15 British Sailors Seized By Iran

[Perknose]

NY Times link.

Entire article:

LONDON (AP) -- Iranian naval vessels seized 15 British sailors in Iraqi waters on Friday, the Ministry of Defense said.

The British Navy personnel were ''engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters,'' and had completed a ship inspection when they were accosted by Iranian vessels, the ministry said.

''We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level and ... the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office,'' the ministry said.

A Pentagon official said the Britons were in two inflatable boats from the frigate H.M.S. Cornwall during a routine smuggling investigation, said the official, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the incident.

He said the confrontation happened as the British contingent was traveling along the boundary of territorial waters between Iran and Iraq. They were detained by the Revolutionary Guard's navy, he said.

A fisherman who said he was with a group of Iraqis from the southern city of Basra fishing in Iraqi waters in the northern area of the Gulf said he saw the Iranian seizure. The fisherman declined to be identified because of security concerns.

''Two boats, each with a crew of six to eight multinational forces, were searching Iraqi and Iranian boats Friday morning in Ras al-Beesha area in the northern entrance of the Arab Gulf, but big Iranian boats came and took the two boats with their crews to the Iranian waters.''

The Britain government said it had demanded ''the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment.''

The British Broadcasting Corp. said the British forces were inspecting a ship suspected of smuggling cars. It did not cite a source for the report.

In June 2004, six British marines and two sailors were seized by Iran in the Shatt al-Arab between Iran and Iraq. They were presented blindfolded on Iranian television and admitted entering Iranian waters illegally.

They were released unharmed after three days.

Hmmmm. <----- Incisive mandatory comment.

 

[Genx87]

Where was the British frigate these guys were from?

 

[imported_thefonz]

Well I guess where invading Iran now, we certainly have a "reason", if that reason is true or not will not be told the general public.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Well at least they aren't from mainland Europe because if they were, they would just give in to the Iranians. The British don't take this kind of sh1t lightly. I can imagine there are some SAS teams on the ground in Iran already just waiting for the word to go.

 

[ProfJohn]

This happened before a few years ago. Iran held them for three days got them to admit to entering Iranian waters and let them go.

Most likely Iran is looking for so good PR and will try to protray this as evil westerners interfearing in their affairs. Might not play to the rest of the world, but who knows what their own people might think.

 

[amish]

Originally posted by: thefonz
Well I guess where invading Iran now, we certainly have a "reason", if that reason is true or not will not be told the general public.

doubtful. cooler heads will prevail just like they did in 2004.

i hope the sailors don't cooperate this time so that they can be used as propaganda. i hope they come back safe.

 

[GTaudiophile]

If this isn't cause for war against Iran, I don't know what it.

It would nice if Blair throws the first counter-punch and then asks Bush for help.

 

[BrownTown]

why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

I don't think this is worth starting a war over as the sailors will almost certainly be returned quickly.

However, it is a tad risky for the Iranians to be running around capturing people like this. One mistake by commanders in the field could touch off a regional war.

 

[slpaulson]

How the hell could Iran possibly think this was a good idea?
They're just lucky that G.B. will probably not react like Israel did this summer.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

How else are we going to keep the military industrial complex happy?

BTW I agree with the 'this won't lead to war' idea expressed by others.
If/when we attack Iran it will be related to their nuke program and it will almost certainly be a limited engagement.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

They are psychopathic imbeciles who will be playing with their nuts thousands of miles away as the deaths of others help to strum their fears.

The noises from under their beds sound like they might be in a foreign language, maybe even Farsi, and disturb their somnambulism.

These are the folk whose sexual impotence manifests as a need for vicarious violence to give them any sense of being alive.

They are the worms that wriggle at the smell of a corpse.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

It?s not exactly ?wanting? another war, as much as it is seeing the necessity of taking out a terrorist kingpin that is developing nuclear technology.

Although, I do admit that seeing how our military was lead in Iraq that I greatly fear for our competence at handling anything. That does concern me.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

They are psychopathic imbeciles who will be playing with their nuts thousands of miles away as the deaths of others help to strum their fears.
Loyal Bushies
The noises from under their beds sound like they might be in a foreign language, maybe even Farsi, and disturb their somnambulism.
The Sheeple
These are the folk whose sexual impotence manifests as a need for vicarious violence to give them any sense of being alive.
The Religous Right
They are the worms that wriggle at the smell of a corpse.
Employees Of The War Machine

Translated into layman's terms for those that don't understand big words.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

They are psychopathic imbeciles who will be playing with their nuts thousands of miles away as the deaths of others help to strum their fears.
Loyal Bushies
The noises from under their beds sound like they might be in a foreign language, maybe even Farsi, and disturb their somnambulism.
The Sheeple
These are the folk whose sexual impotence manifests as a need for vicarious violence to give them any sense of being alive.
The Religous Right
They are the worms that wriggle at the smell of a corpse.
Employees Of The War Machine

Translated into layman's terms for those that don't understand big words.

And where exactly are all these people that are calling for war? Did you women even read the other posts, or did you just ASSume that this thread was going to be filled with people calling for war?

 

[BarneyFife]

So why are British Sailors on inflatable boats? Hmmm. I am guessing these sailors were spies and there is a lot more going on than is being reported.

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
So why are British Sailors on inflatable boats? Hmmm. I am guessing these sailors were spies and there is a lot more going on than is being reported.

When was the last time you saw a frigate pull upside a boat the throw the nets out for people to use?

How else do you expect them to get onto the boat?

 

[yllus]

In June 2004, six British marines and two sailors were seized by Iran in the Shatt al-Arab between Iran and Iraq. They were presented blindfolded on Iranian television and admitted entering Iranian waters illegally.

They were released unharmed after three days.

I'm incredibly surprised that the Brits let that one slide. I'd be incredibly steamed if these were my countrymen.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
So why are British Sailors on inflatable boats? Hmmm. I am guessing these sailors were spies and there is a lot more going on than is being reported.

Wow, just wow.....ignorance abounds

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
So why are British Sailors on inflatable boats? Hmmm. I am guessing these sailors were spies and there is a lot more going on than is being reported.

When was the last time you saw a frigate pull upside a boat the throw the nets out for people to use?

How else do you expect them to get onto the boat?

I saw the coast guard in some inflatable boats one time, they must be spies too...

 

[judasmachine]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

blind jingoism? just a guess.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

Shouldn't that be directed at the country that just kindnapped 15 British soldiers?

 

[imported_Shivetya]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

ask the Iranians why they try and provoke one all the time.


I can supply the answer for it, to take their people's minds off the deplorable conditions many of them have to live with. Typical strategy of dictatorships which Iran really is.

 

[Aimster]

The area is disputed.

Iraq claims it is their water while Iran claims it is theirs.

Whatever the reason, Britain should stay the hell out of the area. Let the Persians and Arabs deal with it.

 

[amish]

Originally posted by: 5to1baby1in5
Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: BrownTown
why the hell do you people want ANOTHER d@mn war?

They are psychopathic imbeciles who will be playing with their nuts thousands of miles away as the deaths of others help to strum their fears.
Loyal Bushies
The noises from under their beds sound like they might be in a foreign language, maybe even Farsi, and disturb their somnambulism.
The Sheeple
These are the folk whose sexual impotence manifests as a need for vicarious violence to give them any sense of being alive.
The Religous Right
They are the worms that wriggle at the smell of a corpse.
Employees Of The War Machine

Translated into layman's terms for those that don't understand big words.

that is one hell of an awesome post. way to get all the buzzwords in there. i can use buzzwords too. i want someone to challenge the current administration, to become a champion of empowerment. someone that will breakthrough the facade and empower us to something greater.

with their leadership i hope they leverage our friends to determine an exit strategy. i want a paradigm shift that spearheads change. i want that person to increase the sustainability of the iraqi government and creates synergy between our two contries.

come up with something original. at least moonbeam uses colorful language.