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Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
1) why was the armed RN helicopter cover, that is supposed to be automatic, not there - and why was that helicopter called away just before the Iranians came?
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
I was reminded that the US military has complete control over the GPS system and an 'introduced' error of a mile or two is not exactly beyond the bounds of possibility.
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
No wonder Europe wants it's own GPS-type system.
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
.....and btw does anyone want to contrast the tabloid's description of the ("outrageous!" & "inhumane") Iranian treatment of the Marine captives being filmed eating or 'made' to wear a hijab in public with some real torture, like having electrodes attached to your b*ll*cks or 'water-boarding' etc etc at Abu Ghraib? .
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
I wonder how folks feel about this one, it's British politics and a possible conspiracy all in one so see what you think of this......
British patsy's?
I was chatting over the recent events re the capture of the British Marines by the Iranians.
2 things niggle in this tale.
1) why was the armed RN helicopter cover, that is supposed to be automatic, not there - and why was that helicopter called away just before the Iranians came?
2) just how credible & secure is GPS?
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey.....and btw does anyone want to contrast the tabloid's description of the ("outrageous!" & "inhumane") Iranian treatment of the Marine captives being filmed eating or 'made' to wear a hijab in public with some real torture, like having electrodes attached to your b*ll*cks or 'water-boarding' etc etc at Abu Ghraib? .
There are a lot of people making a lot of heat and noise over this but I wonder if anyone seriously thinks this one won't end with a sensible and peaceful diplomatic solution (just like last time).......and might some in the US administration & military have tried to use the UK in this way?
Originally posted by Muppetus Galacticus
Do you have links that say the helo was called away that late? From everything I have read and heard so far says that it escorted them to the merchant vessel, then when they were on board, returned to the HMS Cornwall for 90 minutes.
I hold out hope things will end in a peaceful, diplomatic way.
In London, Vice Adm. Charles Style said the British boats were seized at 29 degrees 50.36 minutes north latitude and 48 degrees 43.08 minutes east longitude. He said that position had been confirmed by an Indian-flagged merchant ship boarded by the sailors and marines.
But the position, outside the Shatt el-Arab waterway in the Gulf, is an area where no legal boundary exists, leaving it unclear whose territory it lies in, said Kaiyan Kaikobad, author of ``The Shatt al-Arab Boundary Question.''
``What we do have is a de facto state practiced boundary - a line both countries have been observing on the spot,'' he said. ``The problem is that though the British have drawn a line where they claim the de facto line is, we haven't seen an Iranian version.''
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
1) why was the armed RN helicopter cover, that is supposed to be automatic, not there - and why was that helicopter called away just before the Iranians came?
Originally posted by Ste2652
Originally posted by sminkeypinkey
1) why was the armed RN helicopter cover, that is supposed to be automatic, not there - and why was that helicopter called away just before the Iranians came?
As far as I've heard, it's standard procedure. The helicopter escorts the boarding party to the boat, hangs around for a few minutes to make sure everything is going ok (remember, they're searching civilian vessels) then returns to the HMS Cornwall when the sailors and marines are safely aboard. The Royal Navy personnel were captured when leaving the ship an hour and a half (ish) later - might not be worth the helicopter staying around that long? Especially as the Cornwall is only a couple of miles away. I'm not sure.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says 15 British naval personnel captured in the Gulf are free to leave.
He repeated Iran's view that the British sailors and marines "invaded" Iranian waters, but said they were being released as a "gift" to Britain.
They are expected to fly home to the UK on Thursday.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was "glad" to hear the news, which he said would come as "a profound relief" to the crew and their families.
Iranian media said the British crew members "shouted for joy" on hearing the news.
Television pictures showed the Iranian president smiling, chatting and shaking hands with the crew at the presidential palace in Tehran.
He joked to one: "How are you? So you came on a mandatory vacation?"
The Britons were wearing suits, rather than the military uniform and tracksuits they wore in previous pictures. The one female crew member, Faye Turney, wore a blue headscarf and jacket.
An unidentified crew member said: "I'd like to say that myself and my whole team are very grateful for your forgiveness. I'd like to thank yourself and the Iranian people... Thank you very much, sir."
Mr Ahmadinejad responded in Farsi: "You are welcome."
Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain's approach to the crisis had been "firm but calm - not negotiating but not confronting either".
He did not thank or address the Iranian president, but said to the Iranian people: "We bear you no ill will. On the contrary, we respect Iran as an ancient civilisation, as a nation with a proud and dignified history.
"The disagreements we have with your government we wish to resolve peacefully through dialogue. I hope - as I've always hoped - that in the future we are able to do so."
The solution to the crisis - freeing the Britons while rewarding the Iranian commanders of the operation - appears to be a face-saving compromise, says the BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran.
She says speculation is likely to continue over whether it had anything to do with developments in Iraq, where an Iranian envoy has reportedly been given access to five Iranians captured by US forces, and where a kidnapped diplomat was released on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday Syria revealed that it had been mediating between Iran and the UK over the sailors and marines.
IRANIAN VERSION OF EVENTS
1 Royal Navy crew stray 0.5km inside Iranian waters
2 Iran gives set of co-ordinates to back up their claims
3 According to seized GPS equipment, the Royal Navy crew had previously entered Iranian waters at several other points
4 Iran informs Britain of the position where the crew were seized, inside Iranian waters