BAGHDAD, Sept. 24, 2007
Iran Closes Some Border Crossings To Iraq
Move Reportedly A Protest Of The U.S. Detention Of An Iranian Official
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A family crosses from Iran into Iraq at the Zarbatiya border crossing, 100 miles southeast of Baghdad, Iraq on Sept. 12, 2007. Iran reportedly closed several key border crossings Monday, Sept. 24, 2007 to protest the U.S. detention of an Iranian official in northern Iraq. (AP Photo/Kim Gamel)
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A man crosses from Iran into Iraq at the Zarbatiya border crossing, Sept. 12, 2007. U.S. soldiers are training border guards in this remote area, a suspected entry point for weapons and foreign fighters. (AP Photo/Kim Gamel)
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Iraqis examine a vehicle destroyed in an overnight raid by U.S. troops in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Sept. 24, 2007. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
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At least four border gates had been closed, with just one remaining open in a move that will severely curtail trade between the two countries, the governor of the Kurdish province of Sulaimaniyah, Dana Ahmed Majeed, told The Associated Press.
At least four border gates have been closed and one remains open, the governor of the Kurdish province of Sulaimaniyah, Dana Ahmed Majeed, told The Associated Press. The move threatens the economy of Iraq's northern region - one of the country's few success stories.
In Tehran, the public relations department in Iran's Interior Ministry said no decision had been taken to shut the border.
But Kurdish authorities said the Iranians began shutting down the crossing points late Sunday near the border towns of Banjiwin, Haj Omran, Halabja and Khanaqin.
The move came four days after U.S. troops arrested an Iranian official during a raid on a hotel in Sulaimaniyah, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad.
U.S. officials said he was a member of the elite Quds force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards that smuggles weapons into Iraq. But Iraqi and Iranian leaders said he was in the country on official business and with the full knowledge of the government.
"This closure from the Iranian side will have a bad effect on the economic situation of the Kurdish government and will hurt the civilians as well," said Jamal Abdullah, a spokesman for the autonomous Kurdish government. "We are paying the price of what the Americans have done by arresting the Iranian."
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, also has protested the detention Thursday by U.S. troops of the Iranian in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah. Talabani demanded the Iranian's release, warning the arrest could affect relations between the two neighbors.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said the man, who has been identified as Mahmudi Farhadi, was in charge of border transactions in western Iran and went to Iraq on an official invitation.
The U.S. military said the suspect was being questioned about "his knowledge of, and involvement in," the transportation of EFPs and other roadside bombs from Iran into Iraq and his possible role in the training of Iraqi insurgents in Iran. No charges against the Iranian have been filed yet.
In other developments:
Also Monday, the U.S. military said U.S. troops killed one suspected militant and detained four others said to be involved in kidnapping operations run by Iranian-backed Shiite militias during a raid in eastern Baghdad.
© 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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After watching the interview with Ahmadinejad, it is a sad day when a crackpot like Ahmadinejad comes across as far more believable than our own President. I just don''t believe a word that comes from our Administration, not one word.
"In a separate incident Monday, the U.S. military says U.S. troops killed one suspected militant and detained four others said to be involved in kidnapping operations run by Iranian-backed Shiite militias during a raid in eastern Baghdad."
So first we were fighting Saddam Hussein and his supporters, then it turned into insurgents, then we were caught in the middle of a civil war with the Shiite''s and Sunni''s, but the administration hates the term civil war so that changed into al Qaeda. EVERY act of violence was blamed on al Qaeda even though al Qaeda didn''t exist in Iraq before Bush started his war. Now he''s trying to ramp up support for attacking Iran so now EVERY act of violence is now committed by "Iranian-backed Shiite militias".
What happened to the baathists insurgents and "sectarian violence" trouble makers? They just disappeared? And NOW the violence created by al Qaeda seems to be going away - replaced by "Iranian-backed Shiite militias".
Good lord!! Does anyone REALLY know who, what, or why we''re actually fighting? Where does it stop?!?!
Why is it that Iran is accused of smuggling weapons into Iraq, (no proof though) and that is terrible and they are awful people?
But Blackwater IS SELLING / GIVING WEAPONS TO THE ENEMY, (and there IS PROOF), and that''s perfectly acceptable?
Not too long ago, I believe in June, the US military said it was giving weapons, ammo, and training to Sunni''s to "fight al Qaeda", and then some of our troops were killed with some of those weapons. Why is this perfectly acceptable?
Why is it acceptable that America arms the enemy to kill it''s own soldiers?!?! AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE?!?!
To: fuziwuzi: Please post a link to any reputable and verifiable source that, 1) Cheney admitted to "ordering" Isreal to do anything, 2) It is sad when gullible conspiracy theorists actually say things like, "Ahmadinejad comes across as far more believable than our own President".
To hungry1968: Are you unable to wrap your mind around the fact that there are multiple bad actors in the theater?
Posted by kynoto1 at 08:44 AM : Sep 24, 2007
Are you unable to wrap your little mind around the fact that this WASN''T an issue BEFORE the invasion and occupation?
Are our own military leaders and Blackwater considered "bad actors" as they relate to arming the enemy?
Do you find the "arming of our enemy", by people that are allegedly on our side, acceptable?
Apparently, since you''ve abandoned that line of "thinking", you are now agreeing with my assesment of it''s ignorance.
Bush/Cheney created anarchy in Iraq as soon as they deposed the dictator and his army and left three distinct ethnic groups to battle for influence. EVERYbody who knew anything about Iraq, its culture, and its history knew this was coming. Cheney, who even acknowledged this scenario back when he was with Bush I, defending the pullout after the first Gulf War, got greedy after being CEO of Halliburton, and evidently thought this venture was worth the risk for the sake of grabbing cheap oil. All these other lines you guys are quoting were always for the media to pass on to the US citizens footing the bill. EVERYbody knows this. Greenspan even recently bluntly stated the same (while even justifying the strategy of securing the oil for American interests). My question to you, kynoto, is: given the absolute chaos now in existance in Iraq, why should I and other taxpayers shuck out another $198 BILLION this year for Bush & Cheney''s gamble gone wrong?
QUESTION: What will change current Iranian political behavior regarding nuclear development & terrorist sponsorship?
"All these other lines you guys are quoting were always for the media to pass on to the US citizens footing the bill." More CT hogwash. Only in the CT world is the US media a propaganda tool completely controlled by the gov''t, and only in the CT world can the gov''t tell any lie whatsoever and get a way with it.
"EVERYbody knows this." Least convincing argument ever.
"Greenspan even recently bluntly stated the same (while even justifying the strategy of securing the oil for American interests)." The relevant passage from the Greenspan book has been utterly distorted beyond recognition until it has no resemblance to its original meaning. This is a fantastic counter-example to your belief that the media is either in bed w/ the gov''t, unwilling to disagree w/ the gov''t, or hoodwinked by the gov''t. In this case, the media bias has led them to purposely mislead (initially) and then blindly repeat (because it suits their bias and they are lazy) misinformation who''s target is the gov''t.
Posted by afmca at 10:35 AM : Sep 24, 2007
+ report abuse
I think if you read the article it''s the CITIZENS of Iraq who think this is a bad idea! It could bring to a halt about the ONLY success we''ve had in that Nation. Since our goal is to get somekind of peace in Iraq, I think that''s Sir Lies-A-Lot''s last image of "victory" in Iraq, I''d say that''s a pretty big deal.
To: fuziwuzi: Please post a link to any reputable and verifiable source that, 1) Cheney admitted to "ordering" Isreal to do anything, 2) It is sad when gullible conspiracy theorists actually say things like, "Ahmadinejad comes across as far more believable than our own President".
To hungry1968: Are you unable to wrap your mind around the fact that there are multiple bad actors in the theater?
Posted by kynoto1 at 08:44 AM : Sep 24, 2007
+ report abuse
Are you able to wrap your mind around the FACT that Iraq had NO Weapons and was NO threat to this nation when the MORON a few of you still call a President attacked Iraq? What leader in their RIGHT mind starts a War that doesn''t have to be when the man who planned and carried out the attack against you is still free? It''s the most insane thing I''ve ever heard, yet you losers keep defending him. This is the most Incompetent Leader this nation has ever had hands down and YOU freaks just keep puking up the same garbage you have been doing now for over 4 years. If we''d have listened to you clowns Bush would still be saying we were winning in Iraq and the insurgency is on it''s last legs. Sieg Heil Bush!!
If anyone''s behaviour has been terroristic and war-mongering it has been that of the Washington Regime. It was the Regime that shot down an Iranian passenger plane, murdering all aboard. It has been the trillion dollars in aid to the Zionist state that has allowed it to grow and attack its neighbors and hold the inhabitants of the land in an apartheid existence while flouting the UN.
bid contracts let by the Pentagon that have resulted in smuggling of arms to the insurgents.
Posted by hungry1968 at 08:33 AM : Sep 24, 2007
You know the releases coming out of Wash. D.C. it is hard to keep up. It is no wonder we hear this one day and it is found to be not true so they twist it again and again. The Kurds were the only good story out of Iraq and from What I see it had a booming economy and there elected officials and were doing all this building you would not even think it was Iraq so maybe since we brag on this so much Iran is saying I will upset this area I think it is a political mess and I do not trust Maliki or Bush so there you go why shouldn''t we be confused and upset The Kurds, The persians, the Sunni arabs, the Sheites, Is there no wonder everyone wants to rule the other and never the twain will meet if we stay there 100 years c''mon
"...YOU freaks just keep puking up the same garbage you have been doing now for over 4 years." Please point out where I have said anything of the sort, moron.
"It has been the trillion dollars in aid to the Zionist state that has allowed it to grow and attack its neighbors and hold the inhabitants of the land in an apartheid existence while flouting the UN." The use of "Zionist state" instead of Israel reveals your viewpoint clearly, but you go on to drive it home. Israel only attacks as defensive measures. You cannot name an exception without relying on grossly misleading interpretations of fact. The "apartheid existence" is largely a result of decades-long policies of neighboring Arab states, the need to protect themsleves from suicidal terrorists, etc. Note that the sizeable Arab population of Israel shares all the benefits of full citizenship, are loyal citizens, and are the only Arabs outside of Iraqi Kurdistan to ever live in democracy.
Your handle is apropos:
1) Cholera is contagious via the sanitary conditions and not via person-person contact as you imply.
2) Because of its transmission mode, cholera is not susceptible to weaponization and such has never been attempted. Besides, their is NO rationale for it. Your rationale appears to be rabid "hate America firstism".
3) We are demonstrably not stealing Iraqi oil. The mindless spouting of this groundless assertion is a staple of the non-thinking American Left.
Posted by kynoto1 at 12:48 PM : Sep 24, 2007
You know These perfect people who look for mistakes in English or punctuation just kill me just look at the message and if you can''t understand it just ROLL ON BY PROFESSOR OR INTERNET POLICE
Posted by kynoto1 at 10:20 AM : Sep 24, 2007
Too much punctuation man commas. periods, quotation marks, parenthesis, Man your only making a comment not writing a novel........
I call it ''murder'' because that is what the taking of human life is--murder. They are dead! It is not a mistake. It was our ship, our missile and our hands on the controls. You can investigate this mass murder till ''ell freezes over and it remains a murder.
1) Cholera is contagious via the sanitary conditions and not via person-person contact as you imply.
2) Because of its transmission mode, cholera is not susceptible to weaponization and such has never been attempted. Besides, their is NO rationale for it. Your rationale appears to be rabid "hate America firstism".
3) We are demonstrably not stealing Iraqi oil. The mindless spouting of this groundless assertion is a staple of the non-thinking American Left.
Posted by kynoto1 at 01:50 PM : Sep 24, 2007
+ report abuse
Don''t know if I fit your "American Left" or not but from a Combat Veteran of Vietnam YOU are FULL OF IT!! You spout word''s out but the meaning isn''t there Sparky. Maybe you need to look up the word FASCIST... educate yourself BEFORE you start trying to make others look inferior!! It would appear to me folks than any person with good common sense can see that our Present leadership and his direction are DEAD WRONG. These people have just about whooped the Boy beyond belief. Soon they will be asking him to leave and what''s he going to do?? It''s not stupid to admit you followed a LOSER.. Bush is most certainly that but to continue to follow him FAILURE after FAILURE and FAILURE is STUPID!! If we listen to you fool''s, we''d still have Rummy out there everyday telling us how the Insurgency is on it''s last legs. Sieg Heil Bush!!
**** STOP THE WAR & Corporate Corruption****
Ron Paul has it all.
He has NEVER voted:
* to raise taxes
* for an unbalanced budget
* to raise congressional pay
* for a federal restriction on gun ownership
* to increase the power of the executive branch
He HAS voted:
* against the Iraq war
* against the inappropriately named USA PATRIOT act
* against regulating the internet
* against the Military Commissions Act
He will eliminate the IRS, Wasteful Government Spending & Stop The Iraq War Immediately!
Most importantly, he voted NO on anything in Congress that is not allowed by the Constitution.
He is the only candidate not a member of the CFR!
Shouldn''''t ALL members of Congress uphold the Constitution? Aren''''t they SWORN to uphold it? You can bet Paul won''''t call the Constitution "just a G**D***ed piece of paper" like George Bush is reported to have.
If you want a candidate you can TRUST due to a proven track record, visit ronpaul2008.com and get busy spreading the word. The Mainstream Media is a lagging indicator!!
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Also checkout http://video.google.com search for Federal Reserve Fraud
1) Invoking your status as a "Combat Veteran of Vietnam" is silly ad hominem fallacial logic and meaningless. It does not substitiute for an actual argument.
2) As for the rest of your rant? "Maybe you need to look up the word FASCIST... educate yourself BEFORE you start trying to make others look inferior!! It would appear to me folks than any person with good common sense can see that our Present leadership and his direction are DEAD WRONG. These people have just about whooped the Boy beyond belief. Soon they will be asking him to leave and what''''s he going to do?? It''''s not stupid to admit you followed a LOSER.. Bush is most certainly that but to continue to follow him FAILURE after FAILURE and FAILURE is STUPID!! If we listen to you fool''''s, we''''d still have Rummy out there everyday telling us how the Insurgency is on it''''s last legs. Sieg Heil Bush!!" What part of "when did I ever say that" don''t you understand?
The next President will be a Democrat.
Chose wisely. Chose Richardson.
"There was even a weak attempt at justifying the attack by saying that the plane could have been a ''''suicide plane'''' that could ram one of our vessels." Which it could have been. Had it been, and the ship had taken massive casualties, I wonder what you would *** about. In military action, one usually has imperfect and insufficient information and quick decisions are required. That is its nature. I suppose that every military detachment should employ a genius such as yourself who can reliably divine the correct response at all times.
"I call it ''''murder'''' because that is what the taking of human life is--murder." Genius again. By your logic, if a doctor attempts a risky procedure and the patient dies, it''s murder. If you lose control on an icy road and hit a pedestrian, you are a murderer. I repeat - Of course, you know that, but you are willing to cop to such sloppy logic in order to support your bias.
"They are dead! It is not a mistake." And besides exclamation points, your evidence is what again?
"It was our ship, our missile and our hands on the controls. You can investigate this mass murder till ''''ell freezes over and it remains a murder." Yup - pure genious.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655
As to your first point, the responsibility to determine the nature of the target lies with the attacker. Carelessness and supposition are not mitigating circumstances--The recklessness of the CO of the Vincennes was the primary reason for the tragedy. (cont)
Rogers wasn''t driving carefully on any icy road. He was recklessly engaged in violating Iranian waters and incompetently managing his air defense. The USS Sides got it right. The Iranian got it right--his transponder was on and working. Rogers crossed the line between responsible management and reckless disregard for human life.
They are indeed, dead...the corpus delicti...it was upon them that Rogers'' crime was committed--whether the murder occurred due to pre-meditation, or whether it was due to the reckless conduct that he undertook...it would have ended badly in any event... and, of course, his reckless conduct was his signature in the Gulf engagements.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_clive_bo_070921_department_of_vetera.htm
Soldiers! The enemy is in Washington. The borders are open, our Constitution set at naught and as vile a pack of villains as ever disgraced any land are at the helm of government. Troops Home Now!
"It has been the trillion dollars in aid to the Zionist state that has allowed it to grow and attack its neighbors and hold the inhabitants of the land in an apartheid existence while flouting the UN." The use of "Zionist state" instead of Israel reveals your viewpoint clearly, but you go on to drive it home. Israel only attacks as defensive measures. You cannot name an exception without relying on grossly misleading interpretations of fact. The "apartheid existence" is largely a result of decades-long policies of neighboring Arab states, the need to protect themsleves from suicidal terrorists, etc. Note that the sizeable Arab population of Israel shares all the benefits of full citizenship, are loyal citizens, and are the only Arabs outside of Iraqi Kurdistan to ever live in democracy.
Posted by kynoto1 at 12:47 PM : Sep 24, 2007
Ever hear of IFF ??
According to the Dept. of Veteran''s Affairs link that YOU gave, if you do the math, you will see that there is no statistical differences between the combat troops, troops in theater, and the troops based elsewhere in the world. There is nothing in the report to substantiate the headline. One could say that 100% of Civil War veterans are dead, therefore, the Lincoln administration exposed them to some terrible danger.
"The NATO nations and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, of France, the United Kingdom and the United States have consistently rejected calls for a ban,[16] maintaining that its use continues to be legal, and that the health risks are entirely unsubstantiated.[17] "
"Other relatively minor consumer product uses have included: incorporation into dental porcelain used for false teeth%u2026"
"DU is also used for shielding for radiation sources used in medical and industrial radiography."
"External exposure to radiation from depleted uranium is generally not a major concern because the alpha particle emitted by its isotopes travel only a few centimeters in air or can be stopped by a sheet of paper. Also, the uranium-235 that remains in depleted uranium emits only a small amount of low-energy gamma radiation." (continued)
"The chemical toxicity of uranium salts is greater than their radiological toxicity."
"Studies of depleted uranium aerosol exposure have concluded that uranium combustion product particles would quickly settle out of the air [22]. Measurements made in areas where depleted uranium munitions were used extensively did not find significantly higher than average uranium concentrations in the soil, just a few months after contamination. [23] Most studies have shown that DU ammunition has no measurable detrimental health effects, either in the short or long term. The International Atomic Energy Agency, for example, reported in 2003 that, "based on credible scientific evidence, there is no proven link between DU exposure and increases in human cancers or other significant health or environmental impacts," although "Like other heavy metals, DU is potentially poisonous. In sufficient amounts, if DU is ingested or inhaled it can be harmful because of its chemical toxicity. High concentration *could* cause kidney damage"[19]"
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by kynoto1
September 25, 2007 1:09 PM PDT
- To IOWEIGN:
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Reply to this comment
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See all 44 CommentsEver heard of making an argument more than 4 words long? The portions of the wikipedia entry on the incident use several pages to cover the IFF matter and it is NOT all supportive of your conclusion. Simplistic comments = simplistic thinking = waste of our time.