As most already know, the 15 British captives who have been "detained" in Iran were released yesterday, UK time, and seem none the worse for wear - just very happy to be home. The question has been put that, had they been Americans, we'd see a much different outcome. That theory could be argued forever and a day.
What gauls me is the way these folks were paraded by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad both on TV and in those news interviews where they were made to lie by admitting to having "unknowingly wandered into Iranian waters". Bunk of course, but they did what kept them safe and no one in the West is troubled by that - we're troubled mostly by the ill-use of these 15 Royal Navy personnel who, it seems, were forced to act like nothing less than tourists! President Ahmadinejad even had the audacity to proclaim that Iran was "happy to accomodate our forced vacationers - hahaha." Is this guy kidding? He thinks this is funny??
Meanwhile, across the border in Afghanistan, we've reached close to 3,000 dead since the war "ended" 6 years ago. Speaking of which, though the Taliban was dispursed in 2001, they were never abolished and are said to be stronger now than ever in their bloody history. With the drug trade supporting them, it's no wonder Nato is almost useless. Makes one think very, very hard about our upcoming electoral vote.
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8 comments:
Iran's president is a cunning player, who has taken full advantage of this situation. Don't forget the oriental mind is all about show. I for one am glad that he had the sense not to press the situation too far. Humiliation is unpleasant, but at the very least nobody got hurt. Regarding Afghanistan: remember, the old Soviet Union was defeated there!
The situation is very much more complicated than any half-baked rant can do justice to. The waters where the sailors and marines were picked up, even assuming that they were where they said, have been disputed for many years. During the Iran and Iraq war NATO supported Iran in claiming those waters as Iranian. So the Iranians may well have been correct in capturing the military personnel.
Further, the way the captives were 'paraded' pales in comparison to the way the untried prisoners at Guantanamo have been used as propoganda.
The British invented all the dirty tricks, from Jewish expulsions (13 Century) to concentration camps (Boer wars), and the Americans have been keen students.
To shortarsepedant,
Half baked rant? Surely you don’t mean that of the writer? I acknowledge these waters have been in dispute even prior to the Iran/Iraq war however this doesn’t condone your outburst against the writer and the hostages detained in Iran and what is happening in Guantanamo? Now if it is a complicated situation please explain your reasoning for why in your opinion these two confer and for such an attack on the writer. The butcher’s apron of a flag has many a torrid tale that started in Britain and to say America is an avid student of these smacks of racial tensions which in this day tends not to endear one to each other. So let’s see you doing justice to that or I'll also tell your mum.
Cathy,
Personally what I think into the whole affair is that Iran was testing the water as to the reaction of Britain. It might know the USA’s approach but what would Britain do in these circumstances? I still do not know if they have adequately gauged that. Britain knows well that Iran arms are falling into the hands of that militia and used to kill UK troops and it sides with the USA in many things. Britain would also like to pull out its troops but the job would then have to be done again at a later date and with a higher cost. However, I do not agree NATO is useless but if an enemy hides as a civilian and fights dressed as a civilian then the fighting matter is long and protracted. If it was an identifiable foe then there would be no contest. The US should have learned from Vietnam and to go after the bad guys, one needs unerring intelligence against whom you are fighting. Unfortunately this seems to be in short supply so the vote may not have anything to do with it.
I usually comment on your entries as I find them extremely informative, but when I see one that I know very little of I tend to just read it. This is one I must admit that I do not know much about except from the papers. Whenever you write about something I know you put a lot of research and thought into it. If this person who said something about a rant was referring to you my friend, I would think they maybe should read your entry again. You always enlighten my knoweldge when I read your entries as I tend to shy away from news. Thank you for this entry you did very well.
In reply to rockoned7.
The posting that my original comment was written about is half baked in that it is wholly one sided and is an emotional response to the truths that the media portrays.
I can find no trace in my writing of an attack on the site's author.
However, in your case an exeption could be made.
Luddie
In Iran of today you fail to see as I did that they believe the end of the world is near. In Shia muslim religion there is a strong belief that a 12th Imam of Shia is coming soon and will reign on earth for 7 years then he will end the world as we know it. Iran President Ahmadinejad had a revelation at the UN while giving a speech and claimed he had a vision and was told he is the 12th Imam. That statement alone tells us that if he believes he's the 12th he will reign for the 7 years then destroy the earth. "CountDown To Crisis, The Coming Nuclear Showdown With Iran" Kenneth R. Timmermen makes a very compelling arguement about that.
Yes I was very happy the sailors where returned unharmed and free. But this is just a drop in the bucket compared to what's coming. The muslim religion is very strict. A simple lie to us means very little. To them it means their name sake. So if you calculate that in, he has to do what the 12th Imam is supposed to do or he will be seen as a unbeliever. Which in muslim culture are pretty much on the same level as jews pigs dogs and Christians.
I have to side with the Short Arse fellow on this one. He has at no time abused the author's entry. He is also just expressing his opinion and trying hard not to be tainted by the medias leanings.
Right or wrong, the lesson to be learnt here is the value of freedom of speech.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/acoward15/andy-the-bastard/
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