HMS Cornwall
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...
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.
***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
Set us up the bomb!
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
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
" 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"......
I really like that idea.
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.
Now 9pm here - will be checking with Iranian sources here for more info tonight.
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!
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?
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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If you read the more to links at the bottom of the actual article you will find some interesting additional information.
"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.
FoxNews Breaking:
15 UK military being held by Iranian navy in the Persian Gulf.
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.
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.
Reminded me of the Carter Days....
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