It started: Iranians captured 15 UK sailors

[Bosnian Unit]

UK sailors captured at gunpoint


Fifteen British Navy personnel have been captured at gunpoint by Iranian forces, the Ministry of Defence says.
The men were seized at 1030 local time when they boarded a boat in the Gulf, off the coast of Iraq, which they suspected was smuggling cars.

The Royal Navy said the men who were on a routine patrol in Iraqi waters, were understood to be unharmed.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has demanded the immediate and safe return of the HMS Cornwall servicemen.

She added that she had called for a "full explanation" from Iran and had left them in no doubt that she wanted the group and their equipment back immediately.

The frigate's commander, Commodore Nick Lambert, said he was hoping there had been a "simple mistake" over territorial waters.

"There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that they [British personnel] were in Iraqi territorial waters. Equally, the Iranians may claim they were in Iranian territorial waters.

"We may well find that this is a simple misunderstanding at the tactical level."

Helicopters had reported seeing two British boats being moved along the Shatt al-Arab waterway to Iranian bases and there had been no evidence of fighting, he added.


HMS Cornwall's area of operations

He said that despite scant communication, the 15 people were understood to be safe and had reacted in an "extremely professional way, in line with the rules of engagement".

HMS CORNWALL FACTS
Multi-national force flagship in the northern Gulf
Type 22 frigate
Crew: 250 (Max 301)
Length: 148.1m / 485.9ft
Speed: 30 knots
Source: Royal Navy


Profile of HMS Cornwall
Ex-detainee 'concerned'

Mrs Beckett said: "We understand that they were in two boats that were operating in Iraqi waters in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 1723 in support of the government of Iraq to stop smuggling."

On Friday afternoon, the Iranian ambassador in London, Rasoul Movahedian, met permanent secretary, Sir Peter Ricketts, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The foreign secretary said the meeting had been "brisk but polite" and said the British ambassador in Iran had also been speaking to officials in Tehran.

There has been no immediate response so far from Iran, where many ministries and official buildings were closed for a public holiday.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42721000/jpg/_42721087_navy_boats_royalnavy203.jpg
Servicemen would have been in boats similar to those pictured

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague and Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, have both backed the call for the group's immediate and safe return.

Commodore Kevin Aandahl, of the US Navy Fifth Fleet based in the same region, backed the Royal Navy's claims that their boats had been in Iraqi waters.

He added that the Royal Navy personnel should be given credit for a "very cool" response and not escalating the situation.

The incident comes at a time of renewed tensions with Iran over its nuclear programme and follows claims that most of the violence against UK forces in Basra is being engineered by Iranian elements.

British Army Colonel Justin Maciejewski, who is based in Iraq, said Iran was providing "sophisticated weaponry" to insurgents and "Iranian agents" were paying local men to attack British troops.

FAMILY INFORMATION LINE
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Timeline: UK-Iran relations
Tense backdrop to incident

Iranian officials have in the past denied such claims.

In 2004, Iran detained eight British servicemen for three days after they allegedly strayed over the maritime border.

The UK claimed the men were "forcibly escorted" into Iranian territorial waters.

The men were paraded blindfolded and made to apologise on Iranian TV before their release was agreed.

The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins said the difference this time is that the present Iranian government under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was much more hardline.

THE SHATT AL-ARAB
120 miles of tidal waterway
Formed by Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Subject to 1639 Persian-Ottoman treaty
Southern stretch forms border between Iraq and Iran
River is vital trade route for both countries
Control of river one of disputes causing Iran-Iraq war in 1980


"The political climate is worse with Britain among those confronting Iran over its controversial nuclear programme," he added.

[Gavmundo]

Seized sailors are 'fit and well'

The 15 are based on HMS Cornwall, which patrols Iraqi territorial waters
The 15 Royal Navy personnel who were seized four days ago are fit and well, Iran has told the Foreign Office.
A senior Iranian official told the UK's ambassador in Tehran that the Britons were being held in Iran but would not disclose their exact location.

He said Iran was "working to resolve the matter as soon as possible".

Iran says the Britons could be charged with illegally entering Iranian waters, although both Iraq and the UK insist that they were in an Iraqi area.

Escalation

British ambassador Geoffrey Adams was assured that the eight sailors and seven marines were well during an hour-long meeting on Monday with Ebrahim Rahimpour, a senior official at the Iranian foreign ministry in Tehran.


Mr Rahimpour agreed to stay in close touch with the British embassy but declined to say what plans Iran had for their release, according to a statement from the Foreign Office.

The Iranian state news agency IRNA said Mr Rahimpour told Mr Adams that the 14 men and one woman could face legal proceedings.

It claimed he expressed concern about the escalation of tensions following the US occupation of Iraq which created security problems on Iran's borders.

And after "contradictory statements" over the seizure of the Britons, the case "required an inquiry into such suspicious events".

Mr Adams's meeting with Iranian officials was the second in two days in which he tried to get consular access to the navy personnel.

It came as Tony Blair said that Britain is "utterly confident" that the naval personnel were in Iraqi waters and he repeated his call for their release.

In a telephone call on Sunday night, Iraqi foreign minister Hoshiyar Zebari told his Iranian counterpart Manoshahr Mutakki that the Britons had been in Iraqi waters when captured.

Mr Zebari said they were working with the multi-national forces with the approval of the Iraqi government and according to UN Security Council resolutions.

Iraq's foreign ministry added: "The minister called for the release of the detainees and to deal with this case in a wise way."


The Britons, who include one woman, were seized at gunpoint after inspecting an Iraqi boat and returning to their two small boats to head back to HMS Cornwall.

Students belonging to the paramilitary Basij group, which is close to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, have called for them to be put on trial.

Dr Ali Pahlavan, the executive editor of Iran News - the only independent paper in Tehran - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the "ultra conservative" Revolutionary Guard believed that Britain and the US needed to be challenged.

"This could be part of the strategy to challenge British and American supremacy in this part of the world - which is troubling, because this could lead to confrontation and this could be a trigger and could lead to escalation".

What I don't understand is the HMS cornwall can't have been far away from them so why did it let the Iranians take them? They were on small boats the Cornwall couldn't have been far away....

[Fanbace]

Didn't the Iranians take them Gav?

[kanaryamerika]

It started a long time ago. The US and UK and Israel have been doing operations in iran fro years. A friend of mine is in the service and was in Iran over 2 years ago. There will inevitably be a showdown. Like the old Roman saying goes; "when you are in peace, prepare for war."

[Gavmundo]

Didn't the Iranians take them Gav?

Ooops slight slip of the tongue :lol: Diplomatic incident here we come....

[Gavmundo]

PM warns Iran over Navy captives

The 15 are based on HMS Cornwall, which patrols Iraqi territorial waters
Efforts to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel held by Iran will enter a "different phase" if diplomatic moves fail, Tony Blair has said.
Downing Street said the UK could end up releasing evidence proving the group had not ventured into Iranian waters.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has called for their "speedy return".

Meanwhile, the family of the only woman detained, Faye Turney from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has said this is a "very distressing time" for them.

The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran.

Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters when they were seized on Friday - but the prime minister said the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.

Mr Blair was said the most important thing was the welfare of the eight sailors and seven marines from HMS Cornwall and securing their release.

The prime minister's official spokesman said Mr Blair's remarks about a "different phase" did not refer to any extreme diplomatic action, such as expelling Iranian diplomats from Britain or military action.

"We have been clearly stating that we are utterly certain that the personnel were in Iraqi waters.

"We so far have not made explicit why we know that, because we don't want to escalate this."

Britain's former ambassador to Iran, Sir Richard Dalton, said "different phase" could mean generating pressure on Iran from the international community.

"I expect he means that we shall have to step up criticism and generate additional international pressures on Iran," he said.

"It could be that they think that by dramatising the fact that these people were taken on an international mission while in Iraqi waters even further, will give Iran pause and give them a chance to rethink."


HMS Cornwall's area of operations
"These people have to be released," the prime minister told GMTV.

"What we are trying to do at the moment is to pursue this through the diplomatic channels and make the Iranian government understand these people have to be released and that there is absolutely no justification whatever for holding them.

"I hope we manage to get them to realise they have to release them. If not, then this will move into a different phase."

Good health

There is speculation that the capture was linked to the seizure of five Iranians by US forces in Iraq.

Mr Blair said the situations were "completely distinct" as any Iranian forces inside Iraq were breaching a UN mandate.

"In the end, it is a question really for the Iranian government as to whether they want to abide by international law or not," he said.

In a statement issued via the Ministry of Defence, sailor Ms Turney's family said they were grateful for the support they had received from everyone.

"While we understand the media interest in the ongoing incident involving Faye, this remains a very distressing time for us.

"We are grateful for the support shown to us by all personnel involved and appreciate it, but would request that our privacy is respected."

On Tuesday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman quoted by AP said those held were in good health, being treated in a humane fashion and Ms Turney had been given privacy.

The British foreign secretary said the UK was still pressing for consular access to the service personnel.

"If indeed they are being detained in reasonable circumstances then we can see no reason why they should not have contact with people from the British government," Mrs Beckett said.

An Iranian source has told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner the Britons are being interrogated to find out if their mission was intelligence-gathering.

The source said the investigation involved examining tracking equipment to determine exactly where the crew was captured.

In order for the Britons to be released "every vested interest in Iran would need to be satisfied they had not deliberately entered Iranian waters, nor were they spying", the source added.

[Bosnian Unit]

I dont belive Iranians would capture them in Iraqi waters.

Its just that British likes to put their nose everywhere just like Americans.

They got what they deserve.

[Saraj Fanático]

Yeah the British should stay away from Iran and quit always bowing to the US and Israel. These guys wouldn't be in a jail now if their country wasn't run by douche bags. But they will be most likely released anytime soon. I wish they catch some Mossad agents one day instead. :mad2:

[Gavmundo]

Well the Brits were captured in Iraqi waters so it's kidnapping. Typical of a terrorist regime like Iran. Imagine the noise that would have been made if the Royal Navy had sailed into Iranian Waters and captured Iranians and taken them back to Iraqi waters. Oh that would have been completely different of course :rolleyes:

[Gavmundo]

UK reveals Iran dispute evidence

The Royal Navy says GPS evidence proves 15 personnel being held in Iran were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters when they were seized in the Gulf.
Vice Admiral Charles Style said the Iranians had given two different positions for the personnel - the first inside Iraqi territorial waters.

He said they had been "ambushed" after the search of a vessel and that their detention was "unjustified and wrong".

Iran insists the group had been in its waters when they were taken on Friday.

Earlier, Turkey's prime minister was quoted as saying his diplomats may be allowed to meet the group, taken in the Gulf.

According to CNN Turk television, Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the indication after meeting the Iranian foreign minister and before an Arab leaders' summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Foreign Office said reports that Turkish diplomats may be granted access to the detainees should be treated with "caution".

It stressed: "For the moment, the point is that we want access to them."

On Tuesday, UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett discussed the plight of the Britons with Turkey, its Nato ally.

The eight sailors and seven marines, based on HMS Cornwall, were taken at gunpoint in the northern Gulf as they returned after searching a boat.

Iran says they were trespassing in Iranian waters, but the UK has insisted the group were in Iraqi waters under a UN mandate.



HMS Cornwall's area of operations
Mrs Beckett cut short her visit to Turkey to return to the UK where she will and give a statement on the crisis to MPs.

She decided to return after a phone call to the Iranian foreign minister on Tuesday made no progress.

Downing Street has said that up to now the UK has been attempting to talk "discreetly" to the Iranians to secure the release of the Royal Navy personnel.

The prime minister's spokesman said that if the talks were unsuccessful, the government may have to become "more explicit" with Iran.

Salah Al Shaikhly, Iraq's ambassador to the UK, said his country would try to help the bid to secure the personnel's release and "the voice of reason should prevail".

BBC News has broadcast footage of an interview it carried out last week with Faye Turney, the only woman among the 15 who were captured

It showed the married 26-year-old, who had a photo of her three-year-old daughter very close at hand throughout the filming, on the Cornwall just hours before the incident.

The BBC has been told the group are being held at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps base in Tehran, where they are said to be being treated humanely.

The Foreign Office says it has been unable to confirm reports by Iran's official news agency Irna that Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, had said British diplomats would be given access to the group after the "primary investigation" by Iranian officials.

He was quoted by Irna as saying: "The media campaigns and provocative ... remarks regarding the violation of Iranian territorial waters by the British sailors are doing nothing to help settle the affair."

[Mr. Potato Head]

disgusting behaviour ! :mad2:

[poutismalakas]

I dont belive Iranians would capture them in Iraqi waters.

Its just that British likes to put their nose everywhere just like Americans.

They got what they deserve.
so what your trying to say is that Iran's crapy don't stink?

[Fanbace]

I dont belive Iranians would capture them in Iraqi waters.

Its just that British likes to put their nose everywhere just like Americans.

They got what they deserve.

Deserve? Well the GPS doesn't lie and that has proved they were clearly in Iraqi waters when captured. So perhaps you should apologise? Or am I right in thinking you only want to believe they were in Iranian waters?

[Gavmundo]

Iran airs second sailor 'apology'

The crewman is named as Nathan Thomas Summers by the Iranians.
A second member of the Royal Navy crew captured in the Gulf has apologised for trespassing in Iranian waters, in a broadcast on Iranian television.
He was quoted as saying: "We entered Iranian waters without permission and were arrested by Iranian coastguards.

"I would like to apologise to the Iranian people for that."

The Foreign Office described the latest "confession" video as "disgraceful exploitation". The UK denies the crew had trespassed.

Iranian state news agency IRNA named the crewman as Nathan Thomas Summers.

On Wednesday, the only woman, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, was shown on Iranian TV making similar comments. The UK denies the crew had trespassed.

The latest video came as Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, called on Britain to apologise to Tehran.

On Friday, the UN Security Council agreed a statement voicing "grave concern" at Iran's actions.

The statement also calls on Tehran to allow the UK consular access to the personnel and an "early resolution" including release of the crew, but stops short of "deploring" Iran's action, as requested by the UK.

Iran said it was not helpful to try to engage third parties in the dispute.

Later, European Union foreign ministers are expected to express their solidarity with Britain, at a meeting in Germany, over the detention of the navy crew.

The Foreign Office said a "formal note" had been sent to the British embassy by the Iranian government.

Confidential

A spokeswoman said: "Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details, but we are giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government."

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the note may contain "matters of substance" which may be the beginning of a "proper exchange" and could "offer the possibility of a solution".

On a visit to British troops in Afghanistan on Friday, Chancellor Gordon Brown welcomed the UN resolution.

He said: "The UN resolution is calling definitively for [the navy crew's] release. That's the unanimous view of the international community."

Mr Brown described the treatment of captured Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, an interview with whom has been shown on Iranian TV, as "cruel, callous, inhuman and unacceptable".

Responding to the UN statement, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said: "Really there's only one right outcome to this which is for Iran to release those people that they took captive, that they should be released without any further ado. It's as clear and as simple as that."

The British ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, said the UN's statement was a "good outcome" for the UK.

Sir Emyr added that it sent the "right message" to Iran to allow access to the sailors and marines, and secure their prompt release.

The UK failed to win support for a stronger statement deploring Iran's actions, following opposition led by Russia.

Iran's UN mission said in a statement: "This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels.

"The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful."

The UN Security Council statement was agreed following more than four hours of negotiations on Thursday.

The Britons, based on HMS Cornwall, were seized a week ago by Iranian Revolutionary Guards as they returned from searching a vessel in the northern Gulf.

Iran says they had strayed into Iranian territorial waters, a claim which the UK has denied.

Earlier this week, the Royal Navy produced satellite data it said proved its case.

Summary of Events

1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters
2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters
3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters
4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters

More disgraceful actions by the Iranian Regime. Quite clearly the prisioners are being forced to say what Iran wants them to say. You can't blame them for that they fear for their lives. I think it's time for the UK to head into Iranian waters and kidnap some Iranian sailors and parade them on TV so we can then do an exchange. If you can't beat them you may as well join them!

[Fanbace]

Iran airs second sailor 'apology'

The crewman is named as Nathan Thomas Summers by the Iranians.
A second member of the Royal Navy crew captured in the Gulf has apologised for trespassing in Iranian waters, in a broadcast on Iranian television.
He was quoted as saying: "We entered Iranian waters without permission and were arrested by Iranian coastguards.

"I would like to apologise to the Iranian people for that."

The Foreign Office described the latest "confession" video as "disgraceful exploitation". The UK denies the crew had trespassed.

Iranian state news agency IRNA named the crewman as Nathan Thomas Summers.

On Wednesday, the only woman, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, was shown on Iranian TV making similar comments. The UK denies the crew had trespassed.

The latest video came as Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, called on Britain to apologise to Tehran.

On Friday, the UN Security Council agreed a statement voicing "grave concern" at Iran's actions.

The statement also calls on Tehran to allow the UK consular access to the personnel and an "early resolution" including release of the crew, but stops short of "deploring" Iran's action, as requested by the UK.

Iran said it was not helpful to try to engage third parties in the dispute.

Later, European Union foreign ministers are expected to express their solidarity with Britain, at a meeting in Germany, over the detention of the navy crew.

The Foreign Office said a "formal note" had been sent to the British embassy by the Iranian government.

Confidential

A spokeswoman said: "Such exchanges are always confidential, so we cannot divulge any details, but we are giving the message serious consideration and will soon respond formally to the Iranian government."

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said the note may contain "matters of substance" which may be the beginning of a "proper exchange" and could "offer the possibility of a solution".

On a visit to British troops in Afghanistan on Friday, Chancellor Gordon Brown welcomed the UN resolution.

He said: "The UN resolution is calling definitively for [the navy crew's] release. That's the unanimous view of the international community."

Mr Brown described the treatment of captured Leading Seaman Faye Turney, 26, an interview with whom has been shown on Iranian TV, as "cruel, callous, inhuman and unacceptable".

Responding to the UN statement, David Cameron, the Conservative leader, said: "Really there's only one right outcome to this which is for Iran to release those people that they took captive, that they should be released without any further ado. It's as clear and as simple as that."

The British ambassador to the UN, Sir Emyr Jones Parry, said the UN's statement was a "good outcome" for the UK.

Sir Emyr added that it sent the "right message" to Iran to allow access to the sailors and marines, and secure their prompt release.

The UK failed to win support for a stronger statement deploring Iran's actions, following opposition led by Russia.

Iran's UN mission said in a statement: "This case can and should be settled through bilateral channels.

"The British government's attempt to engage third parties, including the Security Council, with this case is not helpful."

The UN Security Council statement was agreed following more than four hours of negotiations on Thursday.

The Britons, based on HMS Cornwall, were seized a week ago by Iranian Revolutionary Guards as they returned from searching a vessel in the northern Gulf.

Iran says they had strayed into Iranian territorial waters, a claim which the UK has denied.

Earlier this week, the Royal Navy produced satellite data it said proved its case.

Summary of Events

1 Crew boards merchant ship 1.7NM inside Iraqi waters
2 HMS Cornwall was south-east of this, and inside Iraqi waters
3 Iran tells UK that merchant ship was at a different point, still within Iraqi waters
4 After UK points this out, Iran provides alternative position, now within Iranian waters

More disgraceful actions by the Iranian Regime. Quite clearly the prisioners are being forced to say what Iran wants them to say. You can't blame them for that they fear for their lives. I think it's time for the UK to head into Iranian waters and kidnap some Iranian sailors and parade them on TV so we can then do an exchange. If you can't beat them you may as well join them!

Yes, the forced tv confessions from the kidnapped soldiers fool nobody. I think we should turn up the heat on Iran diplomatically to get these soldiers released. And whether that works or not once their fate is decided I would start hitting Iran hard with cluster bombs. After all, it is pretty apparent that they want to start war here.

[kanaryamerika]

war is imminent in the area. not necessarily caus eof this but both sides are just looking for na exciuse to go at it. the us needs to clean iran out of there in order to leave iraq. that's the only thing from stopping them now. they are afraid if they leave, iran will become more influential and essentially doub;e their power/land. so u.s. has to take care of iran first. israel wants the same. even turkey is weary of iran's regime (not the people of course). i see a big ass show down soon, iran, u.k. u.s. us. akkies, vs iran, (secretly russia and china). this could be very very nasty.

[Gavmundo]

Well the UK can do little on it's own but you're right that the U.S. wants to take Iran out of the game. They have little choice. They can't leave Iraq as it is. As soon as the U.S forces pull out the government will collapse. Syria and Iran know that a U.S pull out plays right into their hands so Bush will need to work something out before he stands down from office. It's going to be tricky for him as his people aren't behind military action so he can't start anything. Iran will have to be manipulated into action against the U.S. so Bush has an excuse to use force. If it looks like the U.S. have been attacked the people will be right behind military force. It's all a big and dangerous game!

[Bosnian Unit]

Call that humiliation?


No hoods. No electric shocks. No beatings. These Iranians clearly are a very uncivilised bunch.

Terry Jones
Saturday March 31, 2007
The Guardian

I share the outrage expressed in the British press over the treatment of our naval personnel accused by Iran of illegally entering their waters. It is a disgrace. We would never dream of treating captives like this - allowing them to smoke cigarettes, for example, even though it has been proven that smoking kills. And as for compelling poor servicewoman Faye Turney to wear a black headscarf, and then allowing the picture to be posted around the world - have the Iranians no concept of civilised behaviour? For God's sake, what's wrong with putting a bag over her head? That's what we do with the Muslims we capture: we put bags over their heads, so it's hard to breathe. Then it's perfectly acceptable to take photographs of them and circulate them to the press because the captives can't be recognised and humiliated in the way these unfortunate British service people are.

It is also unacceptable that these British captives should be made to talk on television and say things that they may regret later. If the Iranians put duct tape over their mouths, like we do to our captives, they wouldn't be able to talk at all. Of course they'd probably find it even harder to breathe - especially with a bag over their head - but at least they wouldn't be humiliated.

And what's all this about allowing the captives to write letters home saying they are all right? It's time the Iranians fell into line with the rest of the civilised world: they should allow their captives the privacy of solitary confinement. That's one of the many privileges the US grants to its captives in Guantánamo Bay.

The true mark of a civilised country is that it doesn't rush into charging people whom it has arbitrarily arrested in places it's just invaded. The inmates of Guantánamo, for example, have been enjoying all the privacy they want for almost five years, and the first inmate has only just been charged. What a contrast to the disgraceful Iranian rush to parade their captives before the cameras!

What's more, it is clear that the Iranians are not giving their British prisoners any decent physical exercise. The US military make sure that their Iraqi captives enjoy PT. This takes the form of exciting "stress positions", which the captives are expected to hold for hours on end so as to improve their stomach and calf muscles. A common exercise is where they are made to stand on the balls of their feet and then squat so that their thighs are parallel to the ground. This creates intense pain and, finally, muscle failure. It's all good healthy fun and has the bonus that the captives will confess to anything to get out of it.

And this brings me to my final point. It is clear from her TV appearance that servicewoman Turney has been put under pressure. The newspapers have persuaded behavioural psychologists to examine the footage and they all conclude that she is "unhappy and stressed".

What is so appalling is the underhand way in which the Iranians have got her "unhappy and stressed". She shows no signs of electrocution or burn marks and there are no signs of beating on her face. This is unacceptable. If captives are to be put under duress, such as by forcing them into compromising sexual positions, or having electric shocks to their genitals, they should be photographed, as they were in Abu Ghraib. The photographs should then be circulated around the civilised world so that everyone can see exactly what has been going on.

As Stephen Glover pointed out in the Daily Mail, perhaps it would not be right to bomb Iran in retaliation for the humiliation of our servicemen, but clearly the Iranian people must be made to suffer - whether by beefing up sanctions, as the Mail suggests, or simply by getting President Bush to hurry up and invade, as he intends to anyway, and bring democracy and western values to the country, as he has in Iraq.

Terry Jones is a film director, actor and Python

[Saraj Fanático]

war is imminent in the area. not necessarily caus eof this but both sides are just looking for na exciuse to go at it. the us needs to clean iran out of there in order to leave iraq. that's the only thing from stopping them now. they are afraid if they leave, iran will become more influential and essentially doub;e their power/land. so u.s. has to take care of iran first. israel wants the same. even turkey is weary of iran's regime (not the people of course). i see a big ass show down soon, iran, u.k. u.s. us. akkies, vs iran, (secretly russia and china). this could be very very nasty.


Man what you saying? Iran all the way! The Turks aren't in danger of Iran, they are scaring them selfs with all this distrust to shiite dominated areas such as so many other Sunni states have. In the case of the War loving nations, I hope Iran sticks one up their behinds soon. :)


FORZA PERSIA!!! :D :D :D

[Centarfor9]

Are Iranians mad??? Do you know that Americans (people in USA) are trying to save their ars and now they (Iranians) are asking for it??? this does not make sense...

...Britsh will fuk em up! (for lack of better wording)

[poutismalakas]

Are Iranians mad??? Do you know that Americans (people in USA) are trying to save their ars and now they (Iranians) are asking for it??? this does not make sense...

...Britsh will fuk em up! (for lack of better wording)
Let them have their dellusions!!!!!

[kanaryamerika]

war will be nasty. iran will get their asses handed to them but shit will get ***ked up. everyone should mind their own business in that part of the world. live and let live all the way man! an eye for an eye makes everyone blind.

[Gavmundo]

Well this latest incident is just political. I don't see any military action coming from it. The Iranian government are just trying everything they can with their propaganda machine. The sailors have said they are guilty of trespassing. Well of course they have. The military are told to accept whatever their captives tell them. It will be a different story when they are released. Iran is making itself look stupid at the moment.

I was watching a report on Sky last night with an expert explaining that the situation isn't being broadcast fully in Iran. They are making these news broadcasts on Arab TV but not so much to the state channel that Iranians watch. The Iranian political situation is complicated too. You have Moderates, Radicals, Clergy all ruled by the Religious Supreme leader.

Anyway hopefull in the next 24 hrs we'll know where this is going. Britain won't apologise as the Iranians have requested of course as we've done nothing wrong. Our forces were in Iraqi waters under a U.N mandate. Iran just feels isolated and is reacting the only way it can. They want to show they have some fight left in them but they are already a long way down the road to ruin.

[Saraj Fanático]

Hahaha Iran won't be touched! The mighty occupying nations are more afraid of Iran then Iran fears them! This goes beyond just who has the advantage on military capabilities. This goes into the questioning of just who can cause more damage. Well who? Let me tell you.

Iran can ruin the last 4 years of blood given for the oil in Iraq. They can arm the insurgency to the teeth. They can make Iraq another Vietnam except only 10 times worse. We all see how well the Occupying nations are dealing with men who have a simple AK-47 and RPG by their sides, imagine if they get their hands on Kornets and Anti-Aircraft weapons? How many would there be dieing then? Just ask the Israeli Army when they had to deal with hezbollah which is being helped by Iran from Tehran to Southern Lebanon which wouldn't be nothing compared to an Army of Insurgents that are fueled by a strong military nation right next door!

Next, Iran can very easily spark another war against Israel. With Hezbollah only being stronger.

Also, the American people can't handle another 10,000 Soldiers killed. The will to fight would be gone. And god knows what would happen on the streets of the Occupying nations.

War with Iran is impossible. Iran has the upper hand and the world knows it.

[Gavmundo]

You are giving us information we already know FC s. We know what power Iran has in the Middle East. Which is why Bush will want to cripple them. He knows, as most do, that Iran is the biggest threat to U.S. policy in the Middle East.

If Iran were taken out of the picture america would be in the driving seat but it is unlikely to happen. The only way he would get support for another war is if Iran made moves against America which won't happen so Iran would have to be manoeuvred into making a move and I don't think that's likely. It should be interesting to watch over the next few months though. I'm sure Bush has some plan!

[Pape]

war world 3 west vs the east

[Saraj Fanático]

You are giving us information we already know FC s. We know what power Iran has in the Middle East. Which is why Bush will want to cripple them. He knows, as most do, that Iran is the biggest threat to U.S. policy in the Middle East.

If Iran were taken out of the picture america would be in the driving seat but it is unlikely to happen. The only way he would get support for another war is if Iran made moves against America which won't happen so Iran would have to be manoeuvred into making a move and I don't think that's likely. It should be interesting to watch over the next few months though. I'm sure Bush has some plan!

Excuse my french but ***k Bush's plan. He his a complete terrorist. The man has started BS from Al Qaeda to this situation in Iran. The dick made about 50% of the world completely hate America. The sad part is that the American people are caught in the middle of this mess that monkey made.


Bush cannot cripple Iran. And am glad that he cannot. This World Policemen happens to be corrupt.

[Centarfor9]

dude Iran should mess with the British that's all i know

British are tough bounch that's all i have to say.

It's an unwritten rule that you don't fight the british in a fist battle. :)

[Bosnian Unit]

dude Iran should mess with the British that's all i know

British are tough bounch that's all i have to say.

It's an unwritten rule that you don't fight the british in a fist battle. :)


AMERIKA I ENGLESKA BIT CE ZEMLJA PROLETERSKA :lol:


US/UK its just trying to provoke Iran so they can start their terror in another Muslim country.

Under times like they are today for Iran they would not be that stupid to capture soldiers on foreign territory.

[poutismalakas]

AMERIKA I ENGLESKA BIT CE ZEMLJA PROLETERSKA :lol:


US/UK its just trying to provoke Iran so they can start their terror in another Muslim country.

Under times like they are today for Iran they would not be that stupid to capture soldiers on foreign territory.


OR MAYBE JUST MAYBE Iran started it in response to the UN security concil resolutions against them secrectly building nukes??? Oh wait... Iran wouldn't do that! Their nuclear programs IS FOR PEACEFUL REASONS:rolleyes: THEY ARE JUST PEACEFUL PEOPLE and that President wasn't one of the Iran hostage takers!:rolleyes:

[Centarfor9]

^ it's probably something third :)

[Gavmundo]

Latest news is that Iran is to release the hostages. They claim this is a Gift to Britain and asks that the British not put them on trial for their invasion of Iranian waters :lol: You have to admit he does have a good sense of humour seeing as Iran kidnapped them from Iraqi waters :lol: We should hear the reals story when they are safely back in Britain.

It's all the game of politics and a shame that Iran has to lower itself to such levels but we shouldn't be surprised seeing the President is a terrorist himself. Iran had good cause to be worried. It will be an interesting few months coming up. Tension in that area is getting higher and I'm sure there are going to be more incidents with Iran sometime soon.

As for the comment about Bush not being able to cripple Iran. A lot of people would have said the same about Iraq a few years ago but he's done a good job of crippling that country ;)

[Centarfor9]

So there is no war? good

[ARBANITAI]

The british sailors are free now or are going to be free tomorow.. however

now that Iranians has been fair enough to freed the sailors, their been stating many times that they were catched in the iranian territory waters, that could obv be true, the englishs just didnt want to accept it, though they might has been pretty much into iranian waters, as they dont want to accept it, But now when the sailors are free I believe the westernes now has to calm down a little and stop pointing out at Iran anymore as they have done that for the recent years..

[Centarfor9]

that's not how the world works

Iran has to be prepared for anything at anytime. People will buly them just cuz they can.

[Pape]

It's funny how some of us make claims like "they were captured in Iranian waters" or "they were captured in Iraqi waters"........ we don't know shit and it just goes to show how biased you are

[Centarfor9]

^ unless we know the exact spot they cought them

satelite evidence? :smoking:

[Bosnian Unit]

All i know is.......AMERIKA I ENGLESKA BIT CE ZEMLJA PROLETERSKA

Stici ce vas cizma komunizma, i Perzijskog imperijalizma ::lol:

[Centarfor9]

^ in english...god knows what people think you said

[Bosnian Unit]

^ in english...god knows what people think you said


Well translate for them you Englishmen:lol:

[Centarfor9]

Well translate for them you Englishmen:lol:
it's not my job...my english is not that good...anyway :lol:

nice rhyme btw...you should go on tour with Edo Baajka and the other guy

[Gavmundo]

The british sailors are free now or are going to be free tomorow.. however

now that Iranians has been fair enough to freed the sailors, their been stating many times that they were catched in the iranian territory waters, that could obv be true, the englishs just didnt want to accept it, though they might has been pretty much into iranian waters, as they dont want to accept it, But now when the sailors are free I believe the westernes now has to calm down a little and stop pointing out at Iran anymore as they have done that for the recent years..

Fair enough?? By kidnapping them? They didn't have any rights to hold them in the first place. Their propoganda machine is working overtime at the moment. Britain should ask for an apology from Iran now the sailors are safe. As for proof the GPS co-ordinates were supplied by the navy and Iran disputed them. If memory serves the Iranians gave one location where they say they took them then changed their minds and said they had picked them up somewhere else.

Problem is the Iranian waters are disputed so Iran may well consider the place they captured the sailors as their waters but the UN says differently! We just need to make sure our patrols are are better protected so if it happens again the Iranians aren't able to take them without a fight.... which they will lose!

[Centarfor9]

^ dude ask yourself wtf they were doing there in the first place...it's not like Iranians went across to the Atlantic or British channel and caught them...I don't see British like good spys anyway (no offence i think Americans and Russians are for the job)

[Gavmundo]

The Brits were there to board ships suspected of transporting weapons under a U.N. Directive. The Iranian ship was clearly a patrol ship on the borders of its sea zone that spotted the small boat on it own and crossed into Iraqi waters to capture them. The only problem was the British Warship that the sailors were from wasn't close enough to them. a mistake that won't be made again!

[Centarfor9]

^ there are two sides to this story...but it's obvious that British also made a mistake...it's one of those things...you are sorry but you don't want to admit that you are since it would impact you politically (i in no way follow that logic and i think i'm better for it)

[Gavmundo]

^ there are two sides to this story...but it's obvious that British also made a mistake...it's one of those things...you are sorry but you don't want to admit that you are since it would impact you politically (i in no way follow that logic and i think i'm better for it)


Yea we made a mistake. Made the mistake of giving up without a fight :rolleyes: It isn't obvious the Brits made a mistake at all. Hopefully the truth will come out now we have the Sailors home. They can tell us what REALLY happened!

[Centarfor9]

^ you have a wrong way at looking at this

Brits would win (most likely) but not without huge loses that are unacceptable to GBR. War is the last option. SO obviously i disagree that your only mistake is not starting a war over this.

[Fanbace]

Yea we made a mistake. Made the mistake of giving up without a fight :rolleyes: It isn't obvious the Brits made a mistake at all. Hopefully the truth will come out now we have the Sailors home. They can tell us what REALLY happened!


On the contrary Gavmundo. Iran made a huge mistake in letting them go. Armadinnerman will likely be getting a big Thanks courtesy of the SAS soon!

[Saraj Fanático]

^ you have a wrong way at looking at this

Brits would win (most likely) but not without huge loses that are unacceptable to GBR. War is the last option. SO obviously i disagree that your only mistake is not starting a war over this.


Britain can defeat every military in the Middle East right now probably. But that is the easy part of the road to victory. That is not the big problem. The Big problem is what happens if the Brits indeed did invade Iran and settle? The resistance begins. When the resistance begins, you can throw in the towel. Nobody has even gotten by such elements of war. Soviets in Afghanistan, US in Vietnam, US in Somalia, US in Iraq, and the list goes on and on.

So the war would be for nothing except some chances for people who want to commit suicide fighting others.

[poutismalakas]

Britain can defeat every military in the Middle East right now probably. But that is the easy part of the road to victory. That is not the big problem. The Big problem is what happens if the Brits indeed did invade Iran and settle? The resistance begins. When the resistance begins, you can throw in the towel. Nobody has even gotten by such elements of war. Soviets in Afghanistan, US in Vietnam, US in Somalia, US in Iraq, and the list goes on and on.

So the war would be for nothing except some chances for people who want to commit suicide fighting others.
If I recalled Britian DID put down a resistance in Iraq after WWI!

[Saraj Fanático]

If I recalled Britian DID put down a resistance in Iraq after WWI!


Nothing compared to what would happen today. The British right now would be getting their under wears soaked with blood just like the American to the North of Iraq are getting if they weren't stationed in Basra ( 1 of the most peaceful areas of the Nation).

That conflict of 1941 was a revolt which never even seemed to be successful. The Iraqi forces were the only backbone of the idea. Few people actually participated.

Resistance cannot be stopped. When the people turn against any army if its the US or the Russians you cannot win. As we have repeatedly seen in history. Name me one way the US lets say can win over the war now that there are dozens and dozens of insurgent group operating in Iraq now which all would rather die then stop. :lol: Just one way please.

I cannot wait to read this.

[Bosnian Unit]

The Brits were there to board ships suspected of transporting weapons under a U.N. Directive. The Iranian ship was clearly a patrol ship on the borders of its sea zone that spotted the small boat on it own and crossed into Iraqi waters to capture them. The only problem was the British Warship that the sailors were from wasn't close enough to them. a mistake that won't be made again!

Gavmundo,

They where in Iranian waters, they admit it.......they where captured without single bullet shot, unlike British & Americans who kill themselfs in FRIENDLY FIRE everyday:rolleyes: .

Even tough they were military perosnal, Iranian ''terrorist'' regime didnt torture them. They where aloud for interviews, they wrote letters home, they eat,smoke ciggaretes,played games....Wow, Iranian ''terrorist'' regime really had been HARS on them while they were captured.

On top of all that, when they were let go, president Ahmedinejad meet with them, they bought them gifts, and nice things to wear.

They were not beaten, nobady put bags on their head, nobady force them to speak by torturing them LIKE BRITISH & AMERICANS DID IN ABU GHARIB,GUANTANAMO etc...

From all this you can see how Iranian '' terrorist'' regime was BAD TOWARDS THESE BRITISH SAILORS.

Are you trying to say they should have done it democratic and civilized way like British & Americans are doing to their prisoners ?

You think Iran should be civilized and hold them there withouit trail for years.Or threat them civilized way like British & Americans do?


Well, Iran is ''terrorist'' country,uncivilized and this is how they threat their prisoners. Bottom line ONE MORE TIME EVERYBODY NORMAL IN THEIR HEAD IN THIS WORLD COULD SEE WHO IS CIVILIZED AND WHO IS TERRORIST, AND THE ONLY PROBLEM IN THE WORLD.

UK IS HUMILIATED, AND AMERICA IS CRYING HOW IN THE WORLD Iranians could win hearts & minds of average people.

Well meybe you should start learning from Iran, a real civilized country who was there long time before you too even existed.

This is how Iran ''a terrorist regime'' in the Western eyes threat their prisoners:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2007/04/05/sailors_big.jpg

And this is how CIVILIZED AND DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES LIKE AMERICA AND UNITED KINGDOM ARE DOING THAT.......DEMOCRATICLY :rolleyes:
http://www.historycentral.com/Today/abu_ghraib.jpg

[poutismalakas]

Dude they admited that ON Iranian TV that doesn't mean NOTHING!!! Hell if we capture you and parade you around on US tv your going to agree with what ever we say or else your not on tv!

[poutismalakas]

Gavmundo,

They where in Iranian waters, they admit it.......they where captured without single bullet shot, unlike British & Americans who kill themselfs in FRIENDLY FIRE everyday:rolleyes: .

Even tough they were military perosnal, Iranian ''terrorist'' regime didnt torture them. They where aloud for interviews, they wrote letters home, they eat,smoke ciggaretes,played games....Wow, Iranian ''terrorist'' regime really had been HARS on them while they were captured.

On top of all that, when they were let go, president Ahmedinejad meet with them, they bought them gifts, and nice things to wear.

They were not beaten, nobady put bags on their head, nobady force them to speak by torturing them LIKE BRITISH & AMERICANS DID IN ABU GHARIB,GUANTANAMO etc...

From all this you can see how Iranian '' terrorist'' regime was BAD TOWARDS THESE BRITISH SAILORS.

Are you trying to say they should have done it democratic and civilized way like British & Americans are doing to their prisoners ?

You think Iran should be civilized and hold them there withouit trail for years.Or threat them civilized way like British & Americans do?


Well, Iran is ''terrorist'' country,uncivilized and this is how they threat their prisoners. Bottom line ONE MORE TIME EVERYBODY NORMAL IN THEIR HEAD IN THIS WORLD COULD SEE WHO IS CIVILIZED AND WHO IS TERRORIST, AND THE ONLY PROBLEM IN THE WORLD.

UK IS HUMILIATED, AND AMERICA IS CRYING HOW IN THE WORLD Iranians could win hearts & minds of average people.

Well meybe you should start learning from Iran, a real civilized country who was there long time before you too even existed.




LONDON, England (CNN) -- The 15 British military personnel captured by Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf were subjected to "psychological pressure" and kept in isolation during their detention, the group's officers said on Friday.

Lt. Felix Carman of the British Royal Navy, addressing a news conference at a military base in Chivenor, southwestern England, said the sailors and marines were well outside Iranian waters when the incident occurred -- despite previous statements to the contrary while in Iranian custody.

"Irrespective of what has been said in the past, when we were detained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard ... I can clearly state we were 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters," Carman said. (Read the full statement)

Iran reacted to those comments by saying the briefing was "staged" to cover up the mistake made by the British crew by entering Iranian waters.

The sailors and marines, who were seized from patrol boats on March 23, returned to the UK on Thursday after 13 days in Iranian captivity.

Lt. Carman said they were kept in isolation, interrogated and blindfolded, and subjected to "aggressive questioning and rough handling."

Members of the group had been presented with two options, said Lt. Carman: To admit having strayed into Iranian waters or face up to seven years in prison in Iran.

Capt. Christopher Air of the British Royal Marines said they had "feared the worst" during their captivity when they had been bound, blindfolded and lined up against a wall while they heard the sound of weapons being cocked. "There was a lot of trickery and mind games being played," he said.

Several of the captives appeared on Iranian state television during their detention to apologize for their actions. They were also filmed meeting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and receiving gifts prior to their return to the UK.

Faye Turney, the one woman among the captives, had been singled out and "used as a propaganda tool," Carman said.

Iranian authorities had released several handwritten letters, allegedly by Turney, in which she said the group had been captured in Iranian waters.

Air praised Turney for maintaining her dignity after she had been separated from the 14 men. He said she had been told the rest of the group had been freed and she was the only one still being held.

Air said a "conscious decision" had been taken not to engage the Iranians who took them captive. (Watch the sailors' denial that they were in Iranian waters )

"It was clear they arrived with a planned intent," said Air. "Had we resisted there would have been a mighty fight that we could not have won and with consequences that would have major strategic impacts."

Air said some of the Iranian sailors had been "deliberately aggressive and unstable."

"They rammed our boats and turned their heavy machine guns, RPG, and weapons on us. Another six boats were closing in on us. We realized that our efforts to reason with these people were not making any headway. Nor were we able to calm some of the individuals down... They boarded our boats, removed our weapons, and steered the boats towards the Iranian shore."

Able Seaman Arthur Batchelor said the 15's treatment by the Iranians had been "humane" but they had not been allowed to communicate with each other.

Responding to the briefing, Iran's Foreign Ministry said the event was "staged."

"Such staged moves cannot cover up the mistake made by British military personnel who illegally entered Iran's territory," the ministry said in a statement faxed to Reuters.

Iranian state-run television accused British Prime Minister Tony Blair of pressuring the marines and sailors into disavowing their admission to the Iraqi military that their vessel had strayed into Iranian territorial waters.

Iranian television repeated the reasons President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had given for freeing the captives -- that the act was being done out of kindness and a desire for peace, and in respect for last week's anniversary of the birthday of the prophet Mohammed and the upcoming Christian celebration of Easter.

UK suspends boarding operations
Meanwhile, military sources said on Friday that Britain had suspended boarding operations in the Persian Gulf and launched a review into the circumstances that led to the 15's capture and detention.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said a "detailed inquiry" was under way and that debriefings of the group would continue, the UK's Press Association reported.

First Sea Lord Jonathon Band, the head of the Royal Navy, confirmed boarding operations involving British forces had been suspended.

"For the moment we have stopped UK boarding operations," Band told BBC radio. "We will obviously do a complete review."

Band said the review of the incident would consider intelligence, equipment and procedures as well as examining the rules of engagement for British forces operating in the area.

He also defended the conduct of the 15 during their captivity, commenting that their "confessions" to Iranian state media appeared to have been made under "a certain amount of psychological pressure."

"From what I have seen of them on the television and I met them personally when they returned to their families yesterday, I think they acted with considerable dignity and a lot of courage," Band said.

He also rejected suggestions that the patrol had been "spying" and said there was "absolutely no doubt" they were in Iraqi waters.

"We are certainly not spying on them," he said. "The Iranians in that part of Iraqi territorial waters are not part of the scene."

[Gavmundo]

^ you have a wrong way at looking at this

Brits would win (most likely) but not without huge loses that are unacceptable to GBR. War is the last option. SO obviously i disagree that your only mistake is not starting a war over this.


Not really. I never said anything about starting a war! Britain wouldn't have gone to war over this! If Iranians had been killed trying to kidnap the sailors then it would have been upto them what happened next but Britian wouldn't have been responsible for killing the Iranians it would have been self defence. Iran had no choice but to free the sailors as it had no proof to back up its allegations and most countries had already spoken out about their kidnapping offense.

[Gavmundo]

Royal Navy personnel seized by Iran were blindfolded, bound and held in isolation during their 13 days in captivity, the crew have said.
They were lined up while weapons were cocked, making them "fear the worst", one of the 15 freed sailors revealed.

The crew were told that if they did not admit they were in Iranian waters when captured that they faced seven years in prison, a press conference heard.

Opposing their captors was "not an option," they said.

And after the 15 marines and sailors were seized they were subjected to random interrogation and rough handling, and faced constant psychological pressure, they said.

The navy has already begun a review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Royal Marine Captain Chris Air, 25, from Altrincham, Cheshire, said they had seconds to make a decision when confronted by the Iranians while carrying out a routine operation.

"We are aware that many people have questioned why we allowed ourselves to be taken in the first place and why we allowed ourselves to be shown by the Iranian authorities on television.

"Let me be absolutely clear, from the outset it was very apparent that fighting back was simply not an option".

"Had we chosen to do so then many of us would not be standing here today. Of that I have no doubts".

Had they resisted there would have been a fight they could not have won, he said.

"Fighting back would have caused a major international incident and an escalation of tension within the region," he said.

Iraqi waters

Two of the crew read out a prepared statement to the press conference at the Royal Marines Barracks at Chivenor, in north Devon.

Lieutenant Felix Carman, 26, of Swansea, south Wales, said the sailors and marines were on an operation on 23 March, 1.7 nautical miles from Iranian waters, when they were captured.

Cpt Chris Air said the crew had made it clear they were on a "routine operation allowed under a UN mandate" but the Iranians had a "planned intent."

"Some of the Iranian sailors were becoming deliberately aggressive and unstable."

Their boat was surrounded by six boats and rammed and they were trained with heavy machine guns and weapons.

The officer in charge Lt Carman said they were taken to a prison in Tehran where they were stripped and dressed in pyjamas.

They were kept in stone cells, sleeping on blankets and held in isolation until the last few nights and frequently interrogated.

Lt Carman said they were given two choices.

"If we admitted we had strayed, we would be on a plane back to the UK soon. If we didn't we faced up to seven years in prison".

The only woman in the group, Leading Seaman Faye Turney, believed for at least four days that she was the only one still being held.

"Like all of us she has been exploited," Cpt Air said.

Royal Marine Joe Tindell told how they feared for their lives in prison.

"We had a blindfold and plastic cuffs, hands behind our backs, heads against the wall. Basically there were weapons cocking. Someone, I'm not sure who, someone said, I quote 'lads, lads I think we're going to get executed'."

"After that comment someone was sick and as far as I was concerned he had just had his throat cut."

Lt Carman said they were only allowed to gather for a few hours together, in the full glare of Iranian media.

He said they only learned they were going to be released when they watched the Iranian president on TV.

"There was a huge moment of elation," he said.

Iranian TV has said it expected some of the British sailors would come under pressure from the UK government when they returned home to change their story.

The navy's review will look at the the circumstances surrounding the incident and the wider rules of engagement for UK forces operating in the area.

[Gavmundo]

[I]Gavmundo,

They where in Iranian waters, they admit it.......they where captured without single bullet shot, unlike British & Americans who kill themselfs in FRIENDLY FIRE everyday:rolleyes: .

Even tough they were military perosnal, Iranian ''terrorist'' regime didnt torture them. They where aloud for interviews, they wrote letters home, they eat,smoke ciggaretes,played games....Wow, Iranian ''terrorist'' regime really had been HARS on them while they were captured.

On top of all that, when they were let go, president Ahmedinejad meet with them, they bought them gifts, and nice things to wear.




Surely you're really not that stupid? You have to know how these regimes work? Propoganda is their only option. As the sailors admitted today they were afraid for their lives. Standard procedure is to agree to whatever your captors ask. The sailors were quite correct to have agreed to lie and admit they were in Iranian waters otherwise they may well have either been killed or would not have left Iran again! This won't happen again as Britian will be more careful in the future.

[Bosnian Unit]

Dude they admited that ON Iranian TV that doesn't mean NOTHING!!! Hell if we capture you and parade you around on US tv your going to agree with what ever we say or else your not on tv!

My main point was how Iranians,Americans and British are threating their prisoners.

By the way, you guys dont even lett those guys in your prisons on TV.You dont lett them speak, no trail, NOTHING......they can be in there forever.

Just like Americans said couple weeks ago that guy(in Guantanamo) admited that he planned attacks on 911.

Wow, we could not even see that guy since he has been captured.And where is the proof that he admit it ?

[B]I mean come on, when it comes to propaganda nobady can beat US,UK their government and their secret agenices !

Well i was expecting something like this poutismalakas, but this doesnt change my opinion. That is British propaganda, or some of those guys are paid BIG to say it differently.


Like i said, Iran would not be crazy enough to go on foreign territory and capture somebody, while you have US/BRITISH ARMY ALL OVER THAT COUNTRY.

All this was planned by British/Americans just to provoke Iran and see what they are gonna do. They need something to start war, Bush & Blair need more blood, they are still thirsty.

[Gavmundo]

Alternatively we can wait a few years for Iran to fire nukes at us..... ;)

[Bosnian Unit]

Alternatively we can wait a few years for Iran to fire nukes at us..... ;)

Farest i know all these ''evil countries'' before or now in Western eyes have nukes and they didnt fire them.

Russia
Pakistan
China
India
Even N.Korea now !

If i remember correctly nukes were used just one time, when democratic and promised dream land nuke Japan:boo: .

Iran would not use it im sure 100%. That would just build some kind of military balance in Midd East, but that is not good for West becouse they could not do what they want to with Iran. Im sure even now Iran is probably 10 years away from getting one, but US need to make sure that dont happend like in Irak and WMD :sad: .

BTW........Nancy Pelosi visited Syria and its president Abas, and Bush is crying like oh Nancy you cant do that they are terrorists........Nancy just said, come on they are people just like us and you need to STOP calling everybody terrorist who dont agree with your policy:lol: .

[Gavmundo]

You're joking right? As far as I know none of those countries are run by a Terrorist Regime? Iran would launch without a second thought. Probably at Israel before the UK or US. That wouldn't be allowed to happen though as Iran will never be allowed to develop Nukes!

Political "discussions" are such fun :)

[Saraj Fanático]

You're joking right? As far as I know none of those countries are run by a Terrorist Regime? Iran would launch without a second thought. Probably at Israel before the UK or US. That wouldn't be allowed to happen though as Iran will never be allowed to develop Nukes!

Political "discussions" are such fun :)

:lol: :lol: Terrorist regime!

Israel is the worlds number 1 nation which operates and creates terrorism. I don't even want to mention what the terrorist Government of Russia did to civilians in Chechnya and offcourse their history of terror such as the Afghanistan invasion.

N. Korea?? No terrorist regime!! :lol: :lol: Oh boy you are missing out on a lot.

You might want to read more about Kim Jong-il's rule and how people are living in North Korea as we discuss. The man is nuts!

[blupid]

Ye. and he's nuts with nukes. Probably the only reason the US haven't invaded North Korea yet

[Bosnian Unit]

Ye. and he's nuts with nukes. Probably the only reason the US haven't invaded North Korea yet


That's 100% right. Nukes are guarantee for small countries not to get invaded by countries like US.

If Iran ever build nukes it will not get attacked by such countries, Iran with nukes its just MILITARY BALANCE.

Pakistan is the only Muslim nation with nuclear weapons. If you ever wonder why, well ist becouse Pakistan & India are figting with each other from time to time over Kashmir. West could not STOP India to develop nuclear weapons, but they also didnt want to STOP Pakistan becouse two nations with such a problems and with nukes are not likely to get in all out war......unless......

Just like US and Russia for example, if Russia was weaker US would invade them long time ago, but they also have strong military and nuclear weapons and that is guaranteed for their survivor, unless there is nuclear war, but that would but the end for us all.

Some fact's:

Iran in modern times never attacked any country, no matter how their regime is, but surely they are one of the strongest military countries in Middle East, right after Israel i would say.

Even if they had nukes, they would not use them. The reason why people in the West are saying that they will nuke Israel the moment they get one is becouse they are manipulated by their government, who since 2001 keep people in CONSTANT FEAR, and try to protect them from something......from what ? Well, from something their government created!

[poutismalakas]

I found this at http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007160379,00.html


GUTSY Faye Turney turned the tables on Iranian tyrant Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as he freed her in front of TV cameras — making him SQUIRM.

She was the first of the 15 hostages ushered forward during the cynical stunt in the madman’s own Tehran palace garden.

As Faye stood in front of bearded Ahmadinejad he asked her through a translator: “How is your daughter?”

Faye fumed in response: “I don’t know, Mr President, I haven’t seen her for 13 days — remember?”

The Islamic fanatic stuttered: “Oh yes. But haven’t you been allowed a phone call to her?”

Faye replied: “No I most certainly have not”.

Taken aback by her forthright response, Ahmadinejad was momentarily lost for words. Red-faced, he then muttered: “Er, well, good luck in your life and your future”.

And with that he nervously signalled to flunkies to move Faye on so he could meet the next hostage.

An aide then gave her a children’s doll as the president’s personal present for her only child Molly, three.

Faye said of Ahmadinejad: “He looked really embarrassed and didn’t know what to do.”

She has nothing but scorn for the tyrant whose brutal underlings stripped her to her knickers, threw her in a freezing cell and made her believe she would be killed.

Faye continued: “My feeling was he’d started to regret taking us, and he was trying to say to us, ‘No hard feelings, guys’.

“To me, that just defined the sort of man he is — shallow.

“Yes, it would be fair to say I’m not his biggest fan.”

Faye’s showdown explains why state-controlled Iranian TV aired the clip of her meeting only very briefly and without sound.

Other hostages, such as Lieutenant Felix Carman, were shown in lengthy conversation with Ahmadinejad.

Minutes before the propaganda stunt last Wednesday, the lying Iranian leader had announced he was releasing the 15 as an Easter “present” to Britain.

Faye has decided to KEEP the doll given to her by Ahmadinejad — after military experts checked it out for explosives. She said: “One day I’ll sit Molly down and explain everything to her.

“She’s too young and just thinks it’s all a big game”.

As the only woman in the group, Faye heaped praise on her fellow hostages.

She said: “I could never have got through this without them.”

“I’m so proud of every single one of them and we’ll all stay good friends for life.”

[shevafan]

i would say israel can kick everyones ass in the middle east simply because the funding from the US to israel has been unbelievable. billions of dollars were put into israel in military equipment and nuclear power. right now they have an extremely powerfull force.

[ARBANITAI]

i would say israel can kick everyones ass in the middle east simply because the funding from the US to israel has been unbelievable. billions of dollars were put into israel in military equipment and nuclear power. right now they have an extremely powerfull force.

Yet they claim they are a peacefull country in Middleeast ?????!!!!!!!!!

we can easily say that all the wars that happend in the middleeast before that, israel was allways the problem and the first one to start wars in middle east, the examples prooves now when israel tryed to incade Lebanon..

and the reason why Israel is investing so much in Military forces, new modern weapons and nuclear power, gives us a good example that israel is obv not looking for to make better relationships and peacefull talks with its neighbouring countries, but rather improoving their nuclear weapons, which means they are still thinking of wars, and their probably goal is to invade more land in the future probably who know.

I´ll say this if Israel cannot get along with its neighbouring countries then what are they even doing there ?! if they feel their not civilized yet to get along good with their neighbouring countries !!?!

[shevafan]

see the thing is that israelites had no permission to take that land from the muslims. sure they can say that its said in the bible that its their land, but look at the native americans in the unted states!! Israel started this middle east conflict. it definitly their fault.

[ARBANITAI]

see the thing is that israelites had no permission to take that land from the muslims. sure they can say that its said in the bible that its their land, but look at the native americans in the unted states!! Israel started this middle east conflict. it definitly their fault.

Look the Palestians has as well been there for centuries, and as a matter of fact that land was majority palestinian then israelites, just take map from wwI or even from wwII and you will see, though im not saying there were no israelies at all there, but i just dont think thats the right place 4 them maybe, because israelites roots are of course from the middle east but not exactly they should settled in palestine for example, because earlier israelites were found mostly in eastern egypt much more then in palestine.

[Bosnian Unit]

http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/israel-palestine%20map.jpg

[shevafan]

well the Hebrews basically needed a country. and they started buying out large amounts of land in that territory. also many of those lands at that time (before WW1) were owned by countries like france and britain. these countries got payed very well and now we have Israel.

[AlexZello]

What do you think of Obadiah Shoher's views on the Middle East conflict? One can argue, of course, that Shoher is ultra-right, but his followers are far from being a marginal group. Also, he rejects Jewish moralistic reasoning - that's alone is highly unusual for the Israeli right. And he is very influential here in Israel. So what do you think? uh, here's the site in question: Middle East conflict (http://samsonblinded.org/blog)

[poutismalakas]

http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2006/06/israel-palestine%20map.jpg

Hey you never explained how Palestinians are treated like crap in other arab nations denied citizenship?! WOW

As of December 2004, an estimated 500,000 Palestinians live in Saudi Arabia. They are not allowed to hold or apply for Saudi citizenship, as the new law passed by Saudi Arabia's Council of Ministers in October 2004 (which entitles expatriates of all nationalities who have resided in the kingdom for ten years to apply for citizenship, with priority being given to holders of degrees in various scientific fields) has one glaring exception: Palestinians will not be allowed to benefit from the new law because of Arab League instructions barring the Arab states from granting them citizenship in order "to avoid dissolution of their identity and protect their right to return to their homeland". HOW NOBLE DISENFRANCHISING A PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONLY KNOWN YOUR NATION AS HOME! :rolleyes:

Lebanon barred Palestinians from 73 job categories including professions such as medicine, law and engineering. They are not allowed to own property. Unlike other foreigners in Lebanon, they are denied access to the Lebanese healthcare system. The Lebanese government refused to grant them work permits or permission to own land. The number of restrictions has been mounting since 1990.[19] In June 2005, however, the government of Lebanon removed some work restrictions from a few Lebanese-born Palestinians, enabling them to apply for work permits and work in the private sector.[20] In a 2007 study, Amnesty International denounced the "appalling social and economic condition" of Palestinians in Lebanon.[21]
Lebanon gave citizenship to about 50,000 Palestinian refugees during the 1950s and 1960s. In the mid-1990s, about 60,000 refugees who were Shiite Muslim majority were granted citizenship. This caused a protest from Maronite authorities, leading to citizenship being given to all the Palestinian Christian refugees who were not already citizens.[22]

In the 1940s, the Lebanese government registered most Palestinians as Arabs in order to get Arab funds from the Gulf states as well as UN grants to boost its corrupted economy and eliminate inflation. Noteworthy, according to official Palesitnian estimates, small minority within the Palestinian refugees from the Acre region of British Palestine were adhlers of the Shiite Islam of the Twelvers school, a majority being of Sunnite Islam of the Hanafite school, and some of non-Arab origins, including Turks, Azeris, Albanians, and Bosnians.


[edit] Kuwait and Egypt
After the Gulf War of 1990-1991, Kuwait and other Gulf Arab monarchies expelled more than 400,000 Palestinian refugees[23]) in response to the PLO support of Iraq during the invasion of Kuwait.

During Egypt's occupation of the Gaza Strip, Egypt denied the Gaza Strip's residents citizenship rights and did not allow them to move to Egypt or anywhere outside of the Strip. From 1949-1967, The Gaza Strip was used by Egypt to launch 9,000 attacks on Israel from terrorist cells set up in refugee camp. Egypt today abides by the instructions of the Arab League concerning Palestinians of not granting them citizenship.

Iraq
Palestinians in Iraq have come under increasing pressure to leave since the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003. Hundreds of Palestinians were evicted from their homes by Iraqi landlords following the fall of Saddam Hussein. 19,000 Palestinians, over half the community's number in Baghdad, have fled since that time, and remaining Palestinians regularly face "threats, killings, intimidation, and kidnappings". Several hundred refugees are trapped on the border with Syria, which refuses to grant them entry.[24][25]


SO MUCH FOR SOCALLED BROTHERHOOD had this been in Europe or the US there would be cries of racism!!! Hyprocracy at it's worst :rolleyes:

[FR Sloboda]

Yeah Poutis you are right Palestinians are treated like crap in other Arab states especially by those Crazy wahhabbi dictators in Saudi Arabia , Kuwait etc.

[poutismalakas]

Yeah Poutis you are right Palestinians are treated like crap in other Arab states especially by those Crazy wahhabbi dictators in Saudi Arabia , Kuwait etc.
Yeah I just love how everyone is saying about how Palestinians are be oppessed by Israel BUT they conviently forget they treated just as bas IF NOT WORSE by their socalled Arab brothers!!!!:sad: