U.S. puzzled by Iran's rejection of badminton team

I hope it's just miscommunication. I have hopes for someday better relations between the two countries.

Pray for peace. < :-)

USA Badminton said in a statement, however, said all members of the team had completed their visa applications more than two months ago “in plenty of time to meet all deadlines.”

I find this to be somewhat funny, considering it can often take longer for the US Passport Agency to process and return a passport to a US citizen. Yes, I hear they've gotten it down to 4-6 weeks, but still...

I say send in Hillary!

But I thought they'd love us after putting Obama at the helm.

"suspicion" - a puzzling word.

News is tehrantimes.com today, US free style wrestling team to participate in wrestling competirions in Iran in March in 2009 Takhti Cup.

USA team has partcipated since 1998. Wrestling is major sport in Iran as compared to Badminton which is more popular in other nations.

From these informations,there is no obstructions to USA teams to visit Iran especally if they are annual regular experienced, well travelled competitors to Iran,like US wrestling team,who seems to have no visa woes for Takhti Cup.

The US badminton may be doing their first visit to Iran,so they may not know the ropes of getting the visa to Iran or they did some mistakes,which high mighty Immigrations-Customs, really never cares in any nation.

"U.S. puzzled by Iran's rejection of badminton team."

Hmmm..I'd say Iran is probably puzzled by the continued insistence by the U.S. that it has nukes, especially since the U.S. went on and on about Iraq having WMD and then found..oops! they don't!

When the Iranians unclench that fist....

Oh, dear. I need a new meme-blocker.

What a bunch of poor losers! Let the people in to play a few games, can't hurt relations (can only be good) and it should be put before politics.

It's sad Iran would take this stance.

It's sad Iran would take this stance.

But Iran is not the only group of people with a sad stance, that is for darned sure.

The world should not fear this terrible international badminton crisis. Right after Obama talks the Iranians out of building nuclear weapons, he will send Hillary to charm the pantsuits off the Mullahs and have our badminton team over there before you can say, "Death to America!"

usually a long bureaucratic process that is complicated for U.S. citizens

Sounds just like the problem any citizens of any nation have in getting a VISA to visit the US.

It's sad Iran would take this stance

It's sad America thinks they are better than the rest of the world.

Even badminton offends and terrifies the religious nutjobs running Iran.

It takes along time to process a Visa for Iran. I think it is 3 months, trip is outlined and chaperoned.

2months may not be enough for a large group. Even an Iran sanctioned tour group may not be able to get you in 2 months --> 6months+ is more typical

smithinjapan,

You don't suppose then that there is any chance that the Iranians are telling the truth? Why would you suppose they would lie?

Badminton - haram.

Nuclear missiles - divinely ordained.

Maybe they just don't like badminton.

Maybe next year after the Iranians have prepared a bit. Maybe their star player was hurt. Maybe that thought about it and thought any sport with the wor "bad" in it just shouldn't be allowed in. Maybe just maybe people will stop saying America and say the United States after all South America, Central America, and well Canada and Mexico are part of North America too. It's like saying that country what do you call it oh yeah, you know that country Africa! Keep those Bad mittens away!

The obvious answer in light of Iran's space program: shuttle envy.

Wuzzademcrat: "Even badminton offends and terrifies the religious nutjobs running Iran."

I think it's sad that you let the people of Iran 'offend and terrify' YOU so much, and therefore disable you from posting something that can contribute to the discussion. Next you'll be trying to make this all about the ills of Islam.

SezWho: I never said either side was right and wrong, I just said it's a shame that politics get in the way of a sporting event and some grass roots exchange. If indeed it's just a harmless badminton event, well, now you have a bunch of players grumbling about the country and the government of that country instead of learning a little more about it and opening things up.

Pretty happy with the timing of this. If it had happened during Cheney administration, this rejection might have been used by the Dickster as a reason to invade Iran lol.

Attitudes like this are why no Mohammedan team has ever or will ever win international sporting events with any prestige - like the World Cup, for example.

Iran’s foreign ministry said the women’s team from USA Badminton,

Pretty much clears up the 'why' part on the Iranians part.

The threat of just being exposed to a western female is enough to send the Mullahs into tizzy as it is.

U.S. puzzled by Iran's rejection

What's puzzling is why the U.S. should be puzzled.

True enough processing visa applications can take a long time. But if the applicants were informed they could pick up their visas in Dubai and then get sent back instead, that's pretty obnoxious.

wuzzademcrat: "Attitudes like this are why no Mohammedan team has ever or will ever win international sporting events with any prestige - like the World Cup, for example."

HAHAHA! I KNEW you were going to try and turn this into another "Muslims are the root of all evil" rant and generalize about Islam world-wide!! and it only took you 14 minutes after my post saying you would probably do so. Good job, man... good job.

Helter_Skelter: "What's puzzling is why the U.S. should be puzzled."

Welcome back. I almost agree with you, there.

I can't really imagine is taking a stand by using the women's badminton team...

But why Mr Ayatolla? Why? Yes why? Because your shuttlecocks are the size of boeing 747's. Oh those are spaceshuttle cocks.... And your team keeps addressing that geeky guy as, "gunny". Uh... And all your seatback pockets are full of MRE's. Messy team. Your badminton shoes lace up to the upper shin. New Nikes. Sorry guys. No can do... Shucks.

wuzzademcrat: The post I was referring to was this one: "wuzzademcrat at 12:32 PM JST - 5th February 'Attitudes like this are why no Mohammedan team has ever or will ever win international sporting events with any prestige - like the World Cup, for example.'"

Or did you just not notice that 14 minutes after 12:18 = 12:32 (hence my '...and it only took you 14 minutes after my post saying you would probably do so....') , which is the time of your post. Man, you're really off it today!

"Your complete ignorance of Islam really is embarrassing."

Actually, what's really embarrassing (for you) is the fact that you evidently can't read, particularly since in your post I quoted above you say all "Mohamedans" and nothing about 'haram'.

Try again later, my friend, after you put on your glasses.

I still think it's a shame the sports suffer as a result of the politics.

Smitinjapan I'm willing to bet that if the USA refused visas for an Iranian badminton team that you'd be the first one on here decrying about how 'paranoid' the USA and all Americans are. Yet a guy like you tends to forget how some countries can declare a death sentence on authors. You still give them credibility in any dispute they have against your favorite country to hate. Simply predictable. Too bad the sport suffers. But so does the freedom to write novels.

Dunno what the Iranians think they are up to but when you say visas are waiting and then pull them at the last minute it is a bit puzzling.

Maybe the mullahs realized that you can't play badminton in a black robe that covers you from head to toe?

Still, I'm puzzled why anybody would try to defend Iran, Saudi Arabia, any of the lot. Women have no rights. Free speech is trampled. People are executed in barbaric ways for "crimes" like adultery. This stuff is right out of the dark ages. There is no defense available. If it wasn't for oil this lot would be international pariahs. Nobody would even want to play badminton there. And only archelogists would visit.

Everyone knows Iran only takes "American Express" and not Visa. -clearly these people where not informed.

actually you need cash (for most things/Atms at major hotels) and the U.S. Limits you on that -but they went thru Dubai (not London etc). =You really need to plan these things out some.

I honestly don't think the Visas came thru in time = poor planning. =They are telling the correct story.

bushlover: "Smitinjapan I'm willing to bet that if the USA refused visas for an Iranian badminton team that you'd be the first one on here decrying about how 'paranoid' the USA and all Americans are."

I think you must, even for yourself, be a little slow on the uptake here. I haven't in the least turned this into any anti-American posting, as you seem to suggest. I did mock and prove how silly wuzzademcrat was being in making this a general anti-Muslim rant, as he does every thread on this site (or tries to before people like myself shoot him down). In fact, go back and read my posts... in pretty much EVERY one I say it's stupid of Iran to do so, and a shame that politics are getting in the way of a sporting event that could lead to grass roots exchange and better understanding.

So, no, I would not at all say how paranoid the US was if they refused visas to the Iranians. I would say I'm disappointed that they act exactly like the Iranian government, and I certainly WOULD put up a stink if they were stopped at the airport for other reasons or what have you. So, how much are you willing to bet I would react like that? because you can hand over the money any time you like (ie. you're dead wrong). It's a shame you too could do nothing on this thread but get all riled up and turn it into some pro-American ranting because you misunderstood what others were saying. Tsk tsk, but it is bushlover, after all.

Welcome back. I almost agree with you, there.

For the wrong reasons, I'm sure.