Iran's Bluff Humbles Britain

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | April 8, 2007 | Mark Steyn

[Tom D.]

Stein hits another nail squarely on the head.

[mtbopfuyn]

The sun has set on the British Empire.

[mainepatsfan]

With this encouraging development, we might persuade them to wipe only half of Israel off the map, or even nuke some sparsely occupied corner of the Yukon instead.

He's awesome.

[Sender]

That was pretty brutal, but mostly accurate. It is hard to accept the TV behavior of the hostages, and even harder to accept the rules of engagement.

[1rudeboy]

bttt

[Smber]

I believe that it was Richard Nixon who said that Credibility = Power X Will. Since the relationship is multiplicative and the will is zero (or very close to it), I’ll leave it to you to figure out how much credibility the West has.
Anybody up for bringing Pelosi to trial?

[Truth29]

This should be required reading for any Western political leader who wants to preserve our way of life.

[100-Fold_Return]

Stein hits another nail squarely on the head

Whats that!?? Mercenaries captured some brits to attempt to foment the tv-bots into insisting Pres. Bush invade Iran, Venezuela, and North Korea so a dim can be selected to rescue our troops??

[YellowRoseofTx]

...and even harder to accept the rules of engagement.

This is what bothers me the most, about Britain and the U.S. It's past time, when provoked to ratchet things up and take care of the problem.

[StatenIsland]

I would like to ask, seriously, if the result would have been any different had the sailors been American.

Personally, I have been convinced for quite some time that we no longer have the stomach for a fight - and that our divided status as a nation has allowed patriotism, nationalism and jingoism to become dirty words.

Those that hate those concepts fail to understand that they are necessary if a nation or a culture is to survive - they are not based in mere rhetoric. That a LACK of patriotism or nationalism does not signify a more sophisticated, cerebral approach to life, but rather a letting down of the guard necessary to maintain the freedoms we fought so hard to achieve and maintain in past generations.

I fear this lesson will be learned the hard way. The very hard way.

[Marauder]

Anybody up for bringing Pelosi to trial?

If this country has the stones to convict her for treason in time of war, I'm with you.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

the enervating fatalism of too many people in what is still a semi-serious nation with one of the world's biggest militaries up against an insignificant basket-case.

I just don't get it either Mark.

Man-o-man did Iran make out from this incident. Their political capital SKYROCKETED from this little bit of piracy!

[PierreLegrand]

I would like to ask, seriously, if the result would have been any different had the sailors been American. We have never seen American Marines or other forces conduct themselves so shamelessly while in captivity...then to make matters even more terribly comical to take advantage of their shame so instantly once they had kissed enough ass to get out. This isn't to say that we won't ever see it but so far not yet.

We have seen the American government act shamelessly though when faced with those thugs. Witness the 83 Marine Barracks bombing where instead of making Iran pay, we tucked our ass between our legs and scooted out of Lebanon.

On the other hand just recently American and Iranian forces clashed when they tried to kidnap American Fighting forces...the Iranians died. Reminds my of that F/A-18's nose Art after 9/11 "Hijack This!".

[Sam Cree]

"Personally, I have been convinced for quite some time that we no longer have the stomach for a fight..."

Well, we certainly had the stomach to start a fight in Iraq, probably mostly as a reaction to 9/11. However I think we've temporarily lost the stomach for another one, due to the length of time we've been there without decisive overall victory.

I don't think we've really got the combat troops available to start another war, and I don't think the UK has enough for even one war on its own.

But my opinion is that the US Navy would not have sat idly by and let its people be led into captivity like the RN did.

If it had happened I'm not sure what Bush's reaction would have been, he took the diplomatic route during the Chinese incident, but I believe he of all people understands the dangers of allowing radical Muslims to achieve victories against our troops.

[mkjessup]

This excellent Steyn column needs to be printed out, rolled into a fine tube, and rammed up Neville Blair’s bottom.

[mkjessup]

We have seen the American government act shamelessly though when faced with those thugs. Witness the 83 Marine Barracks bombing where instead of making Iran pay, we tucked our ass between our legs and scooted out of Lebanon.

Let me help you out with that Pierre. For the record, the Beirut barracks bombing took place in October '83, and our Marines were still in Lebanon in early '84, that ain't 'scooting out of Lebanon' pal. Reagan did eventually order the evacuation of Marines in Beirut to Navy ships anchored offshore, but that was in consultation with our allies who were also attempting to stabilize that region.

However, if you want to demonstrate your technique of tucking your ass between your legs, that would be almost worth paying a cover charge for, usually it's just the tail that gets tucked in back there, lol

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Power is only as great as the perception of power.

The Iranians have exposed America's strongest ally as the soft underbelly of the Great Satan.

But it seems to me a more profound malaise has gripped them -- the enervating fatalism of too many people in what is still a semi-serious nation with one of the world's biggest militaries up against an insignificant basket case.

Take away the confidence, and the ships and men and money avail you nought.

In the end, every great power is as great as its credibility,

Enervating fatalism is what happens to your domestic target audience when you fail to conduct strategic counter propaganda.

Happy Blogoversary!

[jcs1744]

One of his finest, I might add. :-)

[Bon mots]

[bandleader]

LONG AGO!