I'll take the release however Iran wants to describe it. The West sees through Iran (except for Rosie) and the Muslim world will see it another way. That would have been the ultimate propaganda outcome no matter how the release was achieved.
Posted at 2007-04-04 08:27:52 [PermaLink]I'll take the release however Iran wants to describe it. The West sees through Iran (except for Rosie) and the Muslim world will see it another way. That would have been the ultimate propaganda outcome no matter how the release was achieved.
Posted at 2007-04-04 08:28:31 [PermaLink]Sorry if this sounds harsh, and if they were indeed tortured, I apologize in advance for my harsh remarks, but I hope that these sailors, especially the woman, come back with massive burn marks and other assorted injuries. If not, they should be tried for treason for giving aid and comfort to the enemy with their video appearances and letters home.
I agree, Iran already has its propaganda victory. On the other hand, why bother capturing British sailors and risking a shooting war when Pelosi slaps a rag on her head and goes to Syria ? Yes, yes, I know Syria and Iran are different, blah blah blah. Doesn't matter. The non-Israelis in the region see the party who's likely to lead America for the next few years and realize that the West is led by a bunch of weak-kneed appeasers. Rome burns.
Say what you want but Ahmadinejad is a great tactician. He also is a monster, no doubt, but when it comes to exploiting the Left's desire to undermine the West, he's got that act pretty much figured out.
He is thumbing his nose at the world for his nuclear program, killing Americans in Iraq, funding Hizbollah and Hamas, illegally kidnapping UK soldiers, and yet, he is going to look like 1) a magnanimous leader, 2) a humanitarian (releasing the lady to her child), 3) a peace loving person (he avoided a confrontation with the UK, didn't he?, and so on.
And he did all this without a single shot.
I think this guy is even more dangerous that anyone realizes...and I think Blair and Bush proved to be impotent weaklings in this sorry episode.
Where indeed is General Sir Harry Flashman, VC KCB KCIE in our hour of need?
[External Link]
There's an Englishman who knew his way around a foreign despot!
You know what I'd love? After the sailors are back on British soil, Tony blair says thanks -- and THEN drops a big bomb on Iran's refinery anyway. Ha ha!
Posted at 2007-04-04 14:42:07 [PermaLink]If this is how the Europeans respond to Iran now, it's going to real interesting to see the response when Tehran has the Bomb.
Posted at 2007-04-04 17:56:11 [PermaLink]I think I'll steal Tony Blair's car, take it on a joy ride, and then give it back to him. As a gift.
Posted at 2007-04-04 18:05:22 [PermaLink]Nutjob didn't release them, Kahmeini did, there's a power struggle going on.
Posted at 2007-04-05 09:32:50 [PermaLink]Damian,
Surprisingly, the goofiest brown-nosing MSM take on this comes from Canadian Press, "Iran lauded by Canuck diplomat Taylor":
[External Link]
"There may be some good out of this misadventure," said Taylor, who helped save six Americans during the 1980 Iran hostage crisis. "I think the Iranians will probably say: 'Look, we're reasonable people, we just resolved a very explosive situation with the British without going to war.'"
Nothing like the profundity of a Fort Pearson alumnus. Oy.
I don't think Iran did all that well with this. They got no apology nor admission of guilt by the Brits and they had to back away from their threats to put the sailors on trial.
If they had held onto the hostages for much longer than they actually did then I think you could legitimately claim they paralyzed the West, a la Jimmy Carter. But British rhetoric and actions were very muted. If thats all it took to persuade the Iranians to let go of their catch, then its they who look weak. Obviously they were not in a strong enough position to dictate terms or accomplish anything beyond a minor internal propaganda victory.
What exactly did they acomplish besides proving that they routinely violate international norms? That they revealed serious divisions within their ruling elite?
President Imadinnerjacket gave the British another Easter gift as well - the bomb that killed 4 British soldiers in Iraq.
Posted at 2007-04-06 10:17:01 [PermaLink]I wonder how many Iranian Revolutionary Guard, caught operating inside of Iraq, Iran got in exchange?
Posted at 2007-04-07 11:40:29 [PermaLink]