Comments on: Britons Return Home

By: kenny

kenny — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:03:40 +0000

"“Never seized in a situation like that”? Really, Admiral? I guess he’s only talking about sailors and not aviators."

Be fair to mullen, he was ,after all,today hosting the chief of the navy his country apologised to when the US wanted their military released, after they had been caught without fighting to the death.

Don't seem to remember blair apologising to anyone. Unlike Bush.

But I guess the US wants to start a war with Iran in 2007 whilst they didn't want to do so in 2001.

By: legion

legion — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:22:07 +0000

Oh great. Now our top admiral is shooting his mouth off & implicitly insulting our last real ally in the world:

The US naval chief said Thursday he thought US military personnel would have fought against Iranian forces and not been taken prisoner as were 15 recently freed Britons. Asked if a situation like the one faced by the British sailors and marines who were just released after being held by Tehran could have happened to US sailors, Admiral Michael Mullen, chief of Naval operations told CNN television: "My expectation is that American sailors are never seized in a situation like that. "Individuals and units are guided by the right of self-defense, they don't have to ask permission to take action to protect themselves. And they go into operations like this, and missions like this, with that understanding," he said.

"Never siezed in a situation like that"? Really, Admiral? I guess he's only talking about sailors and not aviators.

By: Tlaloc

Tlaloc — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:35:30 +0000

I rather suspect that Iran has traded a short-term political victory for a longer-term strategic loss.

Who is it you think they will take a loss from/with?

By: Triumph

Triumph — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:53:36 +0000

I cant wait for the liberal Pelosi to take credit for this as she hops around the region in her Lear jet.

By: Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator

Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:21:28 +0000

Iranian Leader Says He'll Free Britons...

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would free the 15 detained British sailors and marines Wedne...

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:16:32 +0000

I am reminded when it was fashionable to take western, especially US, hostages in Lebanon. Then one day they took some flunky Russian hostage. The KGB reacted in a way to make Beria smile in his grave, making it clear that heads would literally roll. The Russian hostage was immediately released.

I suspect that if Iran tried this shenanigan with the Chinese, the Chinese would show Iran some 'old school' diplomacy.

By: legion

legion — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:57:44 +0000

I'm not sure about the Chinese, but I wonder what sort of bargaining chip (and for whom) the recent disagreements between Iran and Russia re: nuclear plants were...