Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.
Regards, Ivan
Posted on 06/30/2004 11:49:28 AM PDT by areafiftyone
LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Iran forced eight British servicemen into its territorial waters when its troops captured them earlier this month, Britain said on Wednesday.
The eight were detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guards after they were seized on the Shatt al-Arab waterway along the Iran-Iraq border.
They were handed over to British diplomats after three nights when Tehran said they had mistakenly veered off course.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said the men had a different story.
"The initial assessment... was that these service personnel could have strayed into Iranian waters by mistake," Hoon said in a written statement to parliament.
"In recent more detailed debriefing the crews have said that they were operating inside the Iraqi border and were forcibly escorted into Iranian territorial waters," he said.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's government, alongside other European Union nations, has attempted a policy of engagement with Tehran. But relations have soured recently as Britain has put pressure on Iran over doubts about its nuclear programme.
The British government continues to negotiate for the return of the men's boats and equipment. "The deadline set for their return passed yesterday," Hoon said. He also said a strong message had been sent about the parading of the men blindfolded on television, shortly after their capture.
"We are very concerned about the blindfolding of the men and have made representations about this to the government of Iran," Hoon said. "We have also made it clear that we do not expect a recurrence of this type of incident."
Britain said on Wednesday it had used diplomacy to resolve a potential clash with Iranian Revolutionary Guards who began "digging in" inside Iraq in mid-2003.
(((((((PING)))))))
ping
Why didn't the Brits fight back?
They were probably under orders not to cause an international incident. I don't think the American navy is under the same orders (which may be why Brits were targeted--or maybe they were targeted because their boats were closer to the waterway than American boats)
Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable.
Regards, Ivan
Gee. Barbaric behavior from dirty, illiterate savages. Who'd have imagined it??
If this happened to Britain in 1890 the Fleet would be on its way.
The boats the men were in were all small unarmed craft you cannot attack Iranian craft with pistols. However if the Brits are smart they will have a larger well armed craft close by the next time the Iranians want to start some crap.
Should have had it this time.
ping
Well, now it's clear this was not even a mistake by the Brits (didn't think so to begin with) but an open provocation by Iran. Will your government do anything (I'm sure we'll give you von Moltke's 'blank check') or are you sliding into dhimmitude towards the about-to-go-nuclear Iranians? I am very worried that while most of the Brits are true-blue, the woad has rubbed off over there to a large extent, and Blair is on very thin ice, with appeasement the alternative. Wha' happened to youse guys?
how did the iranians force them into their territory
Probably boarded their vessels.
I don't think there is quite that fork in the road. If anything, I believe it has hardened Blair's attitude regarding the Iranians.
One thing that people don't quite realise - Blair is in less trouble than he seems. His own party realises there is no alternative leader that can win elections. The country realises the Tories are not quite ready. UKIP is on the road, but it will be a few cycles before they are a major force.
Blair will lose the referendum on the EU Constitution, but I predict it won't matter.
Regards, Ivan
"..He also said a strong message had been sent about the parading of the men blindfolded on television, shortly after their capture..."
What, no more tea???
For real now, the only thing the Iranians understand is force, SINK all their ships.
I confess to being confused about British politics these days. The Tories are against Bush and the war, and for the EU Constitution. Labor is against Bush and the war, but Blair is for the war at least and ok with Bush, so Britain is with US. Labor is also for the EU Constitution. But, Blair felt enough pressure to call for a referendum, which you tell me (and I believe based on everything I've read) will say NO to the EU constitution.
I hope you're right, but I'm still confused. I'm against the EU Constitution, since it's just another totalitarian communitarian European scheme that's fundamentally incompatible with the rights of Englishmen and the English constitution (unwritten), but what do I know, I'm just an American proud of his forbears who were part of the crew that forced Magna Charta on John Lackland.
I'm pretty sure the mullahs are having a good laugh over their indignation.
It seems the Europeans, including the Brits, have forgot who their dealing with.
All this talking and dealing with Iran's government will only get them, and us, a "nuclear terrorist state", that will be a disaster.
That's not quite accurate - there are some Tories against the war and against Bush and for the EU Constitution. These are the same people that Margaret Thatcher had problems with - it's the old struggle between Drys and Wets all over again.
As a loyal Dry, I feel they should be thrown out of the party as they are traitors to the country and the national interest.
Labor is against Bush and the war, but Blair is for the war at least and ok with Bush, so Britain is with US. Labor is also for the EU Constitution. But, Blair felt enough pressure to call for a referendum, which you tell me (and I believe based on everything I've read) will say NO to the EU constitution.
There are some more pro-US politicians in the Labour Party - I believe David Blunkett can be said to be so. Gordon Brown is no friend of the EU. But the rank and file is generally horrible.
The electorate, I comfortably predict, will reject the EU Constitution. I think it will be rejected in a number of countries.
Regards, Ivan
"BRITAIN SAYS IRAN FORCED SAILORS INTO ITS WATERS"
this certainly support's Stratfor's analysis yesterday that Iran forced the issue for political purposes.
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