Kowabunga

Fifteen British sailors that were kidnapped while operating in Iraqi waters by Iran last week are now under threat of "trial" by the totalitarian theocracy. From FoxNews:

Iran warned that 15 British sailors and marines could face charges for allegedly entering Iranian waters and rejected British requests to meet with the servicemen detained off the coast of Iraq.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki threatened unspecified consequences for the Royal Navy crew in comments to reporters in New York on Sunday. He described the charge against them as "illegal entrance into Iranian waters."

"In terms of legal issues, it's under investigation," Mottaki said.

Despite Iran's claims, these British sailors and marines were operating in Iraqi waters, and were taken prisoner by Iranians that violated Iraqi territory in the Shatt waterway. The Brits had just completed a routine inspection of a civilian vessel that was in Iraqi territory.

It is pretty obvious that these Brits were kidnapped by Iran to be used as leverage against the International Coalition and to put a counter-pressure on the U.N.

Thus far, Iran has continued to refuse to negotiate with Britain for their release.

As for trustworthiness, I side with Britain as Iran has been a rogue totalitarian regime since the Shah was deposed by Islamic extremists in the '70s (thanks to Jimmy Carter). Iran has been arming and supplying sectarian death squads operating in Iraq, as well as supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon. If Iran does not release these British troops soon, it is possible that the situation could turn quite confrontational. Perhaps that is what Iran is hoping for. Hopefully they will realize that a confrontation with the West is something that they can ill-afford.

Tags:

Iran Britain Iraq