15 British Personnel seized by Iranian Navy

[mfat_man]

Four Points.

It was a deliberate ploy to use as a bargaining point prior
to the UN meeting concerning the Iranian nuclear programme.

They will put our personell under great psychoclogical
pressure with mock executions and other stress related
interrogation methods.

Tit for tat for the Iranian National Guard officers captured
by the US in Iraq. The will now demand their release.

Finally in the long run I envisage the US encouraging the
Israelis to undertake a proxy strike at nuclear facilities.

In conclusion I hope and pray that there will be a speedy
diplomatic resolution to this provocative incident since they
were operating under a UN mandate to stop, board and search.

Chas.

Spot on Chas.

[dan_engel]

christ...
news says they're thinking of taking legal action against the sailors now...

[Wholley]

news says they're thinking of taking legal action against the sailors now...

The British Government as Iv'e said elsewhere is playing into the hands of the Iranians.
They are experts at brinkmanship.
Chas is quite correct in deducing that the US will let Israel off the leash,
And sooner that Iran would like.
They may feel they have a bargaining chip with the Brits.
They certainly do not with the US and Israel.

[bird]

If something did happen to our soldiers, what are your opinions on what our government would do? I sincerely hope it does not come to this, any thoughts on the matter?

Bird

[Artist]

If something did happen do our soldiers, what are your opinions on what our government would do? I sincerely hope it does not come to this, any thoughts on the matter?

Bird

B'Liar would go on the TV in tears, wringing his hands and saying how very upset he feels about it all...........................FECKING TOSSER!

Daft as it may sound back in the seventies there were over a hundred Iranian Marine Officers doing a YO's course at CTCRM. There was also a detachment of Bootnecks out in Iran helping them to set up their own version of CTC! I dare say all these blokes have long been sussed and topped by the Loonatic Fringe that is now running Iran.

I find it galling that the death of Bob Whoolmer takes precedence on most frontpages rather than 15 bods up shit creek without a paddle due to the rules of engagement foisted on them by a Government who quite frankly need to be given a fecking good kick up their backsides!

Artist

[Dangermouse]

Well, at moment all we can do is hope for thier safe return.

Iran is not going to do anything to these soldiers. Even if it were to charge them under law with 'aggression', they would likely use it as an excuse not to agree with UN sanctions. But that wouldn't happen, because it could be seen as a declaration of war, especially if it is proved conclusively that they were in Iraqi waters at the time by the British government. Though Iran has had recent guerrilla/terrorist opposition which it has blamed on the British government.

I very much doubt that this was a political move. Iran is not a centralised government in the way that Saddam's Baathists were. It is likely that they were captured by an overzealous Iranian high-ranking officer who believed that they had strayed into Iranian waters. The soliders and sailors will be returned.

[bird]

Rediculas really how things can change, aye Artist? But obviously it does.

I hope your right Dangermouse, my opinion is that they will come home alive needless to say Iran will mess us around before doing so. Predictably unpredictable.

Needless to say I think they have overstepped the mark,

Cheers Bird.

[SO19]

Rediculas really how things can change, aye Artist? But obviously it does.

Thats revolutions for you...

[digitalfreefall]

B'Liar would go on the TV in tears, wringing his hands and saying how very upset he feels about it all...........................FECKING TOSSER! Artist

Exactly what I was thinking today, its been over 3 days since this happened and unless I have missed it neither Blair, Des Browne or Prescott has been on the news to make a official statement.

What a bunch of ****'s

[Dangermouse]

yer, but they are probably working furiously diplomatically behind the scenes. theres very little they can do otherwise - even if they did go infront of the camera, they wouldn't be able to say much as it would risk sending the wrong signals to Tehran.

[digitalfreefall]

Wrong signals ?

The only signal we should be sending is that if they touch one hair on the heads of those guys then Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is going to be wearing is arse for a hat.

And im sure they are working behind the scenes Dangermouse but a statement should be made, its no wonder the world thinks we are the USA's bitch when something like this happens and we go quiet, the world is watching.

[_chris]

Don't be too hard on him digital, he only took 2 days to comment, and it was his weekend. Hell its not like something important happened like racism on Big Brother .

Prime Minister Tony Blair has expressed very serious concerns over the detention of fifteen Royal Navy personnel by Iranian Authorities in a statement today, 25 March 2007.

Speaking at a meeting of European heads of Government in Berlin, the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP said:

"I have not been commenting upto now on this because I want to get it resolved in as easy and diplomatic way as possible, because it's the welfare of the people concerned that have been taken by the Iranian Government that is most important.

"But this is a very serious situation and there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from a boat in Iraqi water, it simply is not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters. And I hope the Iranian Government understand how fundamental an issue this is for us. We've certainly sent those messages back to them very very clearly indeed.

"I hope that this can be resolved over the next few days but the quicker it is resolved the easier it will be for all of us. But they should not be under any doubt at all about how seriously we regard this act which was unjustified and wrong."

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/Defen ... rongPm.htm

[Dangermouse]

Wrong signals ?

The only signal we should be sending is that if they touch one hair on the heads of those guys then Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is going to be wearing is arse for a hat.

And im sure they are working behind the scenes Dangermouse but a statement should be made, its no wonder the world thinks we are the USA's bitch when something like this happens and we go quiet, the world is watching.

the situation could spill out of all proportions. As much as I wish the safe return of the sailors and marines, it is simply irrational and unrealistic to expect or want Tony Blair to give signals that Britain would wage war on Iran or anything like that. Britain can't touch Ahmadinejad.

[bird]

Recent updates are that they have re-requested them to be released, if they ignor that Blair has stated he will take it to the next level. Seeing as all over News 24 they are giving the exact positions which were co-ordinated on the soldiers GPS sytems at the time. It shows they were well within iraqi waters. Just shows as has been stated on here it's all propaganda.

In ref to taking it to the next level I think will be making it a more public matter, as in less private talks between the two goverments, making it more of a public affair.

I really f*cking hope Blair doesn't lie down and take this.

Bird

[xcj]

he might not have a choice bird, hes put cut back after cut back on the armed forces and as a result its over-stretched. He's an idiot and what international leader should be scared of him?

we shouldn't be dis-arming, we should be re-arming... to preserve the peace prepare for war. This is a good example.