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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iranians pledge to bomb, die |
| 2006-05-26 |
| We should pledge to help them with the latter TEHRAN, Iran — Under a banner showing coffins draped with American, British and Israeli flags, more than 100 Iranian men and women pledged Thursday to become suicide bombers — if necessary — to defend their country and Islam. The event, held in a burial area for war dead and martyrs, was similar to others in recent years, with Islamic chants and songs and volunteers donning white coverings to symbolize their willingness to die. But this gathering, coming when many Iranians worry their country could come under attack by the United States or Israel, was tailored to send a message of defiance against any possible military action over Iran's nuclear program. "The threats from America have swelled our ranks and given us added conviction," said Margess, 27, who like the other volunteers would give only her first name. "We will stand up against them with our lives." No weapons or explosives were displayed, but the ceremony was organized by a shadowy group believed to have links to the Basiji paramilitary group backed by Iran's Islamic regime. A huge banner used as a backdrop showed flag-covered coffins. A message in English promised to "damage the U.S. worldwide" in retaliation for any attack on Iran. It's unclear how the potential suicide bombers are recruited or trained, although several claimed to be Basiji members. Officials claiming to represent the group refused to give details, and the event appeared largely staged for the media. Some of the female volunteers held children on their laps. "If asked by Iran's leaders, we will fight anywhere," said Hussein, 56, a volunteer with a wife and four children. "The world should know that Iranians embrace martyrdom." Volunteers mingled around monuments to attackers, including a Palestinian suicide bomber, an Iranian militiaman killed by the U.S. forces in Iraq, and two commandos who helped carry out the 1983 blast at Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. servicemen. The volunteer bombers waved Qurans. One held a placard paraphrasing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution: "Our nation is the first to prove that America can't do anything." |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #6 These 100 refuse to live in a world wid out [God/Faith-centric]lawful slavery-peonage, honour killings, Mullahs and universal primitivity. GIVE ME CAMELS OR GIVE ME DEATH! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-05-26 20:19 |
| #5 Can't they just (f&ck off and) die and cut out the middle man? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-05-26 11:38 |
| #4 More than 100, wow. Is that as many as there were here http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD117406 Notice which story is in the Western Newspaper. And as to those 100,Promises promises. |
| Posted by: plainslow 2006-05-26 10:33 |
| #3 You know, there were a lot of demonstrations like that in Iraq before we invaded. You could as the people what happened when they attacked the Americans,.... if they were still alive or hadn't run out of the country in terror. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2006-05-26 09:12 |
| #2 Nukes, electric plants, petrochemical, IGRC barracks, water pumps, sewage stations, bridges, rail stations, airports, irrigation systems, grain storage, factories esp. military. These make a good first week target list. Back to the 7th century, BC. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-05-26 09:11 |
| #1 "The world should know that Iranians embrace martyrdom." Cool! Tell them to go stand over the nuke plant and wait. |
| Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-05-26 08:17 |