Get tough on Iran [ Los Angeles Times ?!? op-ed ]

Los Angeles Times ^ | March 30, 2007 | David B. Rivkin Jr. and Lee A. Casey

[SunkenCiv]

Iran is already subject to international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program. It also is one of the few modern states that continues to use hostage-taking as a tool of statecraft -- as it once again proved with the March 23 seizure of 15 British sailors in Iraqi waters. Taking hostages is, of course, a serious violation of international law, but the Iranian government is an old hand at it. Shortly after the current regime came to power in 1979, U.S. diplomats in Tehran were unlawfully seized and held as prisoners for 444 days. The pretext that the Americans were held by Iranian "students" acting without government sanction was as risible in 1979 as are Tehran's current claims that the British sailors violated Iranian territorial waters. Ever-watchful global positioning satellites show they did not... If the Security Council cannot even "deplore" the unlawful detention of prisoners of war, let alone take more forceful action when a sovereign state chooses to act -- openly and unapologetically -- like a transnational terrorist organization, then it would better have remained deadlocked and silent. It is worthless as a guarantor of international peace and stability. The Iranian government has chosen to act as an international pariah, and it is time it is treated as such.

[randog]

A declaration of war through the current Congress?

You'll never see a something as formal as a declaration of war. The Iraq War taught Congress that you can vote for something else (a "resolution" or something else more or less meaningless), then retract your vote later on when things don't go well. War declarations are just too...."risky".

[Chode]

UP!!!

[AFPhys]

"I think that the time has come for a formal declaration of war against Iran. Before the lefty lurkers out there run screaming into the street such a move does not require overt military action. ..."
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Very well stated. I completely agree with your entire post.

A declaration of war IS completely reasonable... and the amount of military force used can be metered as necessary. It would be the ultimate in diplomatic pressure, too... and would really get the attention of some of Iran's neighbors... and in a good way, too.

[AFPhys]

I'm so sick of these ragheads at this point that I'm starting to believe we should just take their oil. If they want a fight there needs to be consequences.
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I'm with you. It is about time the world relearns what a REAL imperialist is, and how such would act. Rome knew how to do it... maybe we need to, also.

[AFPhys]

No matter where the Iranian capture took place, Tehran's British detainees are entitled to all of the rights and privileges of prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention. They are the regular service members of a sovereign state. They were on duty, in uniform and following lawful orders when they were taken captive in an unprovoked act of aggression.

The Geneva Convention, which binds Iran, requires that the captives be treated honorably and humanely. ...

Moreover, once the armed conflict that brought the Geneva Convention into play — Iran's capture of the British force operating in Iraqi waters — has ended, they must be released at once. Unless Iran now considers itself to be engaged in active hostilities against Britain — and potentially, with Britain's allies such as the United States — the sailors must be repatriated. POWs cannot be held beyond the close of active hostilities. That is the law.

It is so nice to read someone who actually comprehends the Geneva Conventions well enough to explain them to readers. It is clear that if Iran doesn't release these soldiers immediately that they consider there to be in existance a war between themselves and the UK, and therefore all the UK's allies.

This is not just a "grave concern", or even "deplorable"... this means war.

[nwrep]

Amazing.

Amazing what? You realize anyone can write an op-ed in any newspaper, right? And that this is not an editorial, i.e. the view of the LA Times editorial board?

[Jeffrey_D.]

Suppose they're just trying to drive p the price for their rag????

[FairOpinion]

Yes, it's time to get tough -- but who is going to do it?

Mark Steyn: Taking of Hostages by Iran is not Britain's Finest Hour

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1810113/posts

[MNJohnnie]

All we are saying is give bombs a chance......

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

3 words: Blind Squirrel: Nut

[SunkenCiv]

The URL ends in "underdog", which suggests this is the "also heard around town" section of the op-eds. ;')

[SunkenCiv]

[singing along with the oldies] went to the mosque, just to throw some rocks, saw the ayatollah gonna put him in a box, bomb Iran, bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran...

[SunkenCiv]

found a new version:

http://www.4tvs.com/Journey/yearseven/entries/J499-030706.html

couldn't get this to download:

http://www.4tvs.com.istemp.com/letsbombiran.mp3

Ah, here it is:

http://www.4tvs.com/iran/index.html

The original:

http://www.iranian.com/Pictory/2002/December/us3.html

[SunkenCiv]

two versions (1980 and 1987):

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I Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans by Vince Vance & the Valiants

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[SunkenCiv]