Posted on 04/04/2007 9:58:35 AM PDT by IrishMike
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran on Wednesday freed the 15 detained British sailors and marines in what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called an Easter gift to the British people. Prime Minister Tony Blair said he bore "no ill will" toward the Iranian people. Iranian state television said the 14 men and one woman, who were seized while on patrol in the northern Persian gulf on March 23, would leave Iran on Thursday. An Iranian official in London said they would be handed over to British diplomats in Tehran.
Ahmadinejad's surprise announcement came at a news conference shortly after he pinned a medal on the chest of the Iranian coast guard commander who intercepted the sailors and marines.
"I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released and I know their release will come as a relief not just to them but to their families," Blair said outside his No. 10 Downing St. office. "Throughout, we have taken a measured approach, firm but calm, not negotiating but not confronting, either."
Blair added, "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: We bear you no ill will."
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Pelosi’s “Chamberlain” impersonation will be amplified in the DBM and by Iran too, to convey to the world that the Iranians are the good guys, and of course Bush is a madman and the Democrats are the holy grail.
Unfortunately the Iranians will never change their stripes and continue to support terrorist operations in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.
Makes one wonder how many Brits will leave Iran on Thursday.
And other Foreign delegations also. Guess we'll see it on the news tomorrow ............ FRegards
At least Chamberlain came back with a piece of paper. Pelosi only came back with a lie when she misrepresented the Israeli position to the Syrians.
I see.
You’d prefer the French not have a carrier battle group there.
You’d prefer, instead, that they be actively trying to set up an alliance of Russia, China, the Arab League and the UN against any action against Iran.
You’d rather have fresh grounds to hate France anew than to win with the French on your side.
This is going to make the United States look like crap. The Brits were just announcing in their newspapers how it was the U.S fault for the capture because we were capturing the Iranian guys.
Once things start to settle, we’re going to see more of a movement in Britain to limit cooperation with the U.S.
Why grab some Brits (who really DON'T have any capacity to strike on their own)? Why not grab some Americans? I doubt very seriously we'd have waited as long as the Brits have been allowed to stew. Even the RATs probably would have demanded fast action. It's an election year. Shades of Jimmeh Cah-tah! Remember, HIS "Iran Crisis" caused the Reagan landslide.
I don’t believe America is ready at this time to launch an attack on Iran, but would be capable of handling Iran attacking us. If you consider the reports of Iranians at the Iraqi border attempting the same thing with U.S. Soldiers back in September then they already have attempted it and we did nothing.
Then again, maybe we’re just about ready to pound them regardless of what they do. Just some idle speculation.
I think that's the case. We're in position now. We've got the firepower that's not already dedicated to the strained Iraq mission in place. Releasing those hostages takes just a little bit of the wind out of our sails. Just a little bit of pressure is off the valve.
Next time ?
Thats what they did this time.
They cannot be relied upon.
Thats not makes you a liabilty. Your troops surrendering without a fight and being used as political pawns is shameful.
But that was the first time.
This is the SECOND time.
This time makes you the liability. Perhaps every Brit unit and warship should have an escort when within 30 miles of Iran.
Amanutjob is being hailed as a hero. Unbelievable.
I think what you’re reading is frustration over the fact that Iran keeps handing the US & UK a sh*t sandwich, and time and again we seem to just smile and take a big bite. We want someone to boot Ahmafrikkinnutjob’s ass up between his eyeballs! Personally, I was kinda hoping the SAS might get the honor this time.
I know your losses in the WOT are no less dear than our own. If it means anything, I don’t consider the UK anyhting other than a staunch ally, and appreciate the support of the British military.
I’m glad you’re going to get your people back unharmed. I just hope someone has the great good sense to change the Rules Of Engagement so this can’t happen again!
This was a test. If this had been an actual multinational concern, you would have been instructed where to tune for news and official propaganda. This concludes this test of the Iranian Pseudodiplomacy System.
Not only was this a test of whether or not Iran will have to face the UK along with the US and Israel when all hell breaks loose, the UK failed the test. London blinked. And unless something major changes, we won’t be able to count on the UK when the balloon goes up.
Yeah, it gets worse all the time, but there will be a next time. It might be Argentina, who knows, but they are sure a very large and weak target right now. Of course, we get the blame.
The brits are now officially wussies.
Some of the sleeves look really long.
Our troops had little choice given the circumstances. They were massively out gunned.
As for us being a liability, that is absolute nonsense.
How can we trust the brits to watch our backs, anymore? When the policy for Iranian intelligence officers in Iraq is catch and release, who are NOT there for the waters?
We have enough whinging sisters in this country. We don't need to prop up another country, when all they want to do is pull frilly knickers up over their heads and plead to be left alone to hide in Council houses and stay on the dole until the government goes broke.
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