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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| U.K. Says Boats Were 1.7 Miles Inside Iraqi Waters |
| 2007-03-28 |
| March 28 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. Ministry of Defence, stepping up pressure on Iran to return 15 detained sailors and Marines, released evidence suggesting British boats were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraq when they were seized. Vice Admiral Charles Style said Iran's navy raided Britain's boats on the Iraqi side of the Shatt al-Arab waterway dividing the two countries on March 23. He said GPS navigation data showed the position of Britain's boats, adding that Iranian officials have given two separate accounts of the location of the vessels. ``It is hard to understand a legitimate reason for the change of coordinates,'' Style said at a briefing in London today. The boats, he said, were about their ``legal business in Iraqi waters under a United Nations'' resolution. The comments marked an escalation in the diplomatic effort, bringing details of the British argument with Iran into the public. Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has attempted to defuse the situation by giving time for private discussions between British and Iranian officials, today told Parliament that the capture of the Britons was ``wrong and completely illegal.'' ``We had hoped to see their immediate release. It is now time to ratchet up the pressure,'' Blair said. Iran rejected the British assertions, saying the boats were half a kilometer (0.3 of a mile) inside Iranian waters. A statement from the Iranian embassy in London said the sailors and Marines were in good condition and that an investigation into the matter was underway. ``We are confident that Iranian and British governments are capable of resolving this security case through their close contacts and cooperation'' in a way that would prevent the ``reoccurrence of such incidents in the area,'' the embassy said. ``We are of the belief that this legal and technical issue has no link to any other issues.'' Yesterday, Iran's Foreign Ministry raised hopes that the crisis could be resolved peacefully. ``The issue will be solved in a calm atmosphere,'' said the ministry's spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini. ``We cannot predict how long it will take.'' British diplomats in Tehran will be able to contact the 15 sailors and Marines after an ``initial phase of inquiry,'' Hosseini was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency yesterday. Britain has avoided threatening military action or increased economic sanctions against Iran because of the incident. Blair's stance, backed by opposition politicians, reflects his limited options to defuse the dispute and the lessons learned from previous incidents with Iran. President Jimmy Carter's effort to free 52 Americans held in Tehran in 1980 cost the lives of eight Marines and failed to recover any hostages. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 Various Netters claim as per GPS the Brits are correct, plus Brit also confirmed their sailors' position via nearby merchant ship - however, some are asking whether its possible the ship being inspected [wid sailors aboard] had accidens drifted into Iran's line-of-demarcation. RN claims all ships had stopped and were inside Iraqi demarcation line. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-03-28 23:17 |
| #7 I think the Hezzies saw what happenes when you do this type of stuff to Israel. Notice how many Israelis have been kidnapped since.... I'm OK with a 37 or so day war....actually, this one could end in about 37 hours.... The Brits just needs to announce that if they don't get all of their guys back in 48 hours, the bombs are going to fall. Then see what Iran does. Call their bluff. If it isn't a bluff, then we would have had to go to war with them sooner or later anyway. |
| Posted by: 0369_Grunt 2007-03-28 14:34 |
| #6 In essence, the UK is stating that Iran staged a raid against UK troops inside another country, that it must have been done on purpose and there is no doubt about it. One would like to believe that such a clear Act of War will invite proper retribution. I'd enjoy hearing threats before the retribution, but I'll be content with watching Qom leveled to the ground. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2007-03-28 13:10 |
| #5 Blair's stance, backed by opposition politicians, reflects his limited options to defuse the dispute and the lessons learned from previous incidents with Iran. President Jimmy Carter's effort to free 52 Americans held in Tehran in 1980 cost the lives of eight Marines and failed to recover any hostages. Here is the essence of idiotic editorializing in place of reporting. An absolutely upside-down, counter-factual bit of nonsense that of course just happens to put the UK's pathetic performance in a much better light. Sorry, no sale here on the counsel of caution and finesse (why is that the ONLY approach ever counseled by a large group of folks, most of whom have nothing but failed ideas and policies in their background?) with Iran on this. Even many sometimes sensible types are saying Iran is trolling for a confrontation, and will benefit from one. Oh - and somehow, Iran's "image" in a supine, distracted, dysfunctional Europe will be damaged if the UK just lies down and takes it. Leading to .... what, exactly? The EU - backed by a yawning, pathetic British public that doesn't seem to give a damn about any of this - will bring the mullahs to their knees? Yeah, right. Meanwhile, this statement about the patrol's location only serves to emphasize the incompetence (sorry, there's no other word for it) of the Royal Navy and its leadership here. Listen up, smooth-talking, highly educated RN brass and civilian apologists: you have allowed Iran to seize and keep the initiative in ESCALATING the situation to their taste. Your "restraint" is the essence of incompetence, reinforced by an utterly baseless arrogance that somehow you have discovered yet another way in which finesse and lack of action can magically defeat good ol' fashioned thuggery and ruthless initiative as practiced by a weak and utterly hostile enemy. The UK appears to be more of a liability than an asset at the moment. However, it's hard to replace their remaining ground troops in the south, which, however ineffective they may be due to their approach, do provide an outer barrier on chaos and warlordism. Here's a peak at our near future. The US, already virtually alone in actually doing anything about any critical international situation, really doesn't even have the Brits to rely on any more. |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2007-03-28 12:39 |
| #4 Quick send Rosie this story! Then again, she'll probably think this is more propaganda crazy moonbat conspiracist. Time to go after these people Falklands style and get back their guys. Maybe Russia could loan the a couple of Spesnatz specialists to help. |
| Posted by: Delphi2005 2007-03-28 09:58 |
| #3 Blair's stance, backed by opposition politicians, reflects his limited options to defuse the dispute and the lessons learned from previous incidents with Iran. President Jimmy Carter's effort to free 52 Americans held in Tehran in 1980 cost the lives of eight Marines and failed to recover any hostages. /Grima Wormtongue |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-03-28 09:16 |
| #2 Oh yer goodness sake - stop whining and DO something. |
| Posted by: Spot 2007-03-28 08:34 |
| #1 I'm surprised the dreaded Foreign Service Nuance has not been unsheathed. That would would make the Iranians tremble and capitulate. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2007-03-28 08:26 |