[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Actually, the Greeks at Thermopylae achieved their objective of providing sufficient delay for a strategic retreat by most of the Spartan forces. They were all volunteers for a suicide mission. The geography of the pass gave them a huge tactical advantage, until they were betrayed (in today's context, the alternate route around the pass would have been printed in the NY Times).

Despite losing Athens, the Greeks eventually prevailed at the Battle of Salamis.

[JewishRighter]

Was it the Battle of Salamis or Bolognas?

[inkling]

Yes, I know.

[Samurai_Jack]

"Despite losing Athens, the Greeks eventually prevailed at the Battle of Salamis."

An excellent point.
The battle of Thermopylae emboldened the greek armies for the subsequent march to persia and the spread of their democratic culture.

The Spartans and their Greek Allies who gave their lives in this suicide mission delayed the advance of the Persian armies. This allowed the armada of Themistocles to evacuate the city of athens before the Persians burned it to the ground.

And Oh By The Way...
The iranian mullahs are NOT HAPPY about how they were portrayed:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1799652/posts

And that makes me... very happy.