UK troops captured by Iran

I hear ya spooner. It just goes to show the anti american sentiment that graces this site. Everyone is so eager as to paint the US as the bad guy looking for a fight. BLAH!

What about Iran? They are the ones who are the perpetrators. Are the Iranians trying to start something? Why is it always Americas fault?

some people here seriously need to quit being duesch bags and get a life.

[quote of entire previous post removed]



That's like saying "Why is everyone putting the blame on the Nazis?".
HMMm...I WONDER!



Mod Edit: Quoting – Please Review This Link.

[edit on 24-3-2007 by 12m8keall2c]

Well considering the only anti American sentiment that's present in this thread came from you and "spooner", I'd say your comments are nothing but bait. Knock yourselves out, I doubt anyone is going to play your game.

There seems to be a lot of people here who can tell the future......if they know for sure what is going to happen in this incident then please oh please u2u me the next winning lottery results!

Is anyone exactly clear who was in the right on this one? Not from where i'm sitting. As has already been said, boundaries are so difficult to adhere to in open water and this patch has been unclear for years.

I'm just glad our boys had the sense not to escalate the situation by going in heavy handed, which they could have done so easily. That would indeed have created a whole new ball game no doubt.

Hopefully they will be released soon, and no-one else sticks thier nose in whilst it's being sorted.

If this boundary is clearly marked on charts/maps etc, would it not be easy enough to see where exactly these guys were when they were greeted by the Iranians? Would they have logged GPS cordinates as soon as they radioed the incident in?

CX.

Originally posted by mythatsabigprobe
Well considering the only anti American sentiment that's present in this thread came from you and "spooner", I'd say your comments are nothing but bait. Knock yourselves out, I doubt anyone is going to play your game.

So im lieing? Are ppl not trying to paint this as the US's fault? me baiting? or responding to the crap that dribbles out ppls mouths on here?

Address the topic folks, with decorum if you will.

Originally posted by Navieko
That's like saying "Why is everyone putting the blame on the Nazis?".
HMMm...I WONDER!

Perfect example of crap that dribbles out of ppls mouths on here..

navieko, shock me. Say somthing smart.

I don't think this really has anything to do with America, unless it is just Iran getting p*ssed off at the USA's expression and threats towards Iran's nuclear program? Or as someone said before, Iran showing that they can capture citizens just like we've captured theirs.

[quote of enitre previous post removed]



Yeah, I'm sorry. I have a bad habbit of lowering my IQ to that of the person I'm responding to. I guess I could sit here all day debating how ignorant you are about your own government, perhaps clue you in etc. But no doubt, you are one of those American's in denial. Wouldn't have much success...

So carry on like a good little sheep...Oops! ...I mean American.
Blah, there I go again! ...Stupid me!






[edit on 24-3-2007 by 12m8keall2c]

well when i first saw this, i was like "how the hell did the iranians board the type22?" but i didn't realise the british troops were on rubber patrol boats until some time later.

anyway this afternoon i watched a report on skynews and a secretary to whatever (i forgot now) was saying the type22 as a lot of power and could have basicly blown the iranians to bits, but it was best to do it diplomatically because if the brits or iranians opened fire it would have caused a WHOLE lot of problems.

that’s the difference between the brits and americans i feel, because many american’s are posting here and saying "we would have opened fire" i agree you would have, but we brits seem more professional under these circumstances and solve it with the power of ‘words’ not ‘explosions’ therefore preventing another possible israel/lebanon scenario.

but i agree with what someone else said too, if one of these troops gets hurt or killed there will be hell on and a reaction almost defiantly.

[edit on 23-3-2007 by st3ve_o]

Originally posted by Navieko


Yeah, I'm sorry. I have a bad habbit of lowering my IQ to that of the person I'm responding to. I guess I could sit here all day debating how ignorant you are about your own government, perhaps clue you in etc. But no doubt, you are one of those American's in denial. Wouldn't have much success...

So carry on like a good little sheep...Oops! ...I mean American.
Blah, there I go again! ...Stupid me!

The last I looked this thread was about the UK not the US. Further derailment like this will be warned.

I agree, if the Brits opened fire on the Iranians things could have gotten nasty. It would have been a bit of a stupid thing to start properly fighting over.

If it was Iran just trying to show that they can capture hostages as well, then it seems Iraq is becoming fertile ground for that kind of activity from both sides.

Does anyone know who could have ordered this kind of action by the Iranians? Or would the captain of the Iranian ship have made the decision?

The problem lies somewhere else:

Aljazeera.net

The seizure of the British vessels, a pair of rigid inflatable boats known as RIBs, took place in long-disputed waters just outside of the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, Aandahl said. A 1975 treaty gave the waters to Iraq and US and British ships commonly operate there, but Aandahl said Iran disputes Iraq's jurisdiction over the waters.

These wasters seperate Iraq and Iran - and as we can see, it is not clear who has the jurisdiction here. Anyway, I think this is not the first time that the British military personnel during the occupation of Iraq have entered illegally into Iran's territorial waters.

[edit on 23/3/07 by Souljah]

Keep this thread about Iranian/Britishs Navy please.

This is not an American topic so please do not drag our President or our Soliders or policies into this thread.


I hope for these sailors and Marines to be returned safly to Britian without harm. Iran captured British military so this should be settled between those two countries. But if they arent returned at the request of the British Government then I think nothing more then war should settle this, thus isnt the capturing of ones Military by another country an Act of War, I dont know so if someone can answer please do!

The British sailors were part of a task force that protects Iraqi oil terminals and maintains security in Iraqi waters under authority of the U.N. Security Council.



So they were also under authority of the UN security Council..the Security Council governs the world really. So this was official business. They must be released immediately

Originally posted by KonigKaos
thus isnt the capturing of ones Military by another country an Act of War, I dont know so if someone can answer please do!

it can be, but its not binding, its up to the nations involved.

Originally posted by Souljah
The problem lies somewhere else:

Aljazeera.net

The seizure of the British vessels, a pair of rigid inflatable boats known as RIBs, took place in long-disputed waters just outside of the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, Aandahl said. A 1975 treaty gave the waters to Iraq and US and British ships commonly operate there, but Aandahl said Iran disputes Iraq's jurisdiction over the waters.

These wasters seperate Iraq and Iran - and as we can see, it is not clear who has the jurisdiction here. Anyway, I think this is not the first time that the British military personnel during the occupation of Iraq have entered illegally into Iran's territorial waters.

[edit on 23/3/07 by Souljah]

Has proof been provided then that these troops definately entered Iranian waters illegaly then? Last i heard, they were ESCORTED INTO Iranian teritory by the Iranians.

Fair enough though, these are just each sides opinions as we have been told them and they are bound to differ.

CX.

Originally posted by markjaxson
What did they expect?

If any Iranians started trawling around the US's or UK's territories then im sure the US and UK would do exactly the same!

They have every right to question these people!

The same goes for every other country in the world.

Whats wrong with you people.

I agree,
You all assume Iran kidnapped them from Iraqi waters.
There's no proof yet as to WHAT they were doing and WHERE.
The US had admitted special OPS going into Iranian territory.. if they were captured.. would you all still be up in arms screaming at Iran?
Why is it the US are allowed to kidnapp as many foreign nationals as it likes.. and all you trigger happy cowboys praise it.. but jee's when Iran pinches someone, stone the crows!

I am sure this incident has something to do with the UN security council vote imposing further sanctions on Iran, which could take place as early as tomorrow.

Right, as a UK national it is time for me to have my say in this affair. First off lets all put aside the geo-political mudslinging for one moment and spare a thought for the 15 British Sailors who have been captured. Some of them will have families and friends who tonight will more than likely be in tears and frightened with worry over their safety. My prayers and thoughts are with them all.
Ok, on to the big issue at hand. the Iranians. Us British have had a long history of dealing with Iranian hostility. Anyone remember the Iranian Embassy Seige after that poor Police woman Yyonne Fletcher was brutally gunned down in London? I remember watching the breaking news at the time i was only about 10 when the SAS stormed the building. Tense times indeed. As everyone recalls not so long ago 2004 British Sailors were captured by the Iranians under the guise of having stepped in (alledgelly) Iranian waters. Thankfully they were released unharmed. Now the same appears to have happened again.
This time though things are different Iran is facing further UN sanctions and BBC news have just reported that Iran's President has pulled out of visiting the UN for talks on the grounds his air crews have not get their visa. Even the Russians have up sticks and gone home and are now pushing for further sanctions. This crisis has nothing whatsover to do with the American presence in Iraq. That is just being used as an excuse by Iran to exploit the currently volitile situation in the Middle East, in short it is seeking to become the leading power in the Middle East. So with respect leave the Americans out of this. Sure they have much to answer for but not this time. We are dealing with a dangerous regime in Iran and although not widely reported in the media the current political leadership in Iran, namely the current Iranian President is causing concern amongst the relgious ruling elite in Iran.
Whilst i agreed with the objectives of the first Gulf War as the cause was just i do not agree with the second Gulf War as it was illegally fought. However if Iran starts showing aggressive behaviour and harms the British Sailors or begins openly attacking troops/ships in the Middle East then i think an attack on Iran is justified but this time it should be a blue helmet job, under the jusrisdiction of the UN. Of course nobody WANTS war but sometimes it is necessary. The world is on the brink. Do we sit back and do nothing and slip into a new Dark Ages and allow Iran to continue exploiting sectarian tensions in the Middle East or do we stand up with conviction and fight against regimes like this?. I'll leave that up to you to decide.