Uh-oh — Iran kidnaps 15 sailors in Iraqi waters

[Football_Bat]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a9I3O744G8uI&refer=home

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

http://www.hbci.com/~tgort/tonkin.htm

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

 

[WildBillyCrazyCat]

This will get ugly fast.

Sincerely,

Archduke Franz Ferdinand

 

[alleyallen]

This could definitely bloom into something very bad very quickly.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Or they could give them back like they did last time.

 

[Bubbler]

The story noted this has happened before. Granted that was when the heat wasn't cranked up as much, but I doubt the UK is going to escalate anything. As for us? We're just stupid enough to go barrelling in like Carmelo Anthony to start some ****.

Dumb move by Iran, whose leverage vis a vis its nuclear program dropped big time this week when the Russians said no pay, no play.

 

[alleyallen]

Or they could give them back like they did last time.

I fully acknowledge this has happened before. But while some people treat this as a ho-hum affair, I for one certainly do not. Maybe because I, y'know, served in the Navy. I sure as hell know how I'd feel if I were one of those British swabbies.

 

[Armchair_QB]

Or they could give them back like they did last time.

I fully acknowledge this has happened before. But while some people treat this as a ho-hum affair, I for one certainly do not. Maybe because I, y'know, served in the Navy. I sure as hell know how I'd feel if I were one of those British swabbies.

I can't begin to imagine what it's like for these guys. I don't mean to minimize what is happening to them at all. But I'd like to believe they'll get home safely and soon.

 

[Blitz]

The interrogation continues and the rhetoric increases in flow.
This has all the looks of eventual Coalition involvement, and in a violent manner.
British don't feel, first off, that they were even in Iranian waters.

 

[Armchair_QB]

The interrogation continues and the rhetoric increases in flow.
This has all the looks of eventual Coalition involvement, and in a violent manner.
British don't feel, first off, that they were even in Iranian waters.

Probably because they weren't.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I'm surprised there haven't been attacks yet. Ahmedinejad is ****ing loony toons and his country is turning against him. This would be a good way to rally support.

 

[Boomer7]

Is he really loony toons, or does he say outrageous things to curry favor with the hardline religious leaders who wield so much of the power in Iran? That's the thing with Ahmedinejad that's not abundantly clear: his real motivation.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

The interrogation continues and the rhetoric increases in flow.
This has all the looks of eventual Coalition involvement, and in a violent manner.
British don't feel, first off, that they were even in Iranian waters.

Probably because they weren't.

Or because they're lying.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Is he really loony toons, or does he say outrageous things to curry favor with the hardline religious leaders who wield so much of the power in Iran? That's the thing with Ahmedinejad that's not abundantly clear: his real motivation.

From what I've read, his favor with the religious hardliners is starting to fade a bit and is much more delicate than you hear about.

 

[Perry White]

If Thatcher was still PM, there would be a lot more action going on. Of course, one wrong move could lead to WWIII, so some care is necessary...

 

[Flying Headbutt]

I give Blair some credit. If I were in charge and they pulled that ****, Iran would have no navy anymore, and probably not an air force or airport that works.

And if it kept up, Tehran would be a smoldering mess of charred sand, crumbling concrete, and whatever else oil wells burned.

 

[TigerVols]

I don't understand why this story is not bigger. The capturing of these sailors is an act of war and Iran should be given 24 hours to turn them over before the UK goes to the UN and demands permission to attack, IMO.

At some point you just have to punch the bully in the nose.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Because a handful of little Fidos and Mr. Jitters keeled over, and well, you know the rest.

 

[Perry White]

I don't understand why this story is not bigger. The capturing of these sailors is an act of war and Iran should be given 24 hours to turn them over before the UK goes to the UN and demands permission to attack, IMO.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6508909.stm

The UN Security Council has agreed a statement voicing "grave concern" at Iran's capture of 15 British sailors.
...
The statement is a watered-down version as the UK wanted it to "deplore" Iran's detention of the Britons and call for their immediate release

Whoop-de-do.

 

[Football_Bat]

I don't understand why this story is not bigger. The capturing of these sailors is an act of war and Iran should be given 24 hours to turn them over before the UK goes to the UN and demands permission to attack, IMO.

At some point you just have to punch the bully in the nose.

If they'd been American sailors, it would lead every newscast and no doubt there would be a more vigorous response from our powers that be.