15 Marines seized by Iran

[TEN]

UK: 15 Marines seized by Iran

POSTED: 8:31 a.m. EDT, March 23, 2007 http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/23/iran.uk.reut/


LONDON, England (CNN) -- Fifteen British Marines on patrol in the Persian Gulf have been "seized" by the Iranian navy, the British Ministry of Defense said.

The Marines were "engaged in routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters," the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

A U.S. military official who monitors the region told CNN the Marines stopped an Iranian ship suspected of smuggling automobiles, and boarded it for an inspection.

The British ministry's statement said the Marines "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."

The statement added, "We are urgently pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level and on the instructions of the Foreign Secretary, the Iranian ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Office. The British Government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."

There was no immediate word from Tehran on the incident.

The British Ministry of Defense said it was aware of an incident and investigating.

The British Foreign Office said Iran's ambassador in London had been summoned and Britain was demanding their immediate safe release, Reuters reported.

An Iraqi fisherman told the news agency said the incident took place early on Friday in the Shatt al-Arab waterway that marks the southern stretch of Iraq's border with Iran. His account could not be immediately confirmed.

Copyright 2007 Reuters.

 

[Jayde]

When will it end?

 

[osirianprncpl]

translation: British Marines were engaged in a recon operation inside Iranian territorial water when they were surrounded by Iranian Forces.

 

[TEN]

translation: British Marines were engaged in a recon operation inside Iranian territorial water when they were surrounded by Iranian Forces.

yep, definite spying mission, with the americans nearby too
they have already responded as having been near the scene.

 

[bromack1]

When will it end?

I hope soon.... The Iranians know they hold the "trump" card. Why doesn't someone ask them to stop playin games.

 

[osirianprncpl]

Then this is their pretext to the invasion.

 

[Maximumtrini]

Bob Marley: Everywhere is war, me say war.

 

[Jay_from_dade]

Once they refuse to release those marines the U.S. will step in and declare war on Iran. It's the perfect excuse.

 

[bromack1]

Once they refuse to release those marines the U.S. will step in and declare war on Iran. It's the perfect excuse.

They're "British" Marines... not american.....

 

[THA ILLEST]

ooohh man i dunno if the U.S can handle Iraq and Iran together...

 

[biglw_1]

They're "British" Marines... not american.....

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL STOP BUSH FROM SENDING OUR PEOPLE OVER THERE? SHIT HE IS LOOKING FOR ANY EXCUSE RIGHT NOW AND HELL EVEN IF IT IS BRITISH THATS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR HIM. I MEAN HE DID KNOCK DOWN THE TOWERS AND THEN WE WENT TO IRAQ.

 

[shanebp1978]

Saber Rattling. Iran will gladly give the Brits back, and the Iranian Goverment already has a clear excuse as it was IRGC Navy, they can always claim it was not clearly santioned by the Iranian Goverment.

Iran is excersising it's rights as a middle Eastern Country. If anyone should be doing inspections, it is them, inspecting ships from Western Countries and what are THEY bringing into the gulf.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: The one I hope, and the logical one. They'll argue about some imaginary lines for a day or so, and the British Soldiers will be returned in great health, having been treated fairly, and after sampling some Farsi pussy on the low.


WORST CASE SCENARIO:In America, tonight's nightly ( AKA Middle American Sheeple ). News. Will be dominated by this, and Kardashian's sex tape. Bush will spin this to help dispose of the subpoenas in the attorney firings fiasco, and make ultimatiums on TIME, ( Which of course he won't let anyone do to him on Iraq ). Iran will of course feel punked by these ultimatiums, not respond to them. America launches attacks against Iran. The sleeping Red Bear in the North awakes and honours old and new promises to back Iran, and we have a full scale global war.

Please, let's keep it conventional people!!!

 

[BB123]

They're "British" Marines... not american.....

Which won't matter, cuz this time US can say we helpin' them Brits out. Good excuse to start war it is

 

[Gods_Debris]

Oh shi.....

 

[African Herbsman]

Iran is excersising it's rights as a middle Eastern Country. If anyone should be doing inspections, it is them, inspecting ships from Western Countries and what are THEY bringing into the gulf.

Exactly.

 

[Maximumtrini]

Iran is excersising it's rights as a middle Eastern Country. If anyone should be doing inspections, it is them, inspecting ships from Western Countries and what are THEY bringing into the gulf.

Actually it's not their right. These are UN mandated inspections. If they had a problem they should have taken it up with UN.

 

[ghoststrike]

Actually it's not their right. These are UN mandated inspections. If they had a problem they should have taken it up with UN.

How foolish of Iran for not checking with the The UN, where the US calls most of the diplomatic shots,,,riiiiight

 

[Black Limey]

Bloody Hell!

Someone's gonna get a bollocking (reprimanding) for this.

It just looks sloppy

They will probably be released as if Iran wanted to kill them, they would have done so already

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6484279.stm

 

[Spider3025]

Those ship searches didn't just start.
UN sanction voting plus marines captured on routine search.
equals Incredible timing

Iran will try behind the scenes deal: no/reduced UN sanctions for marines.

 

[bromack1]

Actually it's not their right. These are UN mandated inspections. If they had a problem they should have taken it up with UN.

I think that's why the Iranian president just cancelled his visit to new york to speak to the U.N. ... its my understanding there is a "huge" disconnect within the Iranian government that results in the military taking actions without approval from higher ups.

In other words....someone in ahmandinajaad's (sp...lets just call him d%ckhead instead) people f%#$ked. up

 

[TRUFICTION]

EXCUSE FOR WAR IN IRAN
EXCUSE FOR THE DRAFT..

 

[Mo-Better]

Extracted from Guardian Unlimited

Foreign Office demands Tehran frees sailors

The Iranian navy has seized up to 15 British sailors, the Ministry of Defence confirmed today, sparking a diplomatic standoff between the UK and Iran.

Iran's ambassador to the UK was immediately summoned to the foreign office for what the foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett, described as a "brisk" meeting.

He was "left in no doubt" that Britain expected the immediate return of the sailors and their boats, she said.

However, Iran's government responded by summoning the British charge d'affaires to Tehran to protest at what it said was the illegal entry of British naval personnel into Iranian waters.

"The Iranian foreign ministry has seriously objected following the illegal entry of British naval military forces into our country's waters," state television reported.

According to the ministry of defence, the Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel were taken after they had boarded a dhow in Iraqi waters during a routine patrol in the Shatt al-Arab waterway at 10.30am local time.

As the sailors searched the fishing boat for signs of possible smuggling activity, Iranian boats approached it and captured them at gunpoint.

The men, who had approached the dhow in two inflatable boats from the frigate HMS Cornwall, were taken to an Iranian naval base.

"The 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," a spokesman for the MoD said.

Mrs Beckett said the government had been "disturbed" to hear of the incident. The Iranian ambassador was called to see the foreign office permanent secretary, Sir Peter Ricketts, and the matter was also raised with officials in Tehran, she said in a statement.

"We have asked for a full explanation on what has happened and we are leaving them in no doubt that we want the immediate and safe return of our personnel and their equipment," she said. "I understand that the meeting with the Iranian ambassador was brisk but polite. But he was left in no doubt that we want them back."

The commanding officer of HMS Cornwall, Commodore Nick Lambert, said his "immediate concern" was for the welfare of his crew.

"I have got 15 sailors and marines who have been arrested by the Iranians," he told the BBC. "My immediate concern is that their safety and their safe return to me is ensured."

He said the 15 men were all believed to be safe, adding: "We know there was no fighting, there was no engagement of weapons or anything like that - it was entirely peaceful.

"We have been assured from the scant communications that we have had with the Iranians at the tactical level that 15 people are safely in their hands."

He said the incident appeared to be the result of a "misunderstanding" which could be quickly resolved.

Commodore Kevin Aandahl, of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet - which operates jointly with the British forces off the coast of Iraq - said the UK crew members had been intercepted by several larger patrol boats.

The boats were operated by Iranian sailors belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, a radical force operating separately from the country's usual navy.

Iran has captured British service personnel on the Shatt al-waterway before. Eight crew members from the three boats - sailors and marines who were part of a British team training Iraqi river police - were held by the Iranian authorities in May 2004.

The 120-mile tidal river, dividing Iran and Iraq, has long been a source of tension between the two countries. The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war broke out after Saddam Hussein claimed the entire waterway, which is Iraq's only water access to the Gulf.

It has also been an important smuggling route for oil illegally exported from Iraq as well as a crossing point for groups opposed to the US-British occupation and seeking to infiltrate Iraq.

Today's incident could further inflame tensions between the UK and Iran at a time when British troops in Basra believe insurgents in southern Iraq are receiving help from Iran in the form of military materiel and advice.

Earlier this week, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said if western countries "want to treat us with threats and enforcement of coercion and violence, undoubtedly they must know that the Iranian nation and authorities will use all their capacities to strike enemies that attack".

Iran and the west are also at loggerheads over Tehran's determination to pursue uranium enrichment, a process that can lead to the production of an atomic bomb. The UN security council is poised to vote in favour of a resolution tightening sanctions, first introduced last year, against Iran.

 

[modified]

How foolish of Iran for not checking with the The UN, where the US calls most of the diplomatic shots,,,riiiiight

 

[jblaque]

The Us Needs To Wisely Hold On To The Axiom Of One War At A Time!

 

[Maximumtrini]

How foolish of Iran for not checking with the The UN, where the US calls most of the diplomatic shots,,,riiiiight

Actually they don't. The U.S. used to have more pull on the security council and General Assembly, but that changed with the increasing number of Third World or Non-Aligned states. And it doesn't matter if the U.S. had called the most diplomatic. The Iranians are apart of the UN so they have to abide by binding resolutions, or they can leave the treaty. So yeah, as UN members it would be foolish.

 

[kjxxxx]

Exactly.

I was going to quote all your names and call you all assholes but I thought it might be over kill.

The US will not declare war for Britain or any other country. Folks will point out the 1st Iraq war. They were invited to fight with an ally, which they will do should Britain or any of the allies declare war. Before Britain declare war they will have talked to their counterparts, then issue and ultimatum then after the ultimatum is violated then the war begin.

Also Bush alone did not declare war. The war was approved by congress, signed by Bush so very few were blameless.

Also if Britain go to war. It will not matter what US president is in power, Democrat, Republican, or Independent. You better get it in your skull that the US will be right along fighting if the British request.

 

[TRUFICTION]

I was going to quote all your names and call you all assholes but I thought it might be over kill.

The US will not declare war for Britain or any other country. Folks will point out the 1st Iraq war. They were invited to fight with an ally, which they will do should Britain or any of the allies declare war. Before Britain declare war they will have talked to their counterparts, then issue and ultimatum then after the ultimatum is violated then the war begin.

Also Bush alone did not declare war. The war was approved by congress, signed by Bush so very few were blameless.

Also if Britain go to war. It will not matter what US president is in power, Democrat, Republican, or Independent. You better get it in your skull that the US will be right along fighting if the British request.

ALL BASED ON LIES DECIET AND GREED.
THE LIE WAS ADMITTED TOO BY THE BUSH REGIME.
DONT TRY TO MAKE THEM SEEM AS THOUGH THEY HAD HONORABLE INTENTIONS.

 

[max-dawg]

the usa is officially losing the "oil currency" war.

iran is refusing to switch back to the petro-dollar. this shit will keep going on & on & on until iran either says, "fuck it, let's fight," or "OK, we'll switch back with the following demands."

either way, the euro basis for oil is murdering and will continue to murder the value of the dollar and the british pound.

wars are fought over money.

 

[LennyNero1972]

. The sleeping Red Bear in the North awakes and honours old and new promises to back Iran, and we have a full scale global war.

Let's not forget about the Asian dragon to the east. China is in this too, if Iran goes to war everybody is going to jump!!!!

 

[ghoststrike]

Actually they don't. The U.S. used to have more pull on the security council and General Assembly, but that changed with the increasing number of Third World or Non-Aligned states. And it doesn't matter if the U.S. had called the most diplomatic. The Iranians are apart of the UN so they have to abide by binding resolutions, or they can leave the treaty. So yeah, as UN members it would be foolish.

UN resolutions, protocol, etc is a moot point considering that the US invasion of a sovereign nation(Iraq) is against international law(the UN),,,that alone speaks volumes of how insignificant the UN is regarding foreign policy of 1st world nations,,,violation of UN resolutions are only addressed when its convenient, ask our beloved president

Essentially, the apprehension of British marines was to send a message that covert/reconnaissance operations in Iran wont be a cake walk

 

[Big J from da shelta]

translation: British Marines were engaged in a recon operation inside Iranian territorial water when they were surrounded by Iranian Forces.

Lets be real, we have been fighting Iran since this summer with the proxy war via Israel vs hamas/hesbollah. It's not official yet because we dont have enough hard evidence to show the world Iran is in the wrong. But the lil stuf hear and their will make you say hmmmmmmmmmmm. A Iranian Royal guard supposedly found on the border of Iraq/Iran supplying the shia with rockets. Groups of Iranian royal guard soldiers found dead in the interior of Iraq. Sounds like we are fighting Iranians. The ambassador was supposed to come to the UN this week and he cancled and these british marines got caught up, so what do you call that ?

 

[a45and299]

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL STOP BUSH FROM SENDING OUR PEOPLE OVER THERE? SHIT HE IS LOOKING FOR ANY EXCUSE RIGHT NOW AND HELL EVEN IF IT IS BRITISH THATS A GOOD ENOUGH REASON FOR HIM. I MEAN HE DID KNOCK DOWN THE TOWERS AND THEN WE WENT TO IRAQ.

cosign

 

[olly1969]

:

 

[gene cisco]

UN resolutions, protocol, etc is a moot point considering that the US invasion of a sovereign nation(Iraq) is against international law(the UN),,,that alone speaks volumes of how insignificant the UN is regarding foreign policy of 1st world nations,,,violation of UN resolutions are only addressed when its convenient, ask our beloved president

Essentially, the apprehension of British marines was to send a message that covert/reconnaissance operations in Iran wont be a cake walk

UN resolutions???

Sean hannity loves to talk about iraq violating UN resolutions but leaves out america violating them.

We also forget israel is the biggest violator of UN rules on the planet and america always backs it when the UN wants to do something about it.

The iranians have a right to do WTF they want, got all these fucking white folks running rampant around their borders and they cant do shit?

America and england mad cause iran does this, yet let iran be camped on their borders and they would be going apeshit.

The obvious double standards makes these countries look more and more like imperial pigs.

 

[TRUFICTION]

niggah get the fuck outta here.
you one of the biggest liars on bgol:

you are the first "millionair" that cant spell "millionaire", remember?
and what happened to your book deal that was suppose to be
"pibleshed" in august 2004"???

what?-- you didnt pass hooked-on-phonics yet?
shut up with the lying, old ass man. maybe if you
spend half the time with your children as you do on bgol in helping them with
their studies, they could possibly be "millionaires" and maybe one day
"publish" a book.

as for your old, lying ass... its lights out!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU MAD ?