British Sailors seized by Iran.

Matt308 · 03-30-2007, 09:48 PM

PB your comments about the US not responding are again comparing apples and oranges. The EP-3 going down with the US' primary trading partner, 6th largest economy on the planet, and one of the world's primary military powers is not the same. The UK is the 5th largest economic engine on earth. And it is scared of Iran? Whom 40% are below the poverty line, is run by a despot theocracy, and whose economic ranking is WAY in the double digits is quite telling.

The Chinese coughed up our boys in 11 days. They did not parade them around in Confucius uniforms like Iran, force video confessions of guilt like Iran, exact written statements of Chinese superiority like Iran, nor provide smug condemnations of world opinion like Iran. At least those commie ***holes have some honor.

Iran on the other side, appears to only reckon with force. I'm not advocating Iranian casualties...yet. Rather, a consolidated EU set of sanctions, some destruction of their naval assets to prevent them from doing this again, and some pain inflicted upon their gov't by disabling their primary naval port facilities.

What does trouble me is that this may result in 15 casualties. However, since my statements are "as if I were Prime Minister" I also must weigh the cost versus the repercussions (benefits). No leader wishes to condemn their people to death, but God****it, at some point in time the Commonwealth's well-being must outweigh a single tactical deployment. And only a man who is not vying for political office can make those types of decisions.

There. I said it.

pbfoot · 03-30-2007, 09:58 PM

Yeah but 70million zealots is nothing to trifle with

mkloby · 03-30-2007, 09:59 PM

I'll agree that the public "pitch" to the international community was poor. However, I've said this before, and I'll say it again. All information and intelligence is not diseminated to the public. Therefore, what you saw on TV and in the news is not going to be the entire affair. Obviously, most discussions are behind closed doors. That's the way it has always been, and will always be. There were, and are other factors that were under consideration. That is for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbfoot

Yeah but 70million zealots is nothing to trifle with

You say that as if you fear them. This is the reaction they desire, and I for one fear throughout the western world.

Matt308 · 03-30-2007, 10:21 PM

70M. Yep. And likely more than 80% wish that their theocracy was a democracy.

HaWk3r T3mP3sT · 03-30-2007, 11:45 PM

If Mr Blair doesnt do anything to stop this outrage im gonna start recruiting people with any type of military experience and start a special ops team to set those poor guys free.

Matt308 · 03-31-2007, 02:58 AM

Mr. HaW*********, what unit did you serve with, what was your MOD, and PEX?

Milos Sijacki · 03-31-2007, 04:04 AM

I know this is no concern of mine, but lets not rush this. I think the war is what they really want, Iranians I mean. Don't rush, remember Egypt and Suez Canal crisis??

trackend · 03-31-2007, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaWk3r T3mP3sT

If Mr Blair doesnt do anything to stop this outrage im gonna start recruiting people with any type of military experience and start a special ops team to set those poor guys free.

Little bit of a silly comment there Hawk

Ajax · 03-31-2007, 06:40 AM

BBC News Player - Navy crewman 'apologises'

Another bold, obvious move.

Gnomey · 03-31-2007, 06:44 AM

Yep, they are putting words in their mouths for sure. The BBC's Have your say is also interesting, for once the most recommended course of action is a 48 hour ultimatum and then a declaration of war rather than the normal weak ass sh*t that is normally seen there (and America bashing) - this can been seen further down though (the main one being from a French person

)

BBC NEWS | Have Your Say | Can UK and Iran resolve their difference?

timshatz · 03-31-2007, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnomey

Yep, they are putting words in their mouths for sure. The BBC's Have your say is also interesting, for once the most recommended course of action is a 48 hour ultimatum and then a declaration of war rather than the normal weak ass sh*t that is normally seen there (and America bashing) - this can been seen further down though (the main one being from a French person

)

BBC NEWS | Have Your Say | Can UK and Iran resolve their difference?

Looked for the Frenchy post, didn't see it.

lesofprimus · 03-31-2007, 08:33 AM

Added: Saturday, 24 March, 2007, 12:37 GMT 12:37 UK

If Iranian sailors entered British waters, the British would arrest the Iranians. The Iranians would then protest that they had not been in British waters; but the British public would not believe that.

That is exactly what has happened but in reverse.

So what should be done? Nothing. It'll all blow over.

E Taylor, PARIS

timshatz · 03-31-2007, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

Added: Saturday, 24 March, 2007, 12:37 GMT 12:37 UK

If Iranian sailors entered British waters, the British would arrest the Iranians. The Iranians would then protest that they had not been in British waters; but the British public would not believe that.

That is exactly what has happened but in reverse.

So what should be done? Nothing. It'll all blow over.

E Taylor, PARIS

That's one way of looking at it. Not sure I agree with it. Don't think the Brits would hold them, put them on TV, threaten them with a trial....ect, ect. And you surely wouldn't have the lone female in the group forced to dress as the Brits thought she should. Nah, not the same thing in reverse.

Watch oil prices, they're generally a good indicator of how the world feels and if it wil blow over. Right now they are holding steady in the mid 60s. Were down a little yesterday after running up for about a week.

Thanks for finding it Les.

renrich · 03-31-2007, 12:10 PM

Mkloby, of course you are right in your post on impeachment but Congress alone has the power to declare war. Of course now we are not in an officially declared war, which would give the President more powers than he currently has. If Bush were to send troops to aid Britain in any action against Iran, he could never get the Congress to agree to that action. Then the Dems would claim he declared war without the required consent of Congress and I have no doubt that they would start impeachment proceedings. In fact, I have no doubt that if the Dem leadership thought they had the votes they would start the impeachment process today and unfortunately there would be some Republicans who would back them.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 03-31-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbfoot

The rest of the world was behind you 100% for Afghanistan and the war on terrorism and joined you , but most of the world cannot connect the war on terrorism to Iraq be it right or wrong.

Because they have only seen the bullshit media and what the liberals want them to see. They have not seen the training camps that were in Iraq before we went in. I have...