11/05/2009 12:04:00 AM EST

Top Iranian Cleric says US embassy capture was a "mistake"

posted by Verified1

The thaw proceeds.

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   It's important to think about where we would have been with McCain/Palin when it comes to Iran-US relations.

   In English from the Arab language news site, WashingtonTV, here's an important statement from Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri.

< Cenk is a republican? | When did "patriot" become a synonym for "right-wing douchebag"? >
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Top Iranian Cleric says US embassy capture was a "mistake" | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
Understand the history: (none / 0)
There was a reason why the embassy was taken over.  Back in the day when the United States overthrew Iran's democracy, the planning of that action, led by Kermit Roosevelt, occured in the American Embassy.  The Iranians then were forced to live under the oppressive rule of the Shah of Iran.  His secret police, Saavik, killed many people.

When the Shah was overthrown, the Iranians did not want to risk their new democracy to be overthrown again.  That's why they took over the embassy.  It was a very well calculated and thought out plan.  

The problem is that people in our country are ignorant of the histories of foreign nations and our activities of disruption within them.  I think if more people in America understood the history, there may be less hostility on our part to Iran.

Interesting sidenote:  What alot of people don't know about the embassy takeover is that all the black people were let go on the first day.  The Iranians told them that they faced enough oppression in America and that they did not want to add to it.  That's why all the people released on the 444th day were white.  

by sampson on 11/05/2009 03:26:41 AM EST

History Lesson (none / 0)
Thanks Sampson for your reply. While I agree that many people are not aware of all the facts, there are still many of us who were around then and we remember it well, as well as the events that preceded the takeover and the reasons it occurred.

by Verified1 on 11/05/2009 04:35:37 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I agree with you (none / 0)
The problem is that many people around my age (35) don't know this history.  We were too young or not born yet.  

Let us be real for a moment.  I have not heard any person ever speak of the facts that I gave in MSM.  Unfortunately, our media does a poor job informing us.  

That's why I wrote the facts that I did.  I'm hoping this may lead some of the younger members of TYT to do their own research into the Embassy Takeover.  That way they can be better informed as to the history between the two countries.  

by sampson on 11/05/2009 05:23:34 AM EST

[ Parent ]
boh, age shouldn't be an impediment (none / 0)
I'm only 26 and I knew the causes and consequences of the revolution and the role of the West, I don't see why the people that are supposed to bring you the news wouldn't know that. It's not really a secret that we supported the Shah when he was oppressing his population.

by Nangijala on 11/05/2009 09:11:12 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Gotta love it (none / 0)
I saw this on Al Jazeera yesterday, but didn't post it here because I figured nobody would care :)

For all their occasional narrow-minded semi-fanaticism, I have to admire the willingness of Iranian leaders to bluntly admit things like "It was a mistake. I supported the action at the time, but we were wrong."

When was the last time you heard a US politician make such a point-blank, bullshit-free confession of error? Oddly enough, the last one I remember was Jimmy Carter's no-excuses assumption of blame for the failure of the attempt to rescue the Iranian hostages, from the very embassy seizure Khamenei is talking about having been a mistake.

I do so wish our leaders would stop beating the war drum, and really talk to Iran.

And then you have assholes like John Bolton openly advocating that Israel should use nuclear weapons against Iran.

Fine, and now for something totally irrelevant...

by RedPossum on 11/05/2009 09:38:51 AM EST

Just as irrelevant (none / 0)

by sampson on 11/05/2009 05:30:39 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Born in East LA (none / 0)
Thanks Sampson for this vid. Made my day.

by Verified1 on 11/10/2009 03:01:31 AM EST

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Grand Ayatollah Montazeri has always (none / 0)
said things considered WAY over the top by Iranian officials especially since he was passed over for the supreme leader position by Ayatollah Khomeini in league with Rafsanjani leader of assembly of experts. Don't take this latest statement by Montazeri as evidence of a thaw. Montazeri doesn't pull his punches and is afraid of no one even when Ahmadinejad throws his Montazeri's daughter in jail.

by toosinbeymen on 11/05/2009 09:48:33 PM EST

Montazeri (none / 0)
Thanks for the reply and insight.

by Verified1 on 11/10/2009 03:02:50 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Top Iranian Cleric says US embassy capture was a "mistake" | 9 comments (9 topical, 0 hidden)
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