Iranian Shiites volunteers head to Lebanon, to fight Israel...

[Nimrod2005]

Volunteers pay outside a Tehran cemetery on Wednesday before heading to Lebanon.

Group heads for 'holy war' in Lebanon

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Surrounded by yellow Hezbollah flags, more than 60 Iranian volunteers set off Wednesday to join what they called a holy war against Israeli forces in Lebanon.

The group -- ranging from teenagers to grandfathers -- plans to join about 200 other volunteers on the way to the Turkish border, which they hope to cross Thursday. They plan to reach Lebanon via Syria on the weekend.

Organizers said the volunteers are carrying no weapons, and it was not clear whether Turkey would allow them to pass.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not say Wednesday if Turkey would allow them to cross. Iranians, however, can enter Turkey without a visa and stay for three months.

"We cannot stand by and watch out Hezbollah brothers fight alone," said Komeil Baradaran, a 21-year-old Basiji member. "If we are to die in Lebanon, then we will go to heaven. It is our duty as Muslims to fight."

Other volunteers, such as 72-year-old Hasan Honavi, have combat experience from the 1980-88 war with Iraq.

"God made this decision for me," said Honavi, a grandfather and one of the oldest volunteers. "I still have fight left in me for a holy war."



http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/26/iran.volunteers.ap/index.html

[Opusnone]

1. May I be the first to say BULLSHIT

Just because someone "speaking on condition of anonimity" may have said something does not make it so.

The drums of war are deafening.

[Nimrod2005]

2. How do you mean?

[Opusnone]

3. The US government is using all the power it can muster

to involve Iran in anything! I can see it. Can't you?

Americans are force fed sweeping generalizations about Iran and terror in commentary by "experts" peppered with phrases like "everybody knows" or "it's clear that..." After a time it becomes accepted as truth even if there is nothing to substantiate it. Do you understand?

I have no love for the mullahs of Iran, nor Ahmednijad. But instead of getting us into an unwinnable conflict with a truly
formidable foe, let the Iranians (who are mostly young and westernized) clean their own house of radicalism.

If we provoke Iran, all the country will rally behind the leaders, which is somehting we do not want.

[joe_shmoe]

5. Exactly - it's just mind boggling how people aren't getting this

and are still pointing their finger at "Evil Iran".

Maybe they should be some of the first to go to the nearest recruting station and sign up.

[joe_shmoe]

4. **PETITION AGAINST MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN**

Folks - looks like we're on the cusp of WWIII and the attack on Iran will be the quick destruction of the US and life as we know it.

It is with grave concern that I observe the growing threat of a new U.S. war--this time against the people of Iran.

For a collection of articles and resources on this subject you can visit this link: http://reseaudesign.com/research/iran/iran_summery.html

I'm starting up a petition which I will be sending out to as many members of Congress as possible. I'm asking for help to get this signed by as many people, possible in the next month. Send it to as many people you can.

http://www.petitiononline.com/n0war1rn /


thanks,
J-shmoe

[Seabiscuit]

6. Holy Moly!

"holy war", my ass.

"If we are to die in Lebanon, then we will go to heaven. It is our duty as Muslims to fight."

"God made this decision for me"

These people/these beliefs are friggin' nuts. There's nothing "holy" about killing.