You are not my friend (America)

[love]

What is the deal with the Iranian, British thing? Is this a way to tell the British that they are not their friend and any act, even minor, cannot be worked out in a brief, intelligent conversation.

[Kungfuzed]

The Iranians seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder. I wonder how the US would react if they found a boatful of Iranians off the coast of Florida.

[James the Persian]

Originally Posted by Kungfuzed

The Iranians seem to have a huge chip on their shoulder. I wonder how the US would react if they found a boatful of Iranians off the coast of Florida.

I think a more accurate comparison might be to ask how the US would react if they found a boat load of Iranians in Mexican waters - and I dare say, they'd most likely leave them be. Rarely do I trust our government, but the evidence that our sailors were in Iraqi waters seems far stronger than the contrary claim.

James

[RevOxley_501]

no no, the point of the british iran thing is to start the next US/Brit war. It is going to be used as a pretext for US/Brit to invade iran, just like 9\11 was oddly enough a pretext for iraq and afghanistan

[CaptainXeroid]

Originally Posted by JamesThePersian

I think a more accurate comparison might be to ask how the US would react if they found a boat load of Iranians in Mexican waters - and I dare say, they'd most likely leave them be. Rarely do I trust our government, but the evidence that our sailors were in Iraqi waters seems far stronger than the contrary claim.

James

Frubals for a most excellent point and one that needs reiteration.

[PureX]

Mostly, this abduction is an act of revenge for the Iranian "diplomats" that were arrested by the Americans in Iraq, recently. The point of the abduction is to regain some political face at home, where humiliating westerners always plays well; to drive a wedge between Britain and the US, as Britain is being "punished' for something the U.S. has done, and to, if possible, gain an exchange: the British sailors for the Iranian "diplomats" that the Americans are holding.

Their reasoning, here, is not all that insightful, as so far they have achieved none of these goals (which is why they have not yet released the sailors). And they are not likely to achieve any of them.

But, politics is politics all the world over, and Iranian politicians are just as foolish and hard-headed as anyone else's.

[michel]

Originally Posted by PureX

Mostly, this abduction is an act of revenge for the Iranian "diplomats" that were arrested by the Americans in Iraq, recently. The point of the abduction is to regain some political face at home, where humiliating westerners always plays well; to drive a wedge between Britain and the US, as Britain is being "punished' for something the U.S. has done, and to, if possible, gain an exchange: the British sailors for the Iranian "diplomats" that the Americans are holding.

Their reasoning, here, is not all that insightful, as so far they have achieved none of these goals (which is why they have not yet released the sailors). And they are not likely to achieve any of them.

But, politics is politics all the world over, and Iranian politicians are just as foolish and hard-headed as anyone else's.

I agree; but more than that, I believe there may well have been an intent to drive a wedge between England and the US. The Iranians would have expected we English to demand that you Americans release your prisoners in exchange for our sailors' safe return.

What is sad is that the whole episode is now being used to alienate the British to the Iranian people by proclaimingtheir "Victory" in having caught those dastardly Sailors in their waters - which, as we all know (by Satelite pictures of the whole charade) is a complete fabrication.

[RevOxley_501]

you guys will see how right i am mid summer!

[RevOxley_501]

and when oil is 150$ dollar a barrell, you have to sit quietly while i say "i told ya so"