Michael J. Totten: A Laudable Use of Scare Quotes

d-p-u:

Page 241 of the 9-11 report (http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf):

KSM and Binalshibh have confirmed that several of the 9/11 hijackers (at least eight, according to Binalshibh) transited Iran on their way to or from Afghanistan, taking advantage of the Iranian practice of not stamping Saudi passports. They deny any other reason for the hijackers' travel to Iran. They also deny any relationship betwen the hijackers and Hezbollah. In sum, there is strong evidence that Iran facilitated the transit of al Qaeda members into and out of Afghanistan before 9/11, and that some of these were future 9/11 hijackers.

It actually comes out of an interesting chapter, well worth reading (as is the whole report, actually), entitled "Assistance from Hezbollah and Iran to al Qaeda" - which goes beyond just 9/11 but the relationship (not always positive) back for years, and previous attacks.

Iran approached Osama after the U.S.S. Cole attack - because the Mullahs liked his style, but at that particular time he rebuffed their overtures because he didn't want to scare off Saudi "Golden Chain" support by cottoning to the Shi'ite infidels in Tehran.

Posted by: SoCalJustice at November 29, 2004 04:34 PM

Yep Mork, but there is still a suggestion that it shouldn't be taken at face value. Which, in this case, is appropriate.

Posted by: Daniel at November 29, 2004 04:39 PM

so this is kinda like the 'final' deal that Carter & Clinton negotiated with North Korea back in the 90s??? we all know how that bit of Chamberlainesque policy worked out...

Posted by: great satan at November 29, 2004 05:17 PM

Blogtheist seems to be saying the U.S. should invade Iran. A bold suggestion. He seems to know what he's talking about though, so I find I must defer. It's too bad the Bush administration forced the Iranian Mullahs to make some unfortunate choices and turn bad.

Mork says that there's no reason to use a term like "scare quotes" and thus to impute some ulterior motive to the headline writer when all he "or she" is doing is quoting the original source. (If you ask me why did you put quotes around "or she" then I'm afraid you have already lost the argument. I say this because I want to save us both the trouble).

Posted by: Jeremy Brown at November 29, 2004 06:57 PM

"It's too bad the Bush administration forced the Iranian Mullahs to make some unfortunate choices and turn bad.--JB

Can we talk ?
Were the 'mad mullahs'ever likely to turn out to be 'choir boys'no matter who did what to whom and for which reasons? I have this belief that the Iranian theocracy was headed down this road,no matter what.It could not stay a 'theocracy'if it did not follow its own internal logic which means that it is inherently paranoid of the 'others'.
This is like blaming the 'occupation'for the terrorist violence in Iraq as was discussed in a previous thread.

Posted by: dougf at November 29, 2004 07:27 PM

Iran with nukes deosn't scare me any more than the Soviet Union with nukes did. Deterrence worked with them for 45 years. Why isn't it going to work with Iran (or China, India or Pakistan)?

One other point: the United States very publicly threatened to invade Iran. I don't see why anyone is so astonished that the regime then goes and develops nuclear weapons. I mean, what would we do in the same position? Roll out the red carpet?

Posted by: Mork at November 30, 2004 01:06 PM

Mork,

Iran's access to radioactive material is a mere step away from terrorists access to radioactive material. That is why they are more dangerous than Russia. Russia knew that if they launched, we would launch.. MAD.

In this case, Iran could hand technology to Al-Quada or similar group. We would be victimized by some small radioactive device and we would be hard pressed to confirm its origin.

Remember, the Soviets have admitted that a subset of their devices have disappeared over the years since 1989. Other 'rouge' states like N. Korea also have the technology. Attacking through terrorist proxies cuts the likelyhood of MAD quite effectively.

Certianly, if Iran wasn't working on a bomb before their next-door neighbor got attacked, I'd put money on them working on one right now.

It's a nasty little problem, one made worse, I think, by our actions in Iraq.

Posted by: Ratatosk at November 30, 2004 01:32 PM

What makes you think that Iran wants Al Qaeda to attack America with a nuclear weapon?

Where's the evidence?

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Eagleson's Law:
Any code of your own that you haven't looked at for six or more
months, might as well have been written by someone else. (Eagleson is
an optimist, the real number is more like three weeks.)
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