Posted on 03/30/2007 6:02:27 AM PDT by propertius
I start to wonder whether it might not be time for us to get as nasty with other countries as they do with us.
As we wait anxiously to see what will happen to our 15 hostages - for that is what they are - in Teheran, we should feel undiluted rage at the behaviour of other countries and institutions towards us.
Mind you, when those third parties witness the drivelling weakness of the Foreign Office over the last week, and in particular the pathetic show put up by our Foreign Secretary - who must surely be just about the worst in our history - who can blame them?
There is no doubt the 15 were in international waters when captured, or that they were undertaking a United Nations mission in pursuit of upholding UN resolutions. Yet the best the UN itself can do is pass a weak-kneed resolution describing its “grave concern”, rather than a tougher one calling upon all nations to “deplore” Iran’s behaviour.
This is all the fault of Russia, to whom Mr Blair routinely cosies up, and whom the civilised world invites to its annual G8 summit meetings. Russia seems to think it isn’t worth “deploring” the kidnap of our sailors, so we had better start to show Russia what we think of it: by uninviting it from the G8 this year, and every year until it learns some manners.
When not busy ordering the murders of his opponents, Vladimir Putin seems to enjoy hobnobbing with the leaders of civilised countries, so such a sanction would hurt.
We don’t have the means to engage in gunboat diplomacy with Iran, and any special forces operation would be fraught with risks both for the hostages and their rescuers.
For the moment, ever-stricter sanctions on Iran seems the only answer. America is resolute about this. So too, oddly, is the world’s greatest sanction-busting nation, France. So the scope for tightening the economic ratchet on Iran, and the means to do so, look healthy.
However, we should be under no illusions about the effectiveness of such weapons.
Saddam Hussein, after all, was put under sanctions for years. Real hardship was caused to his people, but almost none at all to him and his ruling clique.
President Ahmadinejad of Iran has already threatened Britain about our involvement of “third parties” - that is, the UN - in the present dispute, showing his utter contempt for that organisation.
He would treat sanctions with similar disdain, happily cutting off the noses of his own people to spite their faces. And all the time, the threat he and his inherent instability pose to us all would never cease growing.
Whatever the immediate outcome of this crisis, Britain has some hard decisions to make. Is it worthwhile, any longer, to work through the United Nations?
So long as a morally warped nation like Putin’s Russia calls the shots in the Security Council, no.
We can make debating points about how odd it is that Putin deplores Islamic nutters when they attack his forces but is relaxed about them attacking ours, but in the end there is no point in bothering.
The UN showed itself to be weak with Saddam Hussein. It is no better now.
If we are going to continue to try to be a player in the Middle East, then we have to throw in our lot with the Americans, for no-one else makes the blindest bit of difference there.
The capricious, and indeed downright wicked, behaviour of the Iranians towards our sailors confirms one other thing: that the civilised world cannot let the Ahmadinejad regime develop nuclear weapons.
It is not just his oft-repeated enthusiasm for wiping Israel off the face of the earth that should worry us: it is what this madman might decide he wants to do to anyone else within range.
This is no time for our clueless Government to be mothballing the Navy and cutting down the other services. For, at some stage, Iran’s lethal contempt for the rule of international law is going to mean war.
It's about time that SOMEBODY in Britain started showing some strength!!
The British Lion has turned into a mouse. Churchill must be turning over in his grave. Blair is making the traitor Carter look good.
It has been embarrassing to watch. I had hoped that maybe they were planning some kind of SAS operation, but I doubt it.
Author is spot on about the Russkies too. Their behaviour, not just on this, has been disgraceful...
We got your back, Britain!
some good sense from the British press...
Russia wants to do business with Iran, and this is their customer service program. It is a disgrace.
We don’t have the means to engage in gunboat diplomacy with Iran, and any special forces operation would be fraught with risks both for the hostages and their rescuers.
"we got your back, Britain"
I only wish I could be as optimistic as you. Unfortunately, we can't even seem to watch our own backs with the congress we have now.
There are bold, brave, good Brits. Just as there are bold, brave, good Americans. The problem is, as a nation, the Brits are leftists, and totally willing to capitulate.
I'm very, very pessimistic about the future of western civilization.
The UN has ritualized 'appeasement' and if you are waiting for the other ball to drop on this issue, don't hold your breath.
They may be planning to plant armor. We have the boots on the ground to take the west but we need to plant people in the entrance to the gulf. The Iranians have to plan this perfectly. They have to release the hostages just before the invasion. After they have embarassed the Brits, they will release the hostages and accept the accolades of the Third World for staring down the lion.
If I were the Brits, I would start negotiating with the release.
Just try to imagine Lord Palmerston or Disraeli saying that a little over a hundred years ago.
Oh, of course. This is all America's fault, just like everything else.
But the good news - Congress is in recess now!
Then retreat, like Spain, it worked for them....
Get a clue, and wash your mouth out with soap.
"To all you Brit bashers.....f uck off and remember we are only in this mess in the first place because of our friendship with America."
At the outset, I'd like to point out that only a moron feels the need to use such language to make a point.
Secondly, you honestly believe there'd be no run ins with muslim nations, Iran in particular, if England hadn't supported America? Your growing muslim population is all happy and loyal? And Spain was bombed why? For not supporting America?
Nevermind, go back to navel gazing.
English people named Simon rock!
Screw you! Your country is nothing but a bunch of pansies you included. If this is all our fault, let your country men there, we'll free them when we get around to it. Pu$$y!
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