You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Iran
Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Imad Mughniyah recently left Iran?
2003-08-16
Today’s Asharq Al-Awsat contained a story detailing how Ayman Al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s second-in-command, and Imad Mughniyah, a top Hezballah leader, secretly left Iran only a few days ago, due to increased pressure from the Iranian government. Below is a summary of the article.
According to Asharq Al-aswat, Imad Mughniyah, a Hezballah leader and one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, left Iran two days ago, after a 14-month stay. A reliable source in the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence revealed to Asharq Al-aswat that it is no longer safe for Mughniyah and his people to stay in the country, due to the new policy of the Ministry of Defense, to arrest and deport al-Qaeda elements. The Ministry of Defense, headed by Ali Yunasi, is submissive to the Khatemi’s government, while the Revolutionary Guard Intelligence is believed by the Iranian government to harbor terrorist elements in their facilities.
Just another manifestation of that "dual government" thing, party versus government. We see occasional manifestations of the same thing with every tin-hat dictatorship — f'instance, the Soviet Union versus the CPSU. What makes this case more interesting is that the theocrats and the Khatami government have much more pronounced differences...
Asharq Al-aswat learned that Saif al-Adel and Saad bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s son, did not leave the country yet, although there is a possibility that they will do so with the help of non-submissive security and military elements, as happened with Ayman al-Zawahari and other al-Qaeda leaders. The article describes a mysterious incident that had occurred two weeks ago in the Maher Abad airport. Apparently, three men, who were escorted by Revolutionary Guard Intelligence officers and declined to show any identification documents, were put on a flight to Turkey, on the V.I.P list. Although airport security attempted to thwart this move, Intelligence officers managed to put them on the plane in the last minute. This incident reveals the Revolutionary Guard’s plan to transfer al-Qaeda leaders outside of Iran, and, according to sources close to the Revolutionary Guard, is connected to Mughniyah’s decision to leave Iran, as it has become too difficult for the Revolutionary Guard to secure his safety.
Posted by:Paul Moloney

#12  These guys are commited to getting the bomb. I saw some Iranian asshat on CSPAN not long ago saying how they wern't devoloping nuclar bombers but it was their right to do so, wink wink. These guys are THE big problem even compared to NK. By the way its broth tonight in Pyong Yang or whatever!
Posted by: Lucky   2003-8-17 12:12:37 AM  

#11  Frank G - From that generation - true. I worked with a woman on the same programming team for 3 years who had been sent over for school just before the Shah's fall. All of her familiy was still there, trapped. She did grow during the time I knew her - from a typically shy and reserved Muslim woman - to a real woman. It was way cool to see, but she was constantly sad and worried about them.

This generation is probably less well educated, since getting out requires some measure of proof of return or political / religious reliability - I but I don't doubt they're just as smart as their parents. They deserve a break - they're brave, progressive, and oppressed. I think they're about to get an assist from the outside, though I wish they had been able to do it themselves. It's obvious that the Rev Guard has them locked down pretty good and has no qualms about getting nasty. Well, they'll get theirs within the next 12-18 months.

I'm sorry, sniff sniff, but you being a Catholic is prolly fatal. Paraphrasing the Irish guy in Braveheart, the Lord's told me I'll be okay, but I think you're fucked. Sorry, bro. ;->
Posted by: .com   2003-8-16 11:05:02 PM  

#10  . com, you've gotta remember that the smartest and most educated in Iran are gone. I work with quite a few who were sent over for engineering study during the shah's reign, and they are all educated, worldly, secular, and now loyal Americans. They hate the blackhats and proudly note that the only way those asshats stay in power is by intimidation and by keeping the rest of the persians ignorant as much as possible. Islam rules the ill-informed..so much for an Islamic renaissance...it would have all the ills of the Catholic heritage (mine) with none of the inventions and glory
Posted by: Frank G   2003-8-16 8:40:44 PM  

#9  AP - It's almost comical how badly informed the Black Hats are about the US and public opinion in the US - note that with Dubya in the Big Chair, it doesn't matter what the Zeropean Elites think, just Ma & Pa Kettle.

Every time it seems they are gonna manage to stay below radar and get what they want, they step on their dicks and give us yet another reason, and more "political cover", to pre-emptively whack 'em. This little episode, if true, should do the trick.

I don't think Dubya was gonna let them get on-line with their reactors anyway, but this sure makes it easier for him to do the right thing. I am truly amazed by their arrogance - it's only matched by their stupidity. Thx, Asshats!
Posted by: .com   2003-8-16 5:37:34 PM  

#8  Just remember that events will overtake debate. Iran has been playing hardball with IAEA inspections and that they will have all the components for fissile weapons by summer of 04. Time is running out, and Iran has lots of tunnels (that were probably built with NORK burrowing expertise) to hide things. So we and the Israelis are going to have to do something with Iran before we go for a stroll down Armeggedon Street. I feel that I am right now staring at a big sand hourglass, and I am very ill at ease.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2003-8-16 3:04:04 PM  

#7  KCNA should hire PD :-)

I vote 'aye' on the motion by Mr/Ms Snellenr.
Posted by: Steve White   2003-8-16 12:37:32 PM  

#6  "Belated"?

I thought they had made that announcement when they sent their troops into US-controller areas of Iraq without our knowledge.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2003-8-16 12:04:51 PM  

#5  I consider this a belated public announcement by the Turkeys that, upon considering Bush's statement that "you are either with us or you are with the terrorists", they are with the terrorists.

It will be interesting to see if the Russians and the Turks become more bold in flaunting their anti-U.S. love affair in public now.
Posted by: Becky   2003-8-16 11:15:52 AM  

#4  I hereby nominate the post by .com for "Rant of the day"... and support it with a solid "hear, hear", "I second the motion", "ditto", and other assorted agreeances.
Posted by: snellenr   2003-8-16 8:13:06 AM  

#3  Well,Murat.What do you say?
Do you support giving these terrorist safe passage/transit through Turkey?
Posted by: raptor   2003-8-16 7:06:59 AM  

#2  On the other hand, if true, and they are in Turkey or moving elsewhere.... (IRAQ???) doesn't that make "accident" prevention on their part harder?
Posted by: Ben   2003-8-16 6:00:27 AM  

#1  Iran. Black Hats. Amazing. Standing in a hole, what do they do? Dig.

(Take 10 deep breaths. Pull on ear-lobe. Count to 100. Get a fresh cup of coffee. Start typing...)

If true... I hope that Dubya ratchets up the pressure and announces publicly that the Black Hats are both liars (given all the recent press about them either trying or deporting these shits) and self-declared enemies; that letting these guys go is precisely equivalent to a declaration of war - real war not that Arab hyperbole drivel - as they have proven themselves the enemy in the Wot beyond a shadow of a doubt. Even the IndyMedia creeps will find it hard to defend this. Fuck the Black Hats. I am certain that there are ways to do this - both "John Clark" ways and TLAM and B2 and 4ID ways - and begin doing them IMMEDIATELY upon confirmation of this info. I seem to recall some power plants being built by the Russkies for them and some NorK rockets being shipped their way and their oil and LNG tankers and hundreds of BS little patrol boats and oil rigs in the Gulf and Big Fat Bandar Abbas Airbase down at the Straits of Hormuz - surely that's a danger to peace-loving people in the region. no? And surely we can find the Rev Guard HQ, too. Time for a full-scale demo. We'll just see if Allah gives a rat's ass about these shitheads. Lessee, what were those coords?

As for the destination of these cretins, if true and they are allowed to either transit or stay, instead of being arrested and turned over to the US, then Turkey should be immediately tossed out of NATO and our ambassador recalled - "signals" that they've stepped on their dicks and are now considered a self-declared enemy in the WoT. All bets should be off and Turkey made to feel the pain however possible and as soon as possible. I know there are numerous ways to administer it with Turkey. This is "rue the day" stuff - and they should know it. Obviously, no Turks should be allowed in Iraq - and if any are already there, summarily and unceremoniously thrown out and the border patrolled (combo US & Kurdish Peshmerga would be apropos) with a shoot to kill ROE - no buffer, no nothing. Fuck Turkey. Soon.

Okay. Fresh coffee and time to phone in my pizza order - Medium, Pan Crust, Italian Deluxe, of course.
Posted by: .com   2003-8-16 5:20:13 AM  

00:00