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UK Sailors And Marines Held By Iran (Breaking News)
Sky News ^ | March 23, 2007 | Sky News

Posted on 03/23/2007 5:17:44 AM PDT by Eurotwit

Fifteen British sailors and Marines are being held by Iranian forces, says the Ministry of Defence.

More follows...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: breakingnews; britishsailors; cornwall; hmscornwall; interdiction; interdictions; iran; shattalarab; shattalarabwaterway; smuggling
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To: Element187

They know the US and the Brits will do nothing militarily...there will be a lot of posturing and the Iranian's will put a big show on...but, again, they will not risk losing the support of the Libs in the US Senate and Congress to defund the wart effort as well as the love of the American press. If they do, even Libs, with their back up against the walls, will fein being enraged by Iran's actions.


61 posted on 03/23/2007 5:51:03 AM PDT by never4get
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To: Eurotwit
Here's a bit from the Washington Post:

***Iran Nabs British Sailors in Iraq Waters......A Pentagon official said the Britons were in two inflatable boats from the frigate H.M.S. Cornwall during a routine smuggling investigation, said the official, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the incident.

He said the confrontation happened as the British contingent was traveling along the boundary of territorial waters between Iran and Iraq. They were detained by the Revolutionary Guard's navy, he said.

A fisherman who said he was with a group of Iraqis from the southern city of Basra fishing in Iraqi waters in the northern area of the Gulf said he saw the Iranian seizure. The fisherman declined to be identified because of security concerns.

"Two boats, each with a crew of six to eight multinational forces, were searching Iraqi and Iranian boats Friday morning in Ras al-Beesha area in the northern entrance of the Arab Gulf, but big Iranian boats came and took the two boats with their crews to the Iranian waters."

The Britain government said it had demanded "the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."....***

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/23/AR2007032300574.html

62 posted on 03/23/2007 5:51:14 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: YellowRoseofTx
Uh...you meant KICK didn't you? Not kiss?
63 posted on 03/23/2007 5:52:02 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Eurotwit

Set us up the bomb!

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!


64 posted on 03/23/2007 5:54:16 AM PDT by tutstar (Baptist Ping list - freepmail me to get on or off.)
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To: cake_crumb

Well, the British liberal democrats are saying this:

In a statement, leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, also called for their immediate release.

"Whatever the rights and wrongs of military action, British forces in Iraq are now there with the authority of a UN security council resolution... and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6484279.stm


65 posted on 03/23/2007 5:54:21 AM PDT by Eurotwit (WI - CSC)
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To: Eurotwit

" and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," he said. "

Sounds like the precursor to a "Strongly Worded Note"......


66 posted on 03/23/2007 5:56:21 AM PDT by Uncle Ike (Aspiring Guru Seeks Disciples and Admiring Followers -- apply within)
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To: stockpirate
UK can divert their presidents plane and force it to land in the UK!

I really like that idea.

67 posted on 03/23/2007 5:56:28 AM PDT by FarmerW
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To: Eurotwit
...and where was the HMS Cornwall when this was going down? She is a batch 3 Type 22 frigate that is heavily armed and very capable frigate with a helo and should have easily been able to take on and take out any approaching Iranian gunboats.


HMS Cornwall

68 posted on 03/23/2007 5:56:33 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: Eurotwit
Iran used to do that with Iraq all the time. As an excuse for these actions. Iran claims those Iraqi territorial waters. Most likely, this will wind down and the sailors will be released. The incident will be billed as a "mistake", where Iranian forced thought the British ships were in Iranian territorial waters.

IF this scenario is what takes place, the situation will be ended quickly and quietly, with all personnel AND equipment returned safe and sound.

The only other option Iran has is to have missiles lobbed on Tehran with a likelyhood of supportive carpet bombing of strategic areas. They WILL NOT allow that, because the student protesters will take advantage of that to turn into real rebellion. The government would be facing a two pronged attack: from the inside by Iranian citizens, and from the outside by British subs. The government might be toppled.

No, they won't allow that to happen. This is a propaganda stunt, nothing more.

I hope.

69 posted on 03/23/2007 5:57:09 AM PDT by cake_crumb (When Congress prosecutes wars, you get Another Viet Nam)
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To: wodinoneeye
Lol - I gotta say that response confused the heck out of me too. :-p
70 posted on 03/23/2007 5:57:30 AM PDT by SlayerOfBunnies (An Indian friend of mine wishes to remind everyone... Indians <> muslims)
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To: From One - Many
"I too am catching wind of American personnel possibly being in the mix....Lord I hope I'm wrong."

Now 9pm here - will be checking with Iranian sources here for more info tonight.

71 posted on 03/23/2007 5:57:36 AM PDT by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: stockpirate

The only version of the B-52 in service is the H. Only half of that number built - last one in 1962. Your 200 B-52 will have to remain a dream!


72 posted on 03/23/2007 5:59:00 AM PDT by Tommyjo
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
...again I ask, Where was the Cornwall when this was going on?

She is a very capable Batch 3 Type 22 Frigate that should have been able to see the Iranian gunboats coming and should have been able to protect her crew. She has an embarked helo too.

Do they have rules of engagement that prevent them from protecting their own from siezure? Was she not close enoogh (and if so, given the history, why not)? Where was she?


HMS Cornwall

73 posted on 03/23/2007 6:00:22 AM PDT by Jeff Head (Freedom is not free...never has been, never will be (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

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

74 posted on 03/23/2007 6:00:53 AM PDT by SJackson (are you aware of...any listening devices in the Oval Office of the President?, Fred Thompson)
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To: expatguy

If you read the more to links at the bottom of the actual article you will find some interesting additional information.


75 posted on 03/23/2007 6:01:07 AM PDT by nepppen (RESISTANCE IS FUTILE..............DUNCAN HUNTER FOR PRESIDENT..............)
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To: Uncle Ike

"Sounds like the precursor to a "Strongly Worded Note"......"

I don't know...I think this has the potential to erupt into an all out bake sale to raise ransom money.


76 posted on 03/23/2007 6:01:09 AM PDT by mutley
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To: Eurotwit

FoxNews Breaking:

15 UK military being held by Iranian navy in the Persian Gulf.


77 posted on 03/23/2007 6:01:46 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: Eurotwit; MadIvan; P-Marlowe; blue-duncan; Dr. Eckleburg; SandRat

This will not be the Carter Hostage crisis of 1980.

This could be the spark that gets Iran attacked. Treaties between the US and Britain make it entirely legal and with congressional authority for the US to attack Iran.

If they move, they'll move quickly before the talking heads and the weak-kneed realize the opportunity that's been presented to Pres. Bush & Tony Blair.


78 posted on 03/23/2007 6:01:57 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: All

I am still thinking about diverting his plane and I was wondering. I am not very well informed on such things.

Assuming these early reports are accurate and the Iranian President is in the air, would it be an acceptable with in the grounds of war, to just shoot him down? Not saying they should or would, I am just curious about acceptable means of waging war. I don't think it would be but curious.


79 posted on 03/23/2007 6:02:40 AM PDT by FarmerW
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To: SlayerOfBunnies

Reminded me of the Carter Days....


80 posted on 03/23/2007 6:03:06 AM PDT by azhenfud (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.)
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