Posted on 03/28/2007 8:15:37 AM PDT by Fennie
Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday it was time to increase the pressure on Iran to release 15 Royal Navy personnel who were detained last week. "There was no justification whatever for their detention, it was completely unacceptable, wrong and illegal," Blair told the House of Commons, shortly after the Ministry of Defense released satellite data that it said proved the crew was in Iraqi waters. "We had hoped to see their immediate release; this has not happened. It is now time to ratchet up the diplomatic and international pressure in order to make sure the Iranian government understands its total isolation on this issue," Blair said...
Watch out, now he's really mad. /s
He is going to give them a stern talking too. Perhaps a "time-out" in the corner.
Mad as Israel's Olmert and Pertez.
Does this mean it is pointed stick time?
no it's not.
1. They don't know how to read a map
2. They're provoking the Brits.
see, not hard to understand at all.
Or prehaps the dreaded "COMFY CHAIR"
Where is Margaret Thatcher when you need her?
Hugh Hewitt show ^ | 3/28/07 | Brooks Newmark / Hugh Hewitt
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1808071/posts
(snip)
HH: Now of course, in the great tradition of the British Empire, Palmerston is remembered for not worrying about what they might do, or how public support might turn around to come to the favor of dictators and tyrants. He always just defended British imperial interests. Is there a sea change in Great Britain, Brooks Newmark? I’m actually surprised that there isn’t more of a demand on the streets of London tonight, that this not be put up with.
BN: Well, no, I don’t think anyone’s putting up with it, but I think clearly, it’s best to see if we can release our sailors without taking further action. Now further action as a next step to the strategy of diplomacy here is, if we can’t through quiet diplomacy get what we want, which is our sailors back, the next step is to say hey, here are aerial photographs of where the boats are, here is exactly where the boat that they were boarding is, and by the way, it is still anchored in the exact same spot it was when the boats were surrounded, which is in Iraqi territory. Now what you do at that stage is you move from discreet negotiations to one of saying hey, we’re showing the public out there this is what you did, it was not in Iranian waters, it is clearly in Iraqi waters. Now that is a next step in the overall strategy of trying to put pressure on Iran to release our Marines and sailors.
(snip)
HH: The Prime Minister today said that the dispute could move into a different phase if diplomacy failed to secure their release. What did he mean by that?
BN: Yeah, I mean, a different phase is what I was saying. A different phase is saying look, we’ve clearly showed you what is going on here. We’ve clearly showed you, to your representatives in your foreign office, that the boats were in Iraqi territory. If you want us now to move into a more public phase, i.e. to show to the rest of the world very clear pictures, and I don’t know whether they’re satellite pictures or what they are, but I think there’s clear evidence that shows that the boats were taken, and the Marines were taken from Iraqi waters, not Iranian waters. So that is what might be seen from the Iranian perspective as a face-losing move. They don’t want to lose face publicly. Now you might want to say they don’t give a damn about losing face anyway, but you know, I think when it comes to diplomacy, that probably is the next step, would be one of showing to the outside world this is exactly what happens.
(snip)
"Or prehaps the dreaded "COMFY CHAIR"
Oh, the humanity!
Mr. Blair! The only pressure you are capable of is perhaps a blockade of all the Iranian coastline. No in, no out. Board all vessels and inspect. Then anchor the vessel in Iranian waters and that's it. Otherwise???? Don't ask us. We are too bush playing games with the RATS. Got us bottled up real good. FR's watch that silly "won't vote if I don't get it my way" Look what it got us.
It is so sad to see how far the British have fallen. Admiral Nelson must be crying somewhere.
pointed stick time?
that would be a good description for a program of sinking one Iranian Navy vessel every 20 minutes until they release the 15 hostages......
Well do something about then Tony!!!!!
Well do something about then Tony!!!!!
I do support him. I'm frustrated by the lack of outrage by the general public. I completely believe his hands are tied. He is being essentially forced out of office, and I understand that he is in a precarious predicament.
My support is with the British Navy and the Royal Marines. My support is with their families, as I know that it could just as easily be me and my family that could be dealing with this. It frightens me to watch these lives be so callously disregarded by the general public, even as they cry out about their support for the troops and fair treatment of POWs.
I do support him. I'm frustrated by the lack of outrage by the general public. I completely believe his hands are tied. He is being essentially forced out of office, and I understand that he is in a precarious predicament.
Oh it's much worse than that. Pursuant to a little known codicile to the English Charter, Blair has decided to make a stand and place Iran on DOUBLE SECRET PROBATION.
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