[stuartcr]

I wonder what the Chinese would say, if their flow of oil from Iran was disrupted?

[wastedyears]

Executed UK sailors equals a much larger Persian Gulf.

[I see my hands]

Brits have blamed this on US foreign policy, Just like the American Left and the Islamists blame all the world's problems on US foreign policy.

[LYSandra]

A swap! Dump Rosie O’Fat, Sean Penn (”we have nukes so Iran should have them too”, Charlie Sheen and take your pick of other idiots for the Brit soldiers.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Yea, some secret all over the internet!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

We’re now approaching 30 years where we have been treated to incisive news reporting/analysis that attempts to explain to us the differences between the “hardliners” and the “pragmatists” in Iran. But nothing ever seems to come of this in real terms. We’re supposed to be aware of these mythical power struggles between these two imagined groups. Yet, it never quite works out that way.

I say we should know them by their fruits and realize that this is always been a bad game of “good cop/bad cop”. Even the dumbest criminal knows more than our pundits and prognosticators. Sheeez.

[theDentist]

And as Britain “negotiates”, Argentina has announced they want the Falkland Islands back, and are considering using force again. Apparently they think England will not fight for the Falklands again.

[engrpat]

Considering the source I would have to take it with a grain of salt. If, and that is a big if, this becomes a shooting war it cannot be limited in scope. If the Brits and the US aren't willing to go totally to the mat with the Iranians they better not do it at all. If they fall short and declare victory with the current or even more radical leadership in power we will have hell to pay for years. The only way to stop this is with a total and overwhelming victory anything less will bring war to our cities.

[gondramB]

>>debate between pragmatists and radicals prompted supreme ruler Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who leads the first camp<<

This is, perhaps, the discouraging phrase of the week.

[wideminded]

In the ongoing debate, the president and his radical followers seek to use the British captives to goad the British, followed by the Americans, into a limited military confrontation in the Persian Gulf.

This seems quite plausible. The Iranians, of all people, have to have the analogous situation in mind of the kidnapping by Hezbollah in Israel before the Lebanon war last year.

[gpapa]

There will be no shooting war over this incident, nor should there be, not withstanding the fact that the Brits appear to have handled this situation badly. Only if the Iranians attempt to block free shipping lanes in the Gulf should an appropriate response follow. The mullahs of Iran may be radical on the surface but they are not stupid. They know the US could wipe out their coastal defenses in short order if so inclined.

[LM_Guy]

I think the British really do not want to see this to escalate into a war and will allow their troops to say what ever it takes to bring them home and make promises as required to assist Iran in getting there people back.

Getting Iran’s people back by kidnapping coalition forces and citizens was foretold/warned 2-weeks ago.