Britain Demands Iran Free Seized Sailors

AP ^ | Friday, Mar. 23, 2007

[windcliff]

Does anyone know who was president when the USS Pueblo was taken and how long the crew was held?

[Pox]

But exactly the opposite is happening as they are gutting their navy.

It would be poetic justice if this would spur Great Britain to reverse the contraction of their armed forces.

[Grimmy]

The iranians have the Brits number, for sure and for certain.
The Brits were content to sit on their haunches and watch as iranian backed forces took full control of Basra and did squat all to interfere with the takeover.

At the same time, the Brits were running around spouting their idiocy about "kinder gentler" and how the stupid Americans "cant win the peace" because we're too aggressive.

Every day, the Brits move farther away from the anglosphere and deeper into becoming a nation of true EUnix.

[MinorityRepublican]

The Royal Navy is the second largest navy in the world in terms of gross tonnage, with 91 commissioned ships. The Naval Service (which comprises the Royal Navy and Royal Marines) had a strength of 35,470 in July 2006 and is charged with custody of the United Kingdom's independent strategic nuclear deterrent consisting of four Trident missile submarines, while the Royal Marines provide commando units for amphibious assault and for specialist reinforcement forces in and beyond the NATO area.

According to the same source, the British Army had a strength of 100,010, while the Royal Air Force had a strength of 45,210. This puts the total number of regular Armed Forces personnel at 180,690 (not including civilians), nine percent of whom were women. This number is supported by reserve forces, including over 35,000 from the Territorial Army. The total number of serving personnel, including reserve forces, is therefore in the region of 225,000 (taking into account Navy, Marines and Air Force reserves).

Her Majesty's Ship Invincible (R05) arrives in Jacksonville, Fla., for a five-day port visit before continuing on to Norfolk, Va., and New York city. Invincible, is the sixth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name and the first of the Invincible-class of Anti-Submarine Warfare Carriers.

[penelopesire]

I like it!!

[SE Mom]

I'll never forget it- The crew was held for 11 months- January of '68 to December of the same year..

Lyndon Johnson was president.

The Koreans still have the Pueblo.

[GunnyBob]

IRANIAN PRESIDENT SUDDENLY CANCELS U.S. VISIT
May Have Feared Arrest Upon Arrival For Hostage Crisis

May Have Feared British Military Interception Of His Aircraft

DENVER -- The leader of Iran's terrorist regime, Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, suddenly cancelled his United Nations visit scheduled for this weekend despite his receiving a visa from the Bush administration. The Iranian government claims the visit was cancelled because the visa came in too late for Ahmadinejad to go, but that holds no water because the UN meeting hasn't even had the time firmed up yet. Now the rest of the story . . .

Fifteen British Royal Marines and sailors are being held hostage by Iran. Gunny's sources say Ahmadinejad may have cancelled because he feared arrest upon arrival in NYC. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is reported to be outraged and may have called President Bush to request Ahmadinejad's arrest. Word of the possible plan may have gotten back to Iran or Ahmadinejad may have smelled the deal.

Another inside source reports to the Gunny that the Iranian president may have feared a British military intercept of his aircraft, which could be forced down somewhere so that British SAS commandos could capture Ahmadinejad.

The Gunny is working to try to verify the reports through independent sources.

Developing . . .

[Radix]

Before, when I was a boy, Iraq was the enemy, and Iran was our ally.

Then came Carter.

Now it is, "if you can't join em, beat em."

Are Iranians too stupid to realize that they are in a squeeze, and that the grownups are still the ones pulling the strings around here?

[Ieatfrijoles]

If they condemn the action in the 'harshest' possible terms, the Iranians will back down.

[windcliff]

Thanks for the information.

[Parley Baer]

Yep, LBJ. I was involved in that fiasco.

"U.S. and British officials said a boarding party from the frigate HMS Cornwall was seized about 10:30 a.m. during a routine inspection of a merchant ship inside Iraqi territorial waters near the disputed Shatt al-Arab waterway"

I would like to know what the HMS Cornwall was doing while her boarding party was being kidnapped by the Iranians?

[SE Mom]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1805879/posts


Those were some llllong days, eh? Another one of the events that made 1968 an amazing year...

[LibKill]

We need to back Britain. They have fought on our side. Now it is time to repay a debt of honor. With interest.

[cowdog77]

I would like to know what the HMS Cornwall was doing while her boarding party was being kidnapped by the Iranians?
_________________________________________
Her officers were in racial sensitivity refresher training; her crew was trying to restrain their itchy trigger fingers.

What a bummer having to "stand by" while your buddies are being bushwhacked!

[napscoordinator]

Korean War and never returned. Didn't they all die? I think they did.

[napscoordinator]

I guess I was a bit off on my last post...lol.

The USS PUEBLO was a U. S. Navy vessel sent on an intelligence mission off the coast of North Korea. On January 23, 1968, the USS PUEBLO was attacked by North Korean naval vessels and MiG jets. One man was killed and several were wounded. The Eighty-two surviving crew members were captured and held prisoner for 11 months. The pages on this site tell the story of the Pueblo Incident and present the USS PUEBLO Veteran's Association.

[b4its2late]

It's an act of war. What the hell has happened to the West? We unfortunately would probably do the same thing as the Brits.

[mcshot]

"...I would like to know what the HMS Cornwall was doing while her boarding party was being kidnapped by the Iranians?"


Same question I had when I first heard of the incident. Seems the HMS Cornwall could have blasted the Iranians rather than apparently just watch.

[rawcatslyentist]

How many MFn times do the persians have to declare war before we respond??????

Glow in the dark glass parking lot already!

[MinorityRepublican]

The Persian Empire (Iran) views itself as one of the greatest powers in the world according to history.

They believe that they are standing up to the West in order to attain their righteous place in the world.