Posted by
Sapper on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 3:29:21 PM
Many things seem to be happening at once in the Iran/Britain standoff over the captured British sailors and marines so I'll try to summarize them in one thread today:
From the AP (via the
Seattle Times) - Iran puts images of captured Brits on TV:
"TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian state TV showed video today of the 15 British sailors and marines who were seized last week, including a female captive who wore a white tunic and a black head scarf and said the British boats "had trespassed" in Iranian waters.
The British government protested Iran's broadcast of the captured crew as "completely unacceptable." The British military had earlier released what it called proof that its boats were in the territorial waters of Iraq — not Iran — when they were seized...."
I agree with the Brits this is unacceptable, but not just the airing of the images. The entire situation is unacceptable and Iran needs more than a slap on the wrist for this latest outrage. (Notice the treatment of the female POW - forced to wear Muslim attire. This tells you all you need to know about how "civilized" our enemies are.)
The International Herald Tribune reports that Britain has escalated its dispute with Iran:
"...Britain froze all "bilateral business" with Teheran today to retaliate for the seizure of 15 naval personnel six days ago in what the Royal Navy insisted were Iraqi territorial waters...."
According to News24 in South Africa Iran is demanding an apology and "compensation", whatever that means.
The AP is reporting that the female captive is to be released and rumors of a military confrontation between the US and Iran caused oil prices to rise to $64 per barrel.
As reported previously, Britain insists it's forces were captured in Iraqi waters, not in Iran, and has released the GPS coordinates to prove it.
Britain seems to be taking a no-nonsense tack with Iran but I seriously hope that words precede actions this time or it will only embolden Iran to more and more dangerously confrontational behavior. The question in my mind is what does Iran hope to achieve? Is this a North Korea-style approach using provocations and threats as extortion for concessions and money? At some point I have to believe that Iran will push the British too far.
Some Britons are starting to urge a bit more forceful response, which I think is a good sign. Perhaps the common man in the UK will realize now how serious this war against Islamic terrorism and rogue nations really is.
(Others blogging on this: Michelle Malkin, Ed Morrissey wonders if Blair will be "Carter or Thatcher", Threatswatch.org, RightWingNutHouse feels "Britain Yawns as Iran Declares War".)