Iranian Groups Court Suicide Bombers

Enraged Over Israeli Attacks On Gaza, Hard-Liners Urge Tehran To Authorize Suicide Missions

(CBS/ AP)  Hard-line Iranian student groups have appealed to the government to authorize volunteer suicide bombers to leave Iran and fight against Israel in response to the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

The government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had not responded to the call by Wednesday. Five hard-line student groups and a conservative clerical group launched a registration drive on Monday, seeking volunteers to carry out suicide attacks against Israel.

"Volunteer student suicide groups ... are determined to go to Gaza. You are expected to issue orders to the relevant authorities in order to pave the way for such action," the students advised Ahmadinejad in an open letter, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Volunteer suicide groups have made similar moves in the past and the government never responded to their calls. However, some hard-liners have claimed they successfully but secretly left Iran and carried out attacks against Israel. Their claims could not be verified.

The hard-liners started signing up volunteers after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree on Sunday that said anyone killed while defending Palestinians in Gaza against Israeli attacks would be considered a martyr.

In a speech Tuesday, Ahmadinejad called for the trial of Israeli leaders on charges of massacring Palestinians in Gaza. His comments come a day after Iran's judiciary set up a court to try Israeli leaders for such "crimes."

Later that night, Iranian students stormed part of the British Embassy compound in north Tehran and occupied it for a short time, reported CBS News producer Leily Lankarani.

None of the embassy personnel were injured in the siege but windows were broken and a car was damaged. The part of the British Embassy stormed by the students is used as a residence and also the British Council in Tehran.

Iran considers Israel its archenemy and Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." Iran also is Hamas' main backer, though Tehran denies sending weapons to the Islamic militant Palestinian group that took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.

Israel's airstrikes on Gaza have sparked outrage in Iran and throughout the rest of the Muslim world. Four days of Israeli air strikes have killed 374 Palestinians and prompted Arab and international condemnation and a global diplomatic push to end the fighting. Israel says it launched its campaign in retaliation for rocket fire aimed at civilians in southern Israeli towns.

Iranian student leaders claim that more than 10,000 people throughout Iran have registered for volunteer suicide attacks in the past three days.

At a gathering Tuesday in Tehran to support Gazans and condemn Israeli attacks, hard-liners were distributing registration forms to volunteers.

Volunteer Ali Reza Takrim Namini said a "sense of religious obligation" made him register for suicide attacks against Israel.

"How can I remain indifferent while defenseless Palestinians are being butchered," he said as he filled out his form.

"I'm willing to sacrifice my blood in support of Islam and in defense of Palestinian Muslims," said another volunteer, Mostafa Babaei.

The volunteers wore white shrouds symbolizing their willingness to die and headbands with the slogan "Defenders of Gaza" and "Ready for Martyrdom." Most of those registering were members of the Basij militia, a hard-line paramilitary group.

Also in Tehran, hard-line students regularly rally in front of Egypt's interest section office to condemn Cairo's refusal to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Gaza for humanitarian supplies.

They have warned they will storm the mission by Thursday if Egypt doesn't condemn the Israeli attacks keeps the border crossing closed.

Protesters are also holding daily gatherings in front of Jordanian and Saudi embassies to denounce Arab silence over the Gaza bombing, and in front of the U.N. building in Tehran to condemn U.N. inaction.

Students have also called on Muslims to boycott products from companies connected to Israel.

The state-owned newspaper, Iran, said in a report Wednesday that a branch of Italian clothing retailer Benetton was set on fire in north Tehran on Tuesday evening. It didn't provide details but said the shop was "affiliated to the Zionist network."

The Iranian Red Crescent has sent a ship carrying 2,000 tons of food to Palestinians living in Gaza to be delivered through Egypt and an Iranian military plane landed in Cairo Monday with 24 tons of food and medicines for Gaza.

The head of Iran's Red Crescent, Masoud Khatami, said three more ships were waiting to be loaded with humanitarian aid, and Iranian hospitals were ready to receive injured Gazans, according to the official IRNA news agency.

[rickstas]

I wish they would put out a list of all companies with connected with Isreal. I don''t want to buy any Zionist goods either.

[r9119111]

libssuck3 and Christ_Truth:

Why are you so hateful?

Why do you align yourself with organizations and beliefs that grow and thrive on hate and division?

I''m not trying to tell you what to do, but what can be the expected outcome of all of this hate?

Fear is the basis of all intolerance. What are you afraid of?

Both muslims and jews are scared to death. Their only recourse is to kill each other. They think if they kill each other then there will be peace or who knows what. How long has this been going on? Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insane. Yet, these people continue to align themselves with intolerance and hate. If that is what all of the hateful people want in this world, fine. Leave me out of it. Thank you very much. Peace and love to all. Happy New Year!

[christ_truth]

This global war has nothing to do with Israel. It is a war between Islam and the West and it will be to the death.

Posted by one4gipper

It''s refreshing to see that there are some people on here that know the truth behind the matter like you, one4gipper.

Truer words have never been spoken on here.

Thanks for standing up for the Truth about this evil religion of islam and it''s threat against humanity.

Thanks for not being "politically correct", in the midst of all these atheist liberals, arab muslims, and jihadist supporters that post on these forums daily.

Keep up the good work

[one4gipper]

If I hear one more time how Israel stole the Palestinians'' land I am going to vomit. How is it that the world has so little sense of history? Does anyone remember that the Ottoman Empire joined the Second Reich in 1914 on a military campaign to expand its empire? Does anyone recall that this peaceful religion started its misadventure by massacring 1.5 million Armenians. The Ottoman army was 2/3rds Turkish troops and the remainder recruits from the other parts of the empire, including Arabs.

These poor genocidal murderers lost their land to the British and French through their own stupidity. They thought that the Huns would win. After WWI, Britain allowed Jewish immigration into Palestine. Had the Islamic idiots not gotten onto the wrong side of yet another war, the Jews would not be on their land today.

Do any of your soft-brained lefties realize that Hamas just legalized the crucifixion of Christians? Just who in the hell are you feeling sorry for?

Israel will do what it has to do to survive. Unfortunately, Eupope and America do not seem to have the same resolve. We can''t even muster the gumption for a little waterboarding. Yet, our enemy decapitates their captives and posts videos of the atrocities on the internet.

This global war has nothing to do with Israel. It is a war between Islam and the West and it will be to the death.

[iggy9718]

i wonder if gay martyrs get 72 studs

[lordsuntzu]

these are the very same people that the liberals are trying to argue should have THE RIGHT TO HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS..

to save this world, we need to get rid of liberals first

[abrame]

"Volunteer student suicide groups ... are determined to go to Gaza. You are expected to issue orders to the relevant authorities in order to pave the way for such action,"

What do you call 10,000 terrorist suicide murderers on the bottom of the sea....

...a good start.

[edintex]

This is a RUSE (counterfeit) CBS Comments page. Only people who actually SUBMIT an opinion or comment can see any of these comments. Posted by Truth_Police at 07:31 PM : Dec 31, 2008

NOT TRUE. I access these comments from many computers without ever logging on. YOU either have a computer problem or a loose wire upstairs. I would bet on the latter one!

[christ_truth]

The Muslims will come out in full force on these forums about these Iranian "suicide martrys" for the false god allah.

Just watch

[truth_police]

This is a RUSE (counterfeit) CBS Comments page. Only people who actually SUBMIT an opinion or comment can see any of these comments. And if they migrate away to another webpage afterwards, they cannot get back to this so-called ''comments'' page where these opinions are posted, UNLESS they submit another opinion. The only way to access this ''comments'' page is to submit an opinion. 99 percent of the article readers do not submit opinions, but like me, they want to read other''s comments. So 99.9999 percent of the people who read the subject article cannot see your comments. Your opinion has, for all practical purposes, been completely stifled, silenced, censored, smothered, muzzled, gagged, suffocated by CBS. YOU''VE BEEN DUPED ... SUCKER-PUNCHED right out of the ring. Shuttled to a sound-proof booth where essentially no one can hear you. When I submit an opinion I want the same audience the article had or why bother. Like most people, I''m not interested in being shuttled off to a sound-proof booth where my opinion is effectively muzzled, silenced. Here you are talking to empty seats. What good is it to have a "Readers'' Comments" section when there is no realistic way for readers of the article to access the comments? CBS is defrauding you with a ruse, counterfeit comments webpage.

[edintex]

The "brave" Iranian government would never give official approval to these nut case student groups of theirs. The Iranians are too cowardly to announce their real intentions to the world. They prefer to fight the worlds women & children or men if its from behing when they are not looking. Thats a plain fact!

[toolmangler-2009]

If Israel controls everything going in & out of Gaza, where are all the rockets come from?
Posted by Questionnews at 05:42 PM : Dec 31, 2008



From Iran by way of Egypt.

[toolmangler-2009]

The futiliy in their lives has been created by their own stupid religious beliefs. When you believe that any religion but Muslim is infidel and should be eliminated then you get futility because nobody but Muslims believe in this type of religious practice.
Posted by markwains at 05:53 PM : Dec 31, 2008


Well said and true!!!

[apitaly]

The iranians are sick illegitimate children of street walkers... it is time to turn Gaza into a parking lot. GET rid of the hammas idiots

[markwains]

The futility of their lives leave the Palestinians nothing to lose.


Posted by PVperson at 05:36 PM : Dec 31, 2008

The futiliy in their lives has been created by their own stupid religious beliefs. When you believe that any religion but Muslim is infidel and should be eliminated then you get futility because nobody but Muslims believe in this type of religious practice.

[cbscrash072]

The Iranians will not approve suicide bombers against Israel. To do so is an act of war. I don''t think Tehran is stupid enough to openly declare war against Israel.

[questionnews]

Israel turned the Gaza strip into the worlds largest prison camp. They control access for people, goods, food, gas, oil, electricity, water and medical supplies. They don''''t even allow Palestinians to leave for school in Europe or America. They''''ve created a culture of desperation in the Palestinians. Why wouldn''''t Hamas fight against a nation that stole their land and made prisoners of generations of their people? The Israeli''''s kill over a hundred to one, but the futility of their lives leave the Palestinians nothing to lose.

Posted by PVperson at 05:36 PM : Dec 31, 2008


If Israel controls everything going in & out of Gaza, where are all the rockets come from?

[pvperson]

Israel turned the Gaza strip into the worlds largest prison camp. They control access for people, goods, food, gas, oil, electricity, water and medical supplies. They don''t even allow Palestinians to leave for school in Europe or America. They''ve created a culture of desperation in the Palestinians. Why wouldn''t Hamas fight against a nation that stole their land and made prisoners of generations of their people? The Israeli''s kill over a hundred to one, but the futility of their lives leave the Palestinians nothing to lose.

Seems to me that is what Obama said he would do. Sit down and talk with them to find solutions agreeable to both sides. Dows anyone else think that is gonna work? It sounds very much like what Jimmy Carter said when he was president. BTW, its usually believed that Ahmadinejad was one of the student captors when Iran stormed the US emabassy back then. So, the stage is set. Tune in next month for the thrilling next chapter.

Posted by machineguy
----------------------
In 1953, the CIA overthrew a democratically elected Iranian government and installed a dictator complete with his own secret police. He ruthlessly ruled Iran for for close to two decades after that. The hostage taking in the 70''s was an expression of rage around that. This is what the hostages knew and what Carter knew.
This is only one of many CIA operations around the world back in those years.
And we wonder why we are not "loved" overseas...

[yongamerica]

Iran''s fat pig, The Supreme Leader, will make this type of decision. Ahmadinejad is only a puppet who mouths his words. Go ahead Iran, send your young suicide bombers to Palestine. That''s the closest they''ll ever get to heaven and their virgins. Iran already has its proxy army Hamas hiding, now the children of Iran are going to show them how to fight a war!