Posted on 03/25/2007 5:17:55 AM PDT by Dog
She would make a feckless speech, calling on the "international community" (which doesn't exist) to do something.
If you're talking Mrs. Bill Clinton, then probably the same way Jimmy Carter "handled" the first Iranian hostage crisis.
With that attitude I suppose this will be resolved by begging for help from London's radical mullahs instead of telling Tehran to release them immediately or suffer the consequences. They need Maggie Thatcher.
Regardless of whether you view it as a 'big deal' or not, the outcome is probably going to be the same, i.e. a rerun of 2004 - humiliation followed by release. It was a preplanned operation by the RG to retaliate against moves against the RG's operations in Iraq & to boost internal support for the regime. They picked UK forces because they knew the would not fight back and their position is to always de-escalate in this type of situation.
Next turn of events...Iran will cut off supplies of oil to the US by gumming up the Straights of Hormuz (sp) and will sell there product over land to China, India etc. So the US if were to EVER bomb the oil supplies in Iran, it will be perceived as a strike on the world, not just Iran.
Officially touch and go...this capture has 15 lives in limbo...they certainly have been gaining good knowledge about our technology they keep kidnapping with the boats...and some day and maybe soon...don't be surprised when a British boat approaches a US vessel and we then find out that suicide rag heads made a surprise visit to our troops and they actually use our bombed vessel to clog the water ways.
The next war or terror will be on the water ways...if the terrorists can sink enough ships, in major waterways, they will have a bigger desvasting impact on the world then a war fought on land...they can control the flow of oil.
Now if they were US forces, things would be a lot different. But that's why they picked UK marines. They're playing it safe. Easy target, satisfactory propaganda and humiliation. No fear of retaliation.
Make a trade with what?? What if the U.S. holds all the Iranian prisoners? You think we would just roll over like that? We hold all the bargaining chips, we might give them back and allow the trade, but I'd bet Bush gets some assurances from Blair as to UK cooperation with any future conflict with Iran
Another more recent datapoint to consider: the taking of 3 Israeli soldiers and killing of others, on clearly Israeli soil, last Summer... that led to a few weeks of a mini war. Although not carried thru to their release, it was the correct response to the Iranian (via Hezbolla/Hamas) provocation.
"There is alway's hope"....EST
It's just a matter of time
The Iranian strategy seems to be to try to drive a wedge between the US and Britain by conditioning the release of British soldiers on the US releasing the Iranians. I don't believe they really have any interest in their spies. This is all about divide and conquer.
I think the Iranians do not understand Western reaction to the taking of our soldiers. That is the flaw in their strategy and I think it will cost them. When Western soldiers are taken hostage, Western leaders are essentially given a blank check by the public when it comes to military force. That means the Iranians just voided their greatest asset - Western peace advocates in the media and on the left.
Blair convened them to explain why they won't be used. This will be yet another victory for those who dare, and yet another demoralizing loss for the West, who won't bother to defend itself, lest it appear like a "bully".
Another brick in the wall.
I hope the Ahmadinadjab just hit the fan.
If they wanted to launch a military conflict they would do so in such a way as to maximise their inital advantage as long as possible. Cutting off oil offers no advantage whatsoever and only sets themselves up for instant retaliation.
"This went nowhere. The Iranians calculated that the British would not do anything other than talk, and they are correct."
Iran is trying to justify their ownership over this territory. They also know the British soldiers will confess which will make their case stronger in the UN.
This was a good play by Iran. They raised the stakes and have nothing to lose by this. Get the confessions, release the sailors and the British will back off.
Notice how the MSM is not really reporting this? They don't want Americans to gain sympathy for England which will make Americas case for doing something about this.
I think this has gone far enough.
It's time to stop letting these terrorists humiliate our country.
What a complete bunch of pussies we look like. Being bullied by islamo facists. I'm actually pretty ashamed and embarrassed.
If were up to me, I'd give them one very public warning to return our service folks and the equiptment that have illegally stole, or we are going in to get them ourselves.
I am very worried that Blair is going to cock this up tp appease the population.
It's a shambles.
It used to... if Britain invokes Article 5, then we are obligated to aid in her defense... which means that GWB does not have to go to Congress for a declaration of war before orderinf troops to Iran. Sadly, Blair won't have the stones for it.
I agree, but...when was the last time that we went in and used our force to wage war? Grenada? American guilt will always win the day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.