More information on this story. One of those who sent this in said, "I guess this is will be a September 1, 1939 Alert." Maybe. But I suspect more varieties of appeasement will be in the offing first.
"Iran nabs British sailors in Iraq waters," by Robert Barr for Associated Press (thanks to all those who sent this in):
LONDON -- 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.
Those Iranians just won't quit pushing that envelope. If the West ever deals with Iran firmly perhaps it should hand over those long disputed waters to Iraq as a punishment.
no wonder this war is taking too long, the Brits(government, for those senitive people wanting me to be more specific) want to play nice, and maybe send Iranians a nasty letter in bold print.
I cant blame the Iranians for pushing if the West never pushes back.
And these vessels are still afloat why, exactly?
Picked up to trade for the three Iranians. Mere chips swept from the table, now to be cashed in.
Britain should now make a strike against a key government department with in Iran, doesnt matter which one.
Let them know for every action there is a reaction.
Tony Blair will probably act quickly to try to get a respected Imam to rule that Iran's act violates Islam.
Hanoi Jane Fonda AA gun v. Jill Carroll Captive Photo
Bush, Cheney and Rice should be replaced by Texas Hold'em stars from the World Poker Tour. They could deal with this, no pun intended.
The FBI should issue a statement that this is not terrorism and is not a hostage taking like in 1979. Otherwise hot heads might call for who knows what.
Actually, I meant the FBI should get a Dearborn imam to issue that ruling, not that they should try to issue a statement on their own.
Hmm, I wonder if Prince Charles can sweet talk the Iranians into handing over these hostages. He's pretty good at saying all the right things to all the wrong people.
I just hope those bastards don't do their captives too much harm.
Iran’s profit point: $50/barrel
Oil prices last week: $56/barrel
Oil prices today: $62/barrel
Double your money and play with the stupid Infidels. See your face on TV. What fun.
2007 is a really bad year to be an Iranian submariner.
Of course, if Blair's imam says it violates Islam and the FBI's says its not terrorism and not a hostage taking, then the two imams may need to meet over coffee to try to work out a unified joint ruling.
Let's not confuse what should happen to Iran with what won't happen.
Hmm Western sailors kidnapped by Muslim barbarians where have we seen this before?
I think that an islamist civil rights organization should sue the captain of the Ship for reporting the incident. It is obvious he is an islamophobe.
What will the response be? I hope Britain will do more than the US would, it seems we don't even stand up to Mexico anymore. (see the mess about our border agents going to jail)
JadeDragoness makes the right call. It's the Barbery Coast all over again. Give Iran 48 hours to return your sailors, then strike back. Hard.
Tgusa, that did make me laugh..., yep has to be a biggot, a racist, an Islamophobe, someone who does not understand Arabic, someone taking verses out of context and he inuslted the prophets left toe nail...
Its a Labour government, of cause we are going to act like a load of pussies, please can we have our sailors back, please...
What amazes me is that they knew that they were in international waters, why didn't they tell them to bugger off as it was International waters and start fighting, ahhh, I know, the politicians told them not to fire on Iranians.
Isn't that flat out an act of war!
Lesson; Never strike out in a rubber dingy when enemy gun boats are in the area.
Seems to have been a carefully crafted trap to nab British servicemen.
Japan minister raps ‘blond’ envoys in Mideast
Gaffe-prone Aso says ‘yellow faces’ will make Japanese successful brokers
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17735267
What is up with all the blonde, blue-eyed bashing lately?
A few days ago there was an article here where an Iranian said Iran was capable of kidnapping "blue-eyed, blond-haired officers" (as if ALL westerners are). Apparently Iran does not just make idle threats.
And it is not just muslims or Pakistanis or Arabs who are Tuetophobic. It seems the Japanese are as well.
Someone ought to tell these people to wake up and smell the 21st Century...racism is so passé, so 1960's. It is soooo hard to be white in this day and age, so much hatred.
lol
If only Maggie were back in charge! She showed the Argies the bizness during the Falklands. Now Britain is run by Antoinette Bliar. Gunboat diplomacy is what is needed here.
Yes, time to COWBOY UP!
We should send Hanoi Jane to Tehran.. in a burka.. Let her pose on some militray site.. then send in the B-52's I don't mean the band from Athen, GA.
Goodbye Hanoi Jane.
My guess is that Britian will cave in even though its an act of war.
This will probably be another excuse for the Brit's to pull out even earlier than they have announced.
What the world needs is Lyndon Johnson--the 1st Infantry Division would be embarking for Teheran right now
So when A-jad disappears on his upcoming visit to the UN, is it safe to assume is was James Bond who took him? Hope so.
It is soooo hard to be white in this day and age, so much hatred.
lol
Posted by: GreatShaitan
It ain't hard at all. We just have to have the intestinal fortittude to PUSH the button, PULL that trigger.
There is NO reason to pussyfoot around with Iran. Like an above comment said: Why are these Iranian boats still floating around?
Do we have NO Navies? Oh I heard [on *npr*] that a British Nuclear-powered sub is measuring the Polar ice caps to determnie the threat caused by - yawn, ho-humm.. - global warming.
I kid you not. THAT was on *not-very-national propaganda radio* yesterday. It pays to listen to the enemy broadcasts every now and then.
Then need to be measuring the hul strength of Iranian boats if I may suggest a more suitable use for a submarine.
Great way to test their hulls is by use of something called a torpedo. Admiral so-and-so.. do you remember what a torpedo is..? Surely you MUST know..
Oh dear..
hmmmm....the Persian gulf.....the gulf of Tonkin.
Sounds like a war is about to begin.
Click on my YTMND so I can get more page views!
WARNING 1938 ALERT!
The islamic republic of iran has, for 28 years now, wielded a magic spell over all Western "leaders" that render it completely exempt from even the threat of retaliation for any acts of war perpetrated by itself or its proxies. This will be no exception.
Not the first time the Brits have been taken by the Iranians; won't be the last either.
Wasn't it just a few days ago that the Iranians said they were going to take Americans hostage? So there were no Americans handy yesterday and they grabbed some Brits. The Iranian president is coming to the UN tomorrow. The US Government needs to support our best ally in Europe and prohit Ahmadinajad from stepping foot on US soil until the sailors are released.
Israel understands that an act of war is seizing an Israeli soldier.........
how mnay British military men have to be seized before it is an act of war????????
what will the Brits do when the iranians start beheading the British military men??????????
The Texican.
Live Free and Die Free
God Family America Freedom the only choice at any cost.
ps:
it appears that the western governments have lost their desires for freedom for the west is no longer willing to take the actions necessary to reply to acts of war against thier citizens and military....with undeniable force to end the problem.
do you feel safer and freer now than before 9/11????
tell your government
"...Iranian ambassador summoned to the Foreign Office".
Does Margaret Beckett know where Iran is? I expect she needs a road atlas to find Ipswich.
In times lite this it becomes obvious that Maggie Thatcher alone had more balls than the current government combined. Gee I miss her.
Lesson; Never strike out in a rubber dingy when enemy gun boats are in the area.
Posted by: tgusa
I have to respectfully disagree.. Never strike out when your government isn't behing you - no matter what equipment you have. What good is it all if they court-marshal you for using it?
The rubber dinghy is our political establishments.
The Iranian president is coming to the UN tomorrow. The US Government needs to support our best ally in Europe and prohit Ahmadinajad from stepping foot on US soil until the sailors are released.
Posted by: Alek
He'd make a nice hostage to get these British sailors back ;-)
Two points:
How big of.......I am trying to find a word which will be acceptable....."not manly" are these Brits as soldiers?
What they don't have guns to defend themselves and the entire Brit Navy is now rubber boats?
No wonder Putin concludes he can murder ex patriots in London with Polonium 210. What can the British do but protest.
Second point:
Iran must have lead in it's drinking water as they are the most stupid of people. The UN vote is coming up and they seize hostages. That will sure get allot of support.
For the record, the defector Iranians which are now in the West are not in British custody so taking Brits is the biggest of blunders.
Dick Cheney is cocked, locked and ready to rock doc, all that needs is some stupidity like this to take the safety off and convince everyone to just stay quiet as America blows these dolts back to the sand ages.
Cherry, our soldiers are as good as they've always been dude, I think everyone here knows that. Our politicians however rank amoung the worlds most spineless, hence our soldiers cant fire without fear of a murder charge being imposed. I also imagine they have strict orders not to engage Iranian units unless actively fired upon.
Our governments main fear with this incident will be the potential PR disaster. Maybe i'm being overly cynical, but who has any confidence in Blair and co to the contrary?
I am just wondering what the hell these British serviceman were doing there in the first place?
Yes I read the case, but checking for car crime right in the vicinity of Iranian waters is STUPID...
These guys are now bargaining chips so that Iranians "diplomats" caught near Baghdad can be safely returned. The word probably went out in Iran to capture foreign soldiers of any kind near their borders just for exactly this purpose.
It just smacks of incompetence, by Britain...
We need a draft of 2 million men and then to invade Iran. A ground invasion avoids retaliation by Iran with Russian anti-ship missiles.
Ground Invasion of Iran Cuts the Gordian Knot of Retaliation
re Thomas Holsinger on “The Case for Invading Iran”
We mobilized in WWI from 200,000 in April 1917 to 1 million in France in May 1918:
US Army Mobilization WWI from 0.2 to Victory 19mo
"I cant blame the Iranians for pushing if the West never pushes back"
Jimmy Carter got them into that bad habit.
Time to find out if Britain has a Paper Crown.
I think you hit the nail on the head-- there's certainly precedent for it: The sailors abducted in 2004 were alleged to have been targeted by the Revolutionary Guards in order to swap for 40 Iranians captured in Iraq.
In addition, according to AP, the US now says the Revolutionary Guards were behind today's capture as well.
Speaking of Naval Security...
Remember Dubai Ports World? Now they're trying to get their hands on airline scurity:
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/DAE032107
I am sure the administration would love tokeep this under the radar. Schumer already signalled he won't make much noise this time. Read it all.
http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/DAE032107
"Rule Britannia,Britannia rule the Waves-Britons
never,never will be Slaves..." Oh yeah,seems a lot has changed since these words were penned & the English believed in and were proud of their heritage.
Pictures from BBC-well known Biased Broadcasting
Corporation[could do with a broadside across the bows,my hearties] & propaganda wing of Al Jazeera
in U.K-revealed a large British battleship in area.So what happened whilst Iranian gunboats were surrounding British sailors?? Guess commander was speaking to Dhimmi Blair who was consulting the Muslim Parliament of Britain and Foreign Office[known to have been infiltrated by Islamists] on what he should do next...Great,eh!
Don't be surprised if this ends with "Fifteen Men
on a Deadman's chest-Yo Ho [from Iranians] and a
bottle of rum[drunk by dispairing British relatives].
As others have said these sailors will be used as hostages. As bargaining chips to force the USA to release the Iranian advisers trainers and operatives it caught in Iraq
Muhammad used hostage taking. Iranians are just emulating their false prophet. The bonus for the Iranians is that this splits the UK from the USA because now we'll get the drama of the UK trying to prevail upon on the USA to release it's captured Iranian operatives.
For Iranians, seizing British rather than American sailors is even more satisfactory. In the demonology of modern Iran, England, perfidious Albion, has played a major role far longer than tiny, almost trivial satan Israel, and big satan America. England has been the grand manipulator, in Iranian eyes, the player of the Great Game, with those English conspirators in 1951 and 1952 and 1953 maniuplating John Foster and Allen Dulles to stage the coup that removed Mossadegh.
It is a tribute, in a backhanded way, to England. So many other countries no longer give Great Britain no never mind, but not Iran. In Iran, the Muslim Iran of the crazed conspiracy theories (which are held even by those who are enemies of the regime, and lukewarm about Islam -- for if you grow up in a society suffused with the habit of mental submission, and lack of skepticism, conspiracy theories come readily to mind), it is Great Britain somehow involved in everything. In Iran, Great Britain is still imperial Britain, the Britain of Curzon, and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, and the Delhi Durbar, and A. K. S. Lambton giving clever advice to the Foreign Office on how to deal with those pesky Persians.
The past, as has been said, is not even past. And especially in the Muslim lands. The places where Time Stopped, or that Time Forgot.
"We need a draft of 2 million men and then to invade Iran."
-- from a posting above
You must be kidding.
I wish they’d kidnap this bloody government.
In my dreams we would start wasting Iran's electrical, sewer and water infrastructure as our response. Working our way up the list until we are demolishing their nuclear program
Lame Cherry - I'm an American, but I have had occasion to have a close look at the British Army, and accord its officers and men the greatest respect. The British military is a mere shadow of its former self through repeated cutbacks, but the individuals in it are of the very highest caliber - well trained, brave and motivated. the military in both the U.K. and the U.S. is a weapon that voters place in the hands of politicians. Often these politicians lack the courage, wisdom and honesty to wield the weapon correctly. Then it becomes a claymore in the hands of a chimp. Your scorn should be directed not at the soldiers and sailors but at their political masters.
Yes, supposedly even the porn movies are called "British" movies, I guess because the dialogue is usually English.
4 1/2 months ago Iran put out this 'news' story about the 2004 incident.
http://www.memritv.org/search.asp
you have to paste -- American and British Soldiers That Were Captured and Later Released by Iran in 2004 Displayed on Iranian TV -- in the "enter keywords(s)" space and hit search.
then click on the "View Clip" button.
Our politicians however rank amoung the worlds most spineless, hence our soldiers cant fire without fear of a murder charge being imposed. I also imagine they have strict orders not to engage Iranian units unless actively fired upon.
Sadly that is probably the truth.... The rules of engagement are so absurd that both US and UK forces almost have to get shot first before they can fight back.
Perfect example was the insane catch and release policy of iranian agents in iraq, but then may be they were just on vacation....
The politicans hold our soldiers back and the press looks for any reason to make them the bad guys.... Take the handcuffs off and things would be different...
Semper Fi
We need a draft of 2 million men and then to invade Iran. A ground invasion avoids retaliation by Iran with Russian anti-ship missiles.
The only thing a draft of 2 million men will do is to provide the UN with more nation-builder-peace-keepers at American expense.
I think we should trade the British troops held by Iran for all the members of Congress and the President.
Then, we need to draft enough American citizens to take their places and run the US government.
After that, we fix the VA system and instead of giving away hundreds of millions of dollars to islamic terrorist organizations.
Finally, if our citizens in Congress vote to actually declare war -- we raise an invasion force of about 4 million men and the rest as they say, will be history -- including islam!
4 million is fine with me.
quote
"We need a draft of 2 million men and then to invade Iran."
-- from a posting above
You must be kidding.
Posted by: Hugh
end quote
The reason to have a draft and invade Iran is to actually remove their nuclear program, to avoid their retaliation against our ships or troops, and to surround Pakistan and establish an independent supply to Afghanistan so that we can pressure Pakistan to give up its nukes, subs, and missiles.
Pakistan is working on miniaturizing its nukes so that they will fit on missiles on subs. They have 30 billion in debt, so they will sell those to Saudi Arabia, Hugo Chavez, etc.
Iran and North Korea think we are pinned down. By raising a military we get influence over them as well as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Even Turkey may think twice about attacking the Kurds.
search:
Pakistan miniaturizing nuclear warheads
"Results 1 - 10 of about 602 for Pakistan miniaturizing nuclear warheads."
search:
Pakistan Musharraf 9-11 ISI
"Results 1 - 100 of about 94,200 for Pakistan Musharraf 9-11 ISI"
Iran will also eventually get nukes, miniaturize them, put them on subs and sell them to cover the costs of this. Maintaining subs, missiles and nukes is too expensive for a country the size of Iran or Pakistan. They have to work with others and sell what they make.
Even Russia has to sell nuclear power plants and anti-ship missiles to Iran to make money, despite Iran making trouble in Central Asia.
Has anyone figured out the Zionist Jew Illuminati Cabal and Kosher Deli caused this mess yet?
Looks like Eichmanndinejad has cancelled his trip to the UN:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,260585,00.html
-Ahmamadman has cancelled his U.N. visit.
News [?] update on the radio today…
“British Soldiers “arrested” by Iranian security forces.
What’s next, British soldiers invited for extended holiday in fun filled Tehran?
Forget about the islamists subs, I hear our gubment’s have a secret weapon…
Since Iran is already in a position to be attacked over and over as far as I am concerned, they would be wise to return these sailors immediately. And if any of them should come to harm, I am quite sure that the reaction from the UK will not be more of the usual.
Iran is playing with fire. How many here remember a little incident at the Falkland Islands?
The mullahs of iran and their stooge of a president want a diversion. They created this problem. It is a making of their own doing to divert attention away from their own goof ups and incompetence in their domestic policies. Trouble is brewing in iran.
The President of Iran is more interested in helping hezbollah and hamas in destroying israel than taking care of his own people. He is a disgrace and incompetent buffoon.
Debka reports.."..the French nuclear carrier Charles de Gaulle and its task force had rendezvoused with the USS John C. Stennis in the Arabian Sea Wednesday for joint missions in the global war on terror.
The next day, Iran launched a new naval war game in the Persian Gulf. Just before the British sailors were seized, UK commanders in Basra accused Iran of being behind 90% of the violence in S. Iraq and paying out $250 to anyone willing to attack British troops.
Amid rising tensions in the strategic Gulf waters, DEBKAfile’s military sources disclose the American-French rendezvous was timed to coincide with the UN Security Council session Wednesday to debate expanded sanctions against Iran for continuing its banned uranium enrichment program.
The Iranians were bowled over by the appearance of the Charles de Gaulle opposite their southern coast, having assumed that Paris took issue with Washington’s tough stand on their nuclear activities and was seeking improved relations with Tehran.
However, Western military circles explain that the French president Jacques Chirac decided before he leaves office in May to repair the bad impression he left in early February when he urged the world - and Israel in particular - to learn to live with “an Iranian nuclear bomb or two.”
Rafale fighter-bombers on the French carrier’s decks will fly missions over Afghanistan alongside US warplanes.
Its arrival raises to four the number of Western aircraft carriers cruising within striking distance of Iran, including the USS Eisenhower and USS Boxer.
The Charles de Gaulle is accompanied by French Task Force 473, which consists of five warships: the FNS Cassard guided missile destroyer, the FNS Tourville anti-submarine frigate, the FNS Dupleix destroyer adapted for escorting oil tankers and the FNS Marne, a command and supply vessel. Captain of the French task force is Rear Adm. Xavier Magne. Commander of the American flotilla is Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn. "
Re: Ahmadinejad not coming to the UN
From Fox News:
"Mohammed Ali Hosseini, the spokesman, told Iranian state television that the trip was scrapped because of 'America's obstruction in issuing visas' to the Iranian delegation that was to travel to New York."
...and
"Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier claimed on Iranian state-run radio that the U.S. government had not issued a visa for Ahmadinejad.
But Daniel Wendell, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland said Ahmadinejad's and other Iranian officials' passports had been handed over in Bern on Friday. Another 31 other passports for support staff were to ready later in the day. The passports would then be taken by courier to Tehran in time for the Iranians to fly to New York."
I hope the Iranian version is the true one.
The Germans respected and feared the British Navy throughout the 20th Century.
pez
welcome to the 21st century, run by political correctness, multiculturalist fascists and marxist media moguls. if this happened 60 years ago, that twat of the iranian president would be now in leg irons aboard a british naval frigate and the entire iranian navy under the sea.
people, we need an uprising!!!
amazing..just saw on pbs the commander of the brit ship say the kidnapping of the british sailors was "peaceful"..no shooting.. well then that's OK..just good fun..someone should be relieved..the boat captain, i.e.
Iran is playing with fire. How many here remember a little incident at the Falkland Islands?
Yup, but "Iron Lady" Thatcher lived at No. 10 Downing and no one ever heard of PC/Multiculturalism, and I don't recall ever seeing so much as a single mosque in the UK back then.
Nowadays, EVERYTHING is different.
Does it really appear that Iran is afraid of the British Navy? At least the leadership in Iran has written off the lives of their people -- but I know of a few people in Iran who are more than a little nervous right now.
After all, THEY are the ones that will be in the cross hairs.
I still say, we should offer Iran every member of our Congress as well as the Supremes and the president in exchange for the 15 Brits!
Unfortuantely for US, Iran will realize that they are getting the dirt end of the stick in such a deal and refuse the trade!
No wonder the MadMonkey cancelled his visit to the UN
GreatShaitan Re Blonde question: I've been wondering the same thing myself; they seem to have a weird obsession with blonde hair and blue eyes. Many blonde girls in Eurabia now dye their hair to avoid harassment from Muslims and Jill Carroll says her captors were shocked that she was dark haired.
What I dont understand is where was the rest of the Royal Navy. Were these guys on small boat far away from British destroyers and such?
The real culprits are the British Navy brass, who failed to look after their men.
Old Atlantic your words ring so true, freedom is worth fighting for and yes even dying for.
Warnings had been issued after the disappearance of several Iranian officials visiting the West, including an important Revolutionary Guard leader who vanished in Turkey. We still don't know if these were defections or kidnappings, but again, warnings were issued to Americans traveling in Europe and the mid-East that Iranian agents might be trying to kidnap Americans in retaliation.
The fact that the Uranians decided to go after Brits is a telling commentary on the extent to which Bush intimidates them.
You better believe they'll be bargaining hard for the return of that RG leader.
amazing..just saw on pbs the commander of the brit ship say the kidnapping of the british sailors was "peaceful"..no shooting.. well then that's OK..just good fun..someone should be relieved..the boat captain, i.e.
Posted by: Madduck
Relieved of duty you mean?
" Old Atlantic your words ring so true, freedom is worth fighting for and yes even dying for.
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess" Thanks and eloquently stated.
" We need a draft of 2 million men and then to invade Iran..."
posting above
The U.S. does not need to set a foot in Iran. That is a stupid and I suspect, an intentionaly provocative statement. The draft is a thing of the past anyway. The art of modern warfare is so sophisticated that it requires more training time to become proficient than the traditional draftee's period of obligation. For you third world troll turds this means we need people who want to fight and are able to do it and we will have more and more of them as this heats up. By the way, missile attacks on U.S. ships will result in an escalation of hostilities beyond Iran's ability to comprehend...or to absorb and they bloody well (should) know it.