Comments on: Iran Ups The Ante With Capture Of British Soldiers

By: wow

wow — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 01:47:12 +0000

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!! Did your skin not crawl when Ahmadinejad pronounced that he would introduce the world to the 12th Emam who he stated was born 300 years ago and has been in hiding?! What kind of man makes a world-wide proclamation like that? And why has no one said a damn thing about it??? Are the American people too stupid to realize that the extremists of Islam want nothing more than the demise of the west, Israel, and anyone who supports either of those two bodies? They say if we give them this and that, there will be peace, but all they do is ask for more. There will be no peace. I’ll say it again…THERE WILL BE NO PEACE. Have we already forgotten what the extremists did to us on 9/11? Have we already forgotten the lives lost? Do you not understand that they don’t believe in “talks” or “democracy”… all they know is the their “god” has commanded them in the ninth chapter of the Koran to wipe out anyone who opposes or does not take part in the Islamic faith a.k.a “the infidels.” And what do they call us? Thats right!…Infidels. This is not a war between men…this is a holy war. They call it Jihad. Have you heard of it? If not…just turn on your T.V. because the beginnings of it are happening right now…and all we can do is sit back and watch. I have no party affiliations, but I believe that when the liberals are in control of the country (which will happen…Bush f**ked up…) all they will want to do is have talks and meetings. These people will lie to our faces about peace, and about working together. Don’t be fooled. As soon as we give them any room, they will strike. Be prepared.

By: Bud Fox

Bud Fox — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:29:43 +0000

I’m taking away the argument that the British Sailors were in Iranian waters and thus their capture is acceptable. Even IF they were “over the line”, they were on a UN mission. So I ask, where is the outrage from the U.N.? Do the sailors have bibles? Religiously adherent meals? Time to pray to their Christian God?
Come on folks, not everything is relative. The Iranians ARE bad people. Yes I said bad people for it is all of them that welcomed an Islamic state vice a secular state in 1979.

By: DLS

DLS — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 19:10:35 +0000

Elliott Joseph said:

> My fear is that a weak policy response
> will reinforce Iranian confidence and
> possibly cause tension between US
> [and] UK strategy.

Weakness is the last thing we need to show Iran right now.

In a dramatic illustration of the different postures adopted by British and US forces working together in Iraq, Lt-Cdr Erik Horner – who has been working alongside the task force to which the 15 captured Britons belonged – said he was “surprised” the British marines and sailors had not been more aggressive.

“…Our reaction was, ‘Why didn’t your guys defend themselves?’”

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2393337.ece

By: DLS

DLS — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:59:11 +0000

Iran will only be emboldened, as well as rewarded, by weakness in the West.

Iran and losers in the West would hate it if this guy were told about what Iran did, and reacted predictably and appropriately.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/050811-F-1234P-006.jpg

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:57:22 +0000

Do you have some major proof of the integrity and rationality of the current Iranian government that weâ€™re not aware of?

I’m sorry to say it, but the U.S. and British governments have even less credibility than the Iranian government.

By: Rudi

Rudi — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:03:43 +0000

Seems two stories about Iran from the recent past have implications of US incompetence and inteference all over. The raid in Irbil and the Ali Reza Asgari defection were US attempts to go after Iranian intel operatives.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2393336.ece
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/839441.html

By: Jim Satterfield

Jim Satterfield — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:09:37 +0000

No, Brad it didn’t. Do you have some major proof of the integrity and rationality of the current Iranian government that we’re not aware of? I’ve often wondered about those who assume that Iran is a rational government like any other secular government. Somehow I’m not surprised by them doing something like this.

By: Elliott Joseph

Elliott Joseph — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:52:35 +0000

Interestingly, West said of a similar incident in 2004 that he thought the British response was “not as robust as it might have been”.

Unfortunately, the same seems to be happening again – yes, Tony Blair has used some strong words, but “Downing Street sources” put it about this morning that military action was not an option, thus rather hobbling our negotiating position!

My fear is that a weak policy response will reinforce Iranian confidence and possibly cause tension between US / UK strategy.

By: Shaun Mullen

Shaun Mullen — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:24:56 +0000

Here's a link to an interesting interview with Sir Alan West, who was First Sea Lord in 2004 when Iran detained eight British servicemen after they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.

By: usasamurai

usasamurai — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:03:54 +0000

The US is planning to attack Iran?

Where does your info come from?

By: Brad Arnold

Brad Arnold — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:16:06 +0000

Did it ever occur to people that the British sailors were in Iranian waters? Frankly, I am sick of hearing analysts making the mistake of claiming Iran was in big trouble if they didn’t hand over the British sailors. Britain and America are pursuing a belligerent policy toward Iran, and the US is planning to preventatively attack Iran regardless of the disposition of those 15 sailors. In my opinion, the best Iranian strategy is to follow the North Korean model (rather than the Iraq model), and act belligerent back, escalate at every turn, and act like they’re spoiling for a fight. To do anything else would be to show weakness. That is why North Korea has succeeded, and Iraq failed. Furthermore, that is why, when Bush orders a preventative attack on Iran, Iran will escalate. Like I say: the North Korean model has been successful, and the Iraq model failed.

By: Citizen Kang

Citizen Kang — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 08:45:14 +0000

A scary thought, it seems to me that Ahmadinejad is as hair-triggerdly (neologism alert) confrontational as George Bush.

I have no clue where this is all going, but I thank my lucky stars that the sailors aprehended weren’t Americans.

Then again, with our increased presence in the Gulf, perhaps it’s just a matter of time.