|
|||||
|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
 |
 |
    |
|
|
|||
 |
|
||
|
|||
|
|
|
|
||||||||
|
Iran Bill Gains Support After Hostage-Taking Allegations Against President-Elect
Support for legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that encourages democracy in Iran increased following allegations that Iranian President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad played a role in the 1979 hostage-taking of Americans, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, June 30). “This bill seeks to hold Iran accountable for its actions, and to help neutralize threats from this pariah state that seeks to harm our nation and persists in its efforts to acquire materials and technology to construct even deadlier weapons,” bill sponsor Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) said in a prepared statement. “Election of a leader with Ahmadinejad's past is par for the course by Iran, a rogue nation whose unsavory behavior and associations render it one of the United States' greatest national security threats,” she added. “In particular, Iran's nuclear program combined with its support for terrorist organizations worldwide, raises the prospect of a potential transfer of WMD materials or components to terrorist organizations.” The Iran Freedom Support Act would provide financial support for Iranian pro-democracy groups and increase U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Following allegations this week that Ahmadinejad took part in the embassy takeover and hostage crisis, the number of co-sponsors to the legislation increased from 250 to more than 300, AFP reported (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, June 30). The Bush administration vowed to investigate the allegations, the New York Times reported today. “Obviously his involvement raises many questions,” said President George W. Bush. Former U.S. intelligence officer William Daugherty, who was taken hostage by the student group, maintains that Ahmadinejad took part in takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. In an e-mail to fellow hostages Charles Scott, Donald Sharer and David Roeder, Daugherty wrote, “I assume you've noticed that the new Iranian president was one of [expletive] who was behind the takeover of the embassy and our incarceration. Not to mention having expressed a determination to pursue a nuclear program that will allow them to develop a nuclear weapon” However, Abbass Abdi, a leader of the student organization responsible for the embassy seizure, said Ahmadinejad was not involved. “He was a student at a different university and we kept the plan secret among our own members who we trusted. He called after the embassy was captured and wanted to join us, but we refused to let him come to the embassy or become a member of our group,” he said. “I don't think he was part of it,” said Mohammad-Reza Khatami, who was also involved in taking hostages. “I cannot remember him at all” (Fathi/Brinkley, New York Times, July 1).
| ||||||||||
Back to top
