h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ah.

I thought it was 'cos Russia has trade deals going on and Iran owes quite a lot of money.

But your viewpoint has merit too

Not bullying = cowadice, now does it?

Please give me examples of what cowardice is because regardless of the statements isseued by those on highin the UN the actual being shot and and killing other people bit isnt done by them.

Now you might call Tony Blair brave he's done and said some very forceful things whilst in office. The importnat words in that sentence are the last two.

He's also told us things that turned out not to be true. It might be going off topic but it was in the country next door that he told us we had had to send troops to:

1. nuetralise the threat from WMD
2. stop innocent people being killed
3. halt the spread of terror

For me making "brave" statements from behind a desk turns out to equal; rash, bullying, megolomania.

Back on topic now that we have reminded ourselves of the intelligence community's and Tony Blair's ability to, part of me wants to say lie but I'll settle for, get it wrong why are people oh so sure that those sailors werent in Iranian waters all along?

Maybe that's why the UN arent coming out with such brave statements as some people might like

The 15 are all being released 'as a present to the British people'.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6525905.stm


Geggs

I'll beleive it when they're physically released.

Thing that gets me is this is such an obvious go at playing games. Nick them, play hardball for a bit to get the 'right-on' vote then pretend then say that the other side have changed and so you are going to be nice, then say you'll let them go even though you don;t have to. I mean, this is playground politics! Fact is I doubt this would have played any differently if the UK had done squat for their release.

(ok, I might revise the bit about the other side changing depending on what happens to the US prisoners that Iran claims are their diplomatic staff)

So, The MOD and the Naval Staff have reached the conclusion that whilst errors in planning were made, and some other mistakes, no one is to blame, and no one will be disciplined , or get a slapped wrist?

I presume the laughter of the Army and Royal Airforce is considered sufficient to embarrass the "Senior Service" ?

Novo

Add the Australians to those laughing:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6228342.stm

When the Iranians tried the same stunt on the Australians, they were "having none of it".

This event occurred before the British one - seems the British failed to learn from it.

An interesting view into Iran here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6222876.stm

'The space is shrinking for those who want to bridge the two worlds of the West and Iran. Iranians who want to reach out to the outside world now run the risk of being called traitors and foreign agents.'

I heard that on the radio arnie - I like the bit "aimed their machine guns at the approaching Iranians and warned them to back off, using what was said to be "highly colourful language". "

Yeah, I can picture it now! Reminds me of the Canadian approach to illegal spanish fishing in the 90's.

That was my favorite part too Ictoan.

SWL, how is that different than the US and/or UK? Nancy Pelosi was called a traitor when she visited Syria a couple months ago.