Iran Caputures 15 Royal Navy sailors.

[ILL Tonkso 1,238]

Source: Text and images taken from BBC.com

UK sailors captured at gunpoint

The sailors and marines are from HMS Cornwall

Fifteen British Navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.

The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.

The Royal Navy said it was doing everything it could to secure the release of the sailors and marines who are based on HMS Cornwall.

They were said to be carrying out a routine patrol in Iraqi waters.

The Ministry of Defence said: "The group boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters.

"We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level.

"The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."

It is understood the men being held are safe and well.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has summoned the Iranian ambassador in London to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in an attempt to get the sailors and marines released as quickly as possible.

HMS CORNWALL FACTS Multi-national force flagship in the North Arabian Gulf Type 22 frigate Crew: 250 (Max 301) Length: 148.1m / 485.9ft Speed: 30 knots Source: Royal Navy

In a statement, leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Menzies Campbell, also called for their immediate release.

"Whatever the rights and wrongs of military action, British forces in Iraq are now there with the authority of a UN security council resolution... and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," he said.

In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.

The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian territorial waters.

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

If that is true, and it was Iraqi waters in which the men were captured, then the Iranians had absolutely no right to do that. Outrageous.

[Goldfish4209 9]

Let's watch george bush use this as an excuse to go to war with Iran. This is no big deal if they can get this sorted out.

[JanYpe 17]

Like the text says, this isn't the first abduction Iran has pulled. They'll parade them around a bit on tv, and give them back after being screamed at by diplomats. I guess Iran isn't too happy about those generals disappearing (read: defecting) and those diplomats being arrested in Iraq.

This is no big deal if they can get this sorted out.quote>

But it isn't very polite either. A nasty attention grabbing move.

Let's watch george bush use this as an excuse to go to war with Iran.quote>

What was that saying again? If they grew on trees, this place would be an orchard? Something like that.

[Simfan34 11]

This is just an OUTRAGE. They were in Iraqi waters! This is just one of the reasons why I don't like Iran today. I hope that Reza Pahlavi could possibly lead a new Iran, he promises democracy. Add that it's very likely that they are funding insurgents, you have a war waged by Iran. War with Iran is already happening.

[jackel.22 3]

oh brilliant here comes the next war...

that was quite a stupid thing for them to do if they did it, i dunno it seems a little suspect to me that after the 'coalition' wanted to stop iran from gettting nukes for ages this happens...

[Odainsaker 2,135]

I guess it is a sign of the times that when Iran does something typically crazy like falling back into seizing military hostages, we blame Bush. Oh, how American credibility has been destroyed by that man!

Right after the Iranian New Year war rhetoric and just in time for the UN sanction vote...that timing probably has more to do with it than Evil Bush Manipulations.

Not sure about Reza Pahlavi...the late Shah and his U.S.-installed government was truly despised in Iran, and it was partly our blind backing of him that made the U.S. such a target of radical Iranian hatred...his son would have a hard legacy to overcome. The CIA should never have sabotaged Iran's own democratic process by toppling Mossadegh. Talk about blowback!

(EDIT:  Ah ha, forgot Ahmadinejad is supposed to visit New York starting this weekend and speak to the UN against sanctions...what timing indeed!  Should make for shoe-pounding theater.)

[ILL Tonkso 1,238]

Originally posted by: Goldfish4209 Let's watch george bush use this as an excuse to go to war with Iran. This is no big deal if they can get this sorted out.quote>

This has nothing to do with the USA. Britain and Iran have had problems for a long time.

The Iranian-British issue has been long a problem, for example the Iranian Embassy Terrorist siege in 1980.

[Camaron 1]

Well this clearly is not going to help already dodgy British-Iranian relations. By the sound of the story, the Iranians who captured the Royal Navy personnel thought falsely that they were in Iran's Territorial Waters. Which is an easy thing to happen, as in the ocean it is hard to tell when you are crossing a boarder. Whatever happened out there, I hope the captured men are safely released.

[Cjah 15]

As far as I see it Iran was just protecting its borders....

If the British were in Iraqi waters thats one thing...but its probably true they flosted into Iranian waters...Its a sea...plenty of water to misjudge.....

Lets look at the big picture....

Its Iran says Vs. UK says...

In the long run the men will be returned....Iran's government gets to show off "Prisoners of Propaganda" or what I call POP....

so lets just wait and see....no war shall happen.....

[Camaron 1]

In a update, it appears that the 15 personnel that have been captured have been taken to Tehran for interrogation. Iran are claiming that the British forces had committed an "illegal entry into Iranian Territorial waters", though British intelligence still suggests otherwise. Speculation is mounting that this incident could have been created to effect negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.

Full report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6489493.stm

[storms991 0]

We cannot say whether or not they were in Iranian or Iraqi waters. The evidence is being skewed by both sides in their own favour and subsequently, we will not receive a clear summary of the event for a while.

[JanYpe 17]

"illegal entry into Iranian Territorial waters"quote>

Apparently this concerns the Shatt al-Arab strait, a piece of water on the Iraq-Iran border which, according to a 1975 treaty, belongs to Iraq. Iran disputes this ownership. I suppose we'll just have to wait and see what the conclusion of this is. Cjah might be completely right, for a change.

[Frankie_Grove 33]

seems the British sailors were not as innocent as advertised:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17769296/

[haropro 0]

"illegal entry into Iranian Territorial waters". Wow, they will come up with anything just to be idiots and parade soldiers around like animals!

[MayorCain 2]

Apparently, the us Brits and our US cousins are always raiding ships that come along those waters, inspecting cargo and whatnot.

I think the Iranians just flexing their diplomatic muscles, saying, 'oooh look what we can do if you can do that!'. Its happened before, and those guys were released.

HOWEVER, due to huge tensions between the UN and Iran because of nuclear weapons (an excuse for Bush, like WMD's were for the invasion of Iraq), they may keep them as leverage.

Im not sure about the story with the previous abduction, so I'm not sure what happened.

I am sure though, that this time things might be a little different.

[Odainsaker 2,135]

Aww, Ahmadinejad has at the last moment cancelled today's trip to New York, where he was going to scold the Security Council today just before they vote on sanctions to punish Iran for its nuclear activities, dashing hopes of fun and fireworks at the UN. The blame is underhanded non-cooperation by Evil American Ambitious Wolves in issuing sufficient visas in time, or so they claim. How convenient...surely the grabbing of the British marines, and their suspicious confessions of engaging in "blatant aggression" during interrogation in Tehran, had no part of it...no, not at all...

[The boy formerly known as Evil Muzz 27]

Exactly, it is Britains word against theirs for now. They have confessed, but has that come straight from the horse's mouth, or from the Iranians. Me thinks the latter. And if they have confessed, we don't know what "questioning" methods were used to get them to "confess".

[Cjah 15]

Originally posted by: JanYpe

Cjah might be completely right, for a change. quote>

 

When it comes to history and politics,.....I'm hardly wrong...

science and all that magic has always baffeled me...(heavy sarcasm)

none the less I originate from a nation whos own borders were reduced by 66%...

so I also consider myself the expert on both maritime and land borders....(insert heavest sarcasm)

[Easy Bakes 253]

Whats the Royan Navy?

[Ntq€310 1]

I heard it on the news, why would iran capture british soilders, and honestly this just makes them look a little worst then they already do.

[Krio 624]

Where is the evidence that Royal Navy was in Iraqi waters? U.S Marine has said to the press that they must be very careful in those waters, because Iraqi's water-area is very small. Both sources, UK and Iran are as weak. Remember, that UK lied about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction.

Also this could be pre-planned from UK and U.S: Iran won't release the sailors and they have a very good reason to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

My own opinion is, that Royal Navy made little mistake and wandered to Iran's water. Even Iran isn't that stupid that they would go to Iraq's water to kidnap British soldiers when world's most powerful Navy is only few miles away.

[Poetic 0]

Why would Iran do something so incredibly stupid? They're already getting negative diplomatic attention worldwide. Anyway, this won't lead to war. But it will lead to yet another step toward sanctions, nuclear facility bombings and, of course, the occasional name calling by both sides. And, in about ten to fifteen years, you can expect another Iraq-style ground war. Fun.

[AdmiralCrunch 11]

I can just see it now:

[JanYpe 17]

I'm in ur waterz

Capturin ur troops?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

It is a good thing that Tony Blair (the appeaser) is PM and not Margret Thatcher.  Sabres would be rattling, and the SOE would be shipping out.

[JanYpe 17]

The SOE? You want to bring back the Baker street irregulars? But yeah, Thatcher would have ordered the SAS to split some skulls and bring the sailors back, right quick.

[kibblewitbit 0]

this same situation is what ruined jimmy carters presidency, he lost the election and then 6 minutes after reagan was sworn in (i dont know exactly how many minutes) the hostages were freed

but anyway (in response to krio) i know that the present governments of the U.S. and U.K. arent always that honest, but i would trust bush and blair anyday before i would believe the iranian government, they said on iranian tv that the movie 300 was a propaganda film made by jewish pigs in the zionist U.S. media to warmonger and promote hatred towards the persian people and the nation of iran

now someone please tell me THAT isnt propaganda

[Camaron 1]

Originally posted by: Krio Where is the evidence that Royal Navy was in Iraqi waters? quote>

 

I have read this morning that the British government are preparing to release some GPS based evidence that the patrol was in Iraqi waters at the time of the incident. If this will really solve the dispute however, is a separate issue. 

Originally posted by: N_O_Body It is a good thing that Tony Blair (the appeaser) is PM and not Margret Thatcher.  Sabres would be rattling, and the SOE would be shipping out.  quote>

 

. I can see your point there, though the Falklands War was a bit of different scenario to the current situation.

[Micah 16]

Anyone find it normal that thousands of people in Tehran chanted for the deaths of these 15 British soldiers?