate in northern Iraq late Wednesday night and detained several people, Iran’s main news agency reported today, prompting protests from Tehran just hours after President Bush pledged to crack down on the Islamic Republic’s role in Iraqi violence.
Iran released news of the raid through its Islamic Republic News Agency in a dispatch that was broadly critical of Bush’s plan to deploy about 21,500 more troops to Iraq.
The IRNA report said that U.S. forces entered the Iranian consulate in Irbil, in Iraq’s Kurdish-dominated north, and seized computers, documents and other items. The report said five staff members were taken into custody.
The Iranian foreign ministry appealed to the Iraqi government to obtain the release of its personnel.
Looks to me like the Iranians overplayed their hand.
My understanding is that the Kurds know how to deal with insurgents. They are merciless. Which is why you rarely hear of terrorist incidents in areas controlled by the Kurds.
The Belmont Club: A Down Payment on 1979
There are times when revelling in historical irony and glorying in a cold dish of revenge can’t be helped. The nature of the 1979 humiliation perpetrated by the Iranians was so profoundly disturbing to those of us who lived through it that this clearly illegal violation of the “sacred soil†of Iran just doesn’t matter very much – even in an intellectual context. We know it is wrong and yet the satisfaction is so complete that world opinion, international law, even the consequences of the raid to our diplomats just don’t balance the ledger against it.
No doubt the Iranians will squawk about the violation of diplomatic immunity, incursion on sovereign Iranian territory, international law, blah blah blah. I encourage them then to raid our embassy and consulates in Iran. …oh yeah, we don’t have any. Remember why? This is an early indicator that the gloves are in fact off, which is the key component to success in this change of strategy.
The Political Pitbull reacts to Glenn Greenwald’s Reaction:
The dumbest reaction I’ve seen to this on the left is from Glenn Greenwald, whom without apparently understanding the irony of his question, asks, “Isn’t it a definitive act of war for one country to storm the consulate of another, threaten to kill them if they do not surrender, and then detain six consulate officers?”
I don’t know about you, but it seems that Greenwald’s rather quick to side with Iran on this one. It is indisputable that Iran has been actively involved in supporting the insurgency in Iraq–especially by providing insurgents with IEDs and weaponry that have contributed directly to US casualties. Don’t those actions by Iran count as a definitive act of war? Doesn’t the US have a right to fight back against Iranian interference? In Greenwald’s mind apparently, the answer to those questions seems to be no.
Others: LGF
AJ Strata
The Anchoress
Wizbang
Hot Air
Gateway Pundit
Atlas Shrugs takes a look at Iran’s secret plan to create chaos in Iraq and links to video.
» Filed Under News, War On Terror
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5 Responses to “U.S. Troops Raid Iranian Consulate in Iraq”
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The Giants
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I question the prudence of this action. Wouldnt surveillance wire taps, and bugging the consulate been a better choice.We need the support of the Iranian people to get rid of “The Monkey”. He will use this as a propaganda tool against us regardless what evidence is found.
I agree with Fausta - game on Iran. Get ready for a little shock and awe!!
I excerpted and linked at U. S. troops raid Iranian not-a-Consulate. Raid yes, consulate no. Persian speak with forked tongue, again. Shocked!
Nothing like backing your words with action!!!
God’s speed to the U.S. and Iraqi troops…
AubreyJ………
The words of Rick Moran:
“There are times when revelling in historical irony and glorying in a cold dish of revenge can’t be helped. The nature of the 1979 humiliation perpetrated by the Iranians was so profoundly disturbing to those of us who lived through it that this clearly illegal violation of the “sacred soil†of Iran just doesn’t matter very much – even in an intellectual context. We know it is wrong and yet the satisfaction is so complete that world opinion, international law, even the consequences of the raid to our diplomats just don’t balance the ledger against it.”
Are perfect. Oh the irony. If Iran wants to whine about this, too bad. Remember 1979? Now it’s their turn.