Iran ‘to try Britons for espionage'?????

*Puts on helmet and vest*

C'mon folks, play nice. With all due respect, I think the question to be asked is, what happens next? You've all done a fine job of dissecting the backstory, but you're not looking at the options of the players now on the field.

The Iranians are asking for a confrontation by taking U.K. sailors. It's a scenario that plays well at home for them, especially in light of the new U.N. snactions that are about to go in to effect.

They're also aware that Mr. Blaire is on his way out of office. This brassy maneuver is their way of sending the new guy...whoever that is...a clear and unambiguous message. With U.K. forces on their way out if Iraq, the Iranians want to give a shove as they head on out the door. It's a loud and clear signal that says, "don't come back to the Middle East."

There's plenty of embarrassment coming in the days ahead as the sailors in captivity will be paraded in front of every t.v. camera for every reason the Iranians can think of. They Royal Navy men will be made to confess for things they didn't do. All of it will be mixed, remixed, and aired as many times as possible to whip up nationalist sentiment at home.

Their ultimate goal is to make...some of you...very mad. They want...some of you...to say alot of what's been said here. It's all a part of hteir plan to incentivize the British government (America's best ally) to stay out of the Middle East, no matter what happens next.

It's that "what happens next" thing that should we should be talking about.

Justin Oldham - do you think Iran targeted UK forces over US forces. Or was it more oppertunstic in nature?

p.s. way it looks over here at mo is Mr Blair (no e!) will go before the general election. That will leave Gordon Brown (Chancellor of the Exchequer) more than likely in charge. Gords main challange at the election will be consertive MP David Cameron (who is a toss pot) we used to have a great nation - hosest.

I do think the taking of English sailors was a premeditated move on the part of the ruling party in Iran. Ahmadenijad wants to look tough as he faces new U.N. sanctions which will not be popular with his folks at home.

He needs a propoganda victory to reinforce the notion that he is the defender ofthe homeland. British forces are on their way out of the region, and Blaire himself is no cowboy. I'll stand by what I said earlier. they're giving the Brits a kick on the way out, so they don't want to come back any time soon.

If there is a war with America, the Iranians will want to make sure that Bush43...or Hillary...can't build a coalition. This is long term chess. They'll feel much better if they only have to fight one (1) major Western power.

[edit on 25-3-2007 by Justin Oldham]

I do not believe this is related to Irans nuclear crisis, but rather in connection to those Iranian diplomats detained in Iraq by the US.

If they can use them as a bargaining chip to secure the release of their diplomats, it would be an even greater PR victory for the Iranian government than what your suggesting.

I think they'll get a lot of mileage out of this, no matter how it plays. The regime gets its PR and it could very well get its prisoners back, too. If they can milk it for that much, they'll be quite proud of themselves. U.S. and British diplomats will certainly have a lot to argue about over this one...behind closed doors.

My guess the sailors will be freed before any military action is taken and as Justin Oldham said Iran will get plenty of mileage out of this. The UK needs to send a message to Iran that they wont back down in the region and if that means military action needs to happen sooner then later then so be it.

[edit on 25-3-2007 by xpert11]

Hello expert11, the die could already be cast on this one. With British forces leaving the region, it'll be harder for London politicians to justify a get-tough response to this provocation. As it is, the Iranians get to twist the knife by going through diplomatic channels to 'suggest' that the British talk to the Americans about the release of Iranian prisoners.

Short of invoking the ghost of the HMS Endymion to sort this out...imagine the pump Governor Bill Richardson's 08 presidential bid would get out of a successful brokerage here...he must be frothing at the muzzle about now.

Peace &
Good Fortune
OBE1

That's just one reason why it's not going to be easy for the U.S. to hand over Iranian personnel. If Bush43 ever watned a shot at war with Iran, this might send him down that path. Unlikely, but hey...I live in America. This is the place where anything can happen...

Originally posted by Justin Oldham
Hello expert11, the die could already be cast on this one. With British forces leaving the region, it'll be harder for London politicians to justify a get-tough response to this provocation.

Well that would just show how spineless certain politicians are came down to the real crunch .

As it is, the Iranians get to twist the knife by going through diplomatic channels to 'suggest' that the British talk to the Americans about the release of Iranian prisoners.

Since Iran is already gaining a propaganda victory there isnt much the UK can do to counter this other then refuse any demands that Iran makes. The international community needs to rally behind the UK and be prepared to give more then just moral support.

Iran mustn't be allowed to become the centre of influence in the Middle East the last thing that is needed is China and Russia exerting there influence in the region via the proxy known as Iran.

[edit on 25-3-2007 by xpert11]

Originally posted by xpert11
The international community needs to rally behind the UK and be prepared to give more then just moral support.

The UK aren't likely to get any sympathy from the international community over anything that occurs in that region. You seem to forget that the UK and USA defied the international community by starting the Iraq war in the first place.

Originally posted by xpert11
Since Iran is already gaining a propaganda victory there isnt much the UK can do to counter this other then refuse any demands that Iran makes. The international community needs to rally behind the UK and be prepared to give more then just moral support.

Due to their association with America, it's not likely that Britain will have much international support in this matter. It's like going to count for soemthing that they are leaving the region, but I wouldn't bank on it.

Originally posted by golddragnet
The UK aren't likely to get any sympathy from the international community over anything that occurs in that region. You seem to forget that the UK and USA defied the international community by starting the Iraq war in the first place.

Well if the international community has any brains they will realise that there are bigger things at stake here rather then just some botched and unpopular war. Iran is hardly the model of government that should be leading the Middle East. A democratic Iraq was spouse to be the new leader in the region but that's another topic.

gold... you're right that the UK and US defied the international community by invading Iraq, but this is a different situation. The Iranians are much more "hated" in the international community and believe me, if anything happens to those Britons, all nations would be behind the UK.

The way I see it, the psychopathic Iranian government has two choices.

One: They return the soldiers, and apologize for kidnapping them in the first place.

Two: We take them.

I really can't wait until someone shoots this guy. He's like a three year old trying to stir up trouble with the big kids. In the end, he'll probably end up hanging like Saddam.

[edit on 3/25/2007 by JBurns]

i just thought of something why didn't their mothership save them or use its chopper to support them.why didn't they ask for help from us navy .
a f-18 could have been there toot-sweet.why because maybe the british govement let them get captured so they could drum up support for them to reverse their decision on troop withdrawl. if the sailors got tried and put to desath for espionage can you imagine how much suppot it would give them for greater troop build up in region.

Proteus33 I have a question.
What could have an F-18 done other then track the vessel that the captured sailors were taken aboard ?

Iran takes the Brits, charges them with a fast track death sentence

Offers to exchange with Iranian operators that America has

America says no

Brits mad at America (Iran hopes to break support seeing as they have diplomatic channel with England but not with America)

Stalemate.

America still says no.

Iran executes one Brit

British warships being the pull out in the region,

At the same time Israel war planes strike Iran targets

British and American warships being sinking all Iranian vessels in range

????......



[edit on 26-3-2007 by robertfenix]

When it comes to "what if's," it's important to remember that the 15 sailors taken put up no resistence. That means they had orders to NOT resist. Even if the boarding party was unarmed, the Brit boat operators still had options. They could've run, or...you know.

The British and American government were aware of the risks. This has happened before, so it was bound to happened again. It would make a cool movie to see something like a "hat if..."

[Scene 43, on board freighter, day time]

"You are all under arrest. By the order of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, your entire boarding party must stand down and surrender their weapons."

"See 'ere, mate. This is a legitimate inspection. You're messin' with the Royal Navy. Let us be on our way."

"Your refusal to comply is a violation of soveriegn Iranian law. You are in volation of our territorial waters. Stand down at once, or face the consquences."

"Squad! Stand by for defensive fire! Wing 'em if you can, kil 'em if you must. See that man in that boat over there? The moment you start the fireworks, he's callin' for 'elp. Now, what's it going to be?"

---------------------------------------

A lot of people are going to be mad that the boarding party didn't fight back. A lot of people in America are unahppy that somebody didn't sacrifice theri career and kill Saddam when he was pulled from that spider hole.

We should remember that Western soldiers didn't make this worse than it already is. That doesn't mean they won't finish what the Iranians started. It just means they did their jobs.

[edit on 26-3-2007 by Justin Oldham]

Originally posted by Agit8dChop

Originally posted by avro
your'e a disgrace making such comments at this tense time

Damn, your right.
I should just join the

* Lets nuke them
* Lets invade them
* Lets bomb them

crowds.. .thats a lot more morale and decent isnt it.

How dare they capture and interrogate foreign soliders that entered there military zone...
How dare they do this, after we've invaded, occupied 2 of their neighbours... one illegially... while also kidnapping and interrogating THERE officials..

Your right.. what a disgrace.. sorrry!

[edit on 25-3-2007 by Agit8dChop]

I will want to add one more *Let's burn them*!

Iran's gov can do nothing except kidnap. What are they? Watching history, they are merely troublemaker, kidnap is the only way they will use for their purpose.