15 Brits arrested by Iran

[MrBishop]

LONDON (AP) — Iranian naval vessels seized 15 British sailors who had boarded a ship suspected of smuggling cars in the Persian Gulf off the Iraqi coast on Friday, officials said.
The British government demanded "the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."

The British Navy personnel were "engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters," and had completed a ship inspection when they were accosted by Iranian vessels, Britain's Defense Ministry said.

"We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level and ... the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office," the ministry said.


ON DEADLINE: Read more about the British soldiers
The seizure comes at a time of rising tensions between Iran and the West, which accuses the Islamic republic of violating a U.N. calls for it to halt uranium enrichment and open its nuclear program for inspection. It also comes amid U.S. accusations that Iran is funding and arming Shiite militias in Iraq, worsening sectarian tensions there.

The United States, Britain's chief ally, has built up its naval forces in the Gulf in a show of strength directed at Iran. Two American carriers, including the USS John C. Stennis — backed by a strike group with more than 6,500 sailors and Marines and with additional minesweeping ships — arrived in the region in recent months, ratcheting up tensions with Iran.

A Pentagon official said the Britons were in two inflatable boats from the frigate H.M.S. Cornwall during a routine smuggling investigation, said the official, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the incident.

He said the confrontation happened as the British contingent was traveling along the boundary of territorial waters between Iran and Iraq. They were detained by the Revolutionary Guard's navy after inspecting a merchant ship believed to be smuggling cars, he said.

A fisherman who said he was with a group of Iraqis from the southern city of Basra fishing in Iraqi waters in the northern area of the Gulf said he saw the Iranian seizure. The fisherman declined to be identified because of security concerns.

"Two boats, each with a crew of six to eight multinational forces, were searching Iraqi and Iranian boats Friday morning in Ras al-Beesha area in the northern entrance of the Arab Gulf, but big Iranian boats came and took the two boats with their crews to the Iranian waters."

In June 2004, six British marines and two sailors were seized by Iran in the Shatt al-Arab between Iran and Iraq. They were presented blindfolded on Iranian television and admitted entering Iranian waters illegally, then released unharmed after three days.

USA Today
Way to ratchet up the heat, eh

 

[Gonz]

If Iranian ships were in Iraqi waters, why didn't th eBrits fire upon them?

 

[MrBishop]

The Iranians say that the Brits were in their waters. As for firing upon the Iranian ship - the rule is: Only when aggressed. Wouldn't want to start the war too early, eh

 

[chcr]

If Iranian ships were in Iraqi waters, why didn't th eBrits fire upon them?

You are just being facetious, right?

Re Iran, they're simply doing what North Korea did. It worked for them.

 

[Gonz]

Considering the recent actions of Wantsajihadman, it may have been appropriate. Now, he's prepariong to meet with the UN Security Council while stopping nothing the UN says to stop.

Ain't diplomacy grand?

 

[MrBishop]

If it stops another war - diplomacy will be grand.
It does take two to tango, tho'
I understand that Wanst-hi-name is being denied a travel visa by the USA and may not be able to travel to the meeting they want him at.

 

[Gonz]

It's not being denied...it's being "held up" Politics, in diplomacy.

 

[Gato_Solo]

If it stops another war - diplomacy will be grand.
It does take two to tango, tho'
I understand that Wanst-hi-name is being denied a travel visa by the USA and may not be able to travel to the meeting they want him at.

The only thing that 'stops' war is knowing that any attack you make will be soundly beaten, and your own country will be attacked in retaliation. Diplomacy is a lie. Always has been, and always will.

 

[chcr]

The only thing that 'stops' war is knowing that any attack you make will be soundly beaten, and your own country will be attacked in retaliation. Diplomacy is a lie. Always has been, and always will.

A bit oversimplified (only a bit though) but substantially correct, IMO.

 

[MrBishop]

The only thing that 'stops' war is knowing that any attack you make will be soundly beaten, and your own country will be attacked in retaliation. Diplomacy is a lie. Always has been, and always will.

/me wonders why the USA hasn't taken over the world then.

 

[Gato_Solo]

/me wonders why the USA hasn't taken over the world then.

Not enough firepower, or desire.

 

[MrBishop]

Not enough firepower, or desire.

There's your diplomacy at work.

 

[chcr]

Not enough firepower, or desire.

Or people. To ensure victory, given more or less equal weaponry, your force should be half again larger than your opponent's. Then there's all that messy occupation shit and clean up.

Besides, doesn't The Brain own the franchise on that "take over the world" thing? *Narf, narf!*

 

[Gato_Solo]

Or people. To ensure victory, given more or less equal weaponry, your force should be half again larger than your opponent's. Then there's all that messy occupation shit and clean up.

More like 3 times but...yeah...

There's your diplomacy at work.

Tell that to the Native Americans...(I know. cheap shot, but you get the point)

Besides, doesn't The Brain own the franchise on that "take over the world" thing? *Narf, narf!*

 

[Gonz]

/me wonders why the USA hasn't taken over the world then.

Is not now nor ever has been our goal.

 

[BB]

never mind that crap ... i say we nuke Iran!

(might be a tad over-reaction ...but heh ... )

Kinda stupid move by the Iranian navy tho' - unless it is tactical (which i doubt) - they'll be in the shit there and then if they try another stunt like that - if they seriously WANT pressure applied to the borders of their International waters, why didn't they just ask?

... common politeness really!

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

Peace in the Middle East will be achieved shortly after Hell freezes over, Rosie O'Asshole makes sense, Gonz goes vegan, I visit the lincoln memorial, the original members of Led Zeppelin reunite, and the Texas Rangers win the World Series. Not before.

 

[BB]

Bit of a test case really - like the 'open skies' deal ...

we'll see - though until the power vacuum here is resolved i suspect it will hang, unfortunately.

God help us if cameron somehow gets in though - and that is in no way political - merely Fact.

The World changes and so does England - who knows how much longer might the Uk be the UK?

maybe ...maybe not.

Whither goes the future in the night?

 

[BB]

Peace in the Middle East will be achieved shortly after Hell freezes over, Rosie O'Asshole makes sense, Gonz goes vegan, I visit the lincoln memorial, the original members of Led Zeppelin reunite, and the Texas Rangers win the World Series. Not before.

The texan rangers no good then?

(er- baseball is it?? )

Anyway - the Rams are top of the league!!! (mad up there though - but very exciting)

 

[SouthernN'Proud]

OK, time now for my stoopid question based on cultural ignorance.

Who are these Rams of whom you so often speak?