15 Brits Heading Home From Iran
British Sailors, Marines Released By Iran As Easter "Gift" Are On Flight To London
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Play CBS Video Video Iran Frees British Troops President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iran is releasing 15 captured British sailors and marines, surprising the families of the captured troops back home. Elizabeth Palmer has more details.
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Video British Navy Criticized U.S. Navy officers privately called the performance of the British Navy a disgrace after it failed to protect a boarding party from being seized by Iran. David Martin reports from the Pentagon.
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Video Blair: "No Ill Will" To Iran CBS News RAW:British PM Tony Blair says he's pleased that Iran has agreed to release 15 British sailors and marines. Blair said he bears "no ill will" toward the Iranian people.
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Faye Turney, 26, the only woman among the British navy personnel seized by Iran, meets with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in Tehran on April 4, 2007. (AP Photo)
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"This pardon is a gift to the British people," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on April 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gives a medal to Iranian Revolutionary guards commander Abolqasem Amangah, who was among those who intercepted the British sailors and marines, April 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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An image taken from an Iranian state TV broadcast on April 1, 2007, shows captured British sailor Lt. Felix Carmen in front of a nautical map of the Persian Gulf. (CBS/Iranian TV)
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Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair gives a statement to the media outside 10 Downing Street, London, on the announcement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of the release of 15 British sailors and marines held in Iran, April 4, 2007. (AP Photo/ Alastair Grant)
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Photo Essay British Captives Crisis Confrontation between U.K. and Iran over 15 Brit sailors and Marines captured in Persian Gulf.
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Fast Facts Iran Learn about the people, economy and history.
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Fast Facts United Kingdom Learn about the people, economy and history.
Blair thanked British allies in Europe, the U.N. Security Council and in the Middle East for their help in securing the freedom of the Royal Navy personnel.
Syria's information and foreign ministers said Damascus had played a key role.
"Syria exercised a sort of quiet diplomacy to solve this problem and encourage dialogue between the two parties," Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said.
After Ahmadinejad's news conference, state television showed him meeting with the British crew, who were dressed in business suits, outside the presidential palace. He shook hands and chatted with them through a translator, and a caption to the video said the meeting was taking place as part of the "process of release."
"We appreciate it. Your people have been really kind to us, and we appreciate it very much," one of the crew could be heard telling Ahmadinejad in English.
Another said: "We are grateful for your forgiveness."
Ahmadinejad responded in Farsi, "You are welcome."
Among the crew at the palace was sailor Faye Turney, the sole woman among the captives, wearing a blue jacket and floral-patterned blue and white headscarf.
Iranian TV said the British captives had watched Ahmadinejad's news conference live and were ecstatic when a translator told them what the president had said.
British Defense Secretary Des Browne said they had acted with dignity during their captivity.
"It is vital that we get them back home quickly and safely so they can be reunited with their families and loved ones — that is our priority now," he said.
Recent days saw talk of direct negotiations between Britain and Iran, and a decrease in tensions that had risen after Iran broadcast videos in which Turney and the others "confessed" to violating Iranian territorial waters, and Britain expressed outrage.
Ahmadinejad said London had sent a letter to the Iranian Foreign Ministry pledging that entering Iranian waters "will not happen again."
The British Foreign Office responded: "We haven't gone into detail of what was in the note. But we have said all along we made our position clear (about being in Iraqi waters)."
Before announcing the Britons would be freed, Ahmadinejad told reporters that Iran will never accept trespassing in its territory.
"On behalf of the great Iranian people, I want to thank the Iranian coast guard who courageously defended and captured those who violated their territorial waters," he said in awarding a medal to the coast guard commander.
"We are sorry that British troops remain in Iraq and their sailors are being arrested in Iran," Ahmadinejad said.
Ahmadinejad asked Blair not to "punish" the crew for confessing that they had been in Iranian waters when they were seized. Iran broadcast video of some of them giving confessions, angering Britain.
He also criticized Britain for deploying Turney in the Gulf.
"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? Why don't they respect family values in the West?" he asked.
Ahmadinejad's announcement came after Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency reported that an Iranian envoy would be allowed to meet five Iranians detained by U.S. forces in northern Iraq. Another Iranian diplomat, separately seized two months ago by uniformed gunmen in Iraq, was released and returned Tuesday to Tehran.
A U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad said, however, that American authorities are still considering the request. The spokesman, Maj. Gen. William C. Caldwell, said an international Red Cross team, including an Iranian, had visited the prisoners but he did not say when.
Iran has denied it seized the Britons to force the release of Iranians held in Iraq, and Britain has steadfastly insisted it would not negotiate.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 352 Commentsthey have been allowed home safely. He as gotten away very lightly as he did over the death of Dr David Kelly.
Posted by themooniac at 06:21 AM : Apr 05, 2007
*ROFL*
I'll take your word for it.
But the last time I was in Arlington, driving through the intersection of Cooper & I-20 seemed like torture.
Posted by themooniac at 04:03 AM : Apr 05, 2007
You may find it hard to believe that people are being tortured in Arlington, TX (and everywhere else) at this very moment, but that does not alter the fact that people are being tortured.
It appears you have a very limited perception of torture, but torture includes all manner of acts, including mental or physical.
Most murders and rapes would by necessity include torture even if it is not classified as torture.
US forces have no legal authority ("reason") to establish torture chambers and torture anyone regardless what year it may be.
Search on "Baader-Meinhof Gang" or "Red Army Faction" and get back to me on your opinion about "reason to torture."
I served in Europe (and Fort Hood for a couple of months), not Vietnam.
I do not collect a "paycheck."
The office was my office and I financed (for the most part) my own efforts.
Posted by themooniac at 03:29 AM : Apr 05, 2007
Oddly enough, I also served in the US military.
I was a US Army MP from 1970 to 1973.
But, unlike you, I did know US soldiers who tortured people for "kicks." As a matter of fact, I routinely dealt with those types of soldiers.
The most dramatic episode being part of an escort that escorted four convicted soldiers to the US military prison at Leavenworth, KS.
The soldier I was assigned to escort was convicted of murder and rape.
Obviously, you did not encounter the same types of soldiers I encountered.
But, having said that, it is a fact that US forces have tortured people in Iraq and elsewhere, regardless how offensive that may be to you.
It offends me that so called MP's would be involved given the fact we were specifically taught that suspects and detainees were not to be tortured, humiliated (well....) or otherwise treated with anything but military courtesy, as the situation allowed. (hard to be courteous to drunks trying to rip your head off)
Perhaps you should explore your own hypersensitivity rather than attacking people who state the truth.
Posted by themooniac at 03:15 AM : Apr 05, 2007
Chris (Darth Vader) Harris' office was further west on Abram. I don't recall the address or side street, but it was somewhere around Davis.
I know Chris (Senator Dark Lord) very well although I haven't talked to him in years.
He might have had an office in the same complex before I rented my office (1995).
I responded to your comment directed at Islam that Jews & Christians share the same basic view of humanity. And is based on the bible.
How you have managed to turn that into whatever you are ranting about is beyond me.
Posted by themooniac at 02:49 AM : Apr 05, 2007
I used to have an office at 617 W. Main. (Main & Cooper, right behind (north of) McDonalds on Abram).
I was a lobbiest and political activist for over ten years. I have made numerous trips to Austin & Washington, D.C.
Appeared on radio & tv during the course of that effort and do actively participate in politics as my finances and health allow.
As a lobbiest and political activist, I quickly learned that arguing with people is pointless. My method is to listen to their viewpoints, offer my own viewpoints and counter-points and go from there.
It has nothing to do with "fear," it is related to using my time productively.
Most people are so politically ignorant that it would be pointless arguing over the finer points of politics.
I make my case and then go away and stop bothering people. And follow up if I believe it would be helpful.
However, I am an independent and do not support party politics. Parties typically have their own internal squabbles that are irrelevant to me.
Jim Wright was not indispensable and his loss was no great loss. Same with all other politicians.
BTW, it is about 25 miles from my house to 360 & Division.
"I never singled out Muslims."
But, at 01:36 AM : Apr 05, 2007, themooniac said:
"The Islamic (followed by denigratory remarks regarding Islam) . . ."
themooniac then said:
"Why would you even assume I am a Christian????"
to a remark I made that made no reference to his religion.
themooniac, you appear to be suffering from some sort of mental disorder.
You clearly singled out Muslims, and I did not categorize you as anything.
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