Standoff In The Persian Gulf

15 Soldiers Seized As Britons Inspected A Merchant Ship, Officials Say

(CBS/AP)  This week, two Iraqi Shiite militia commanders told The Associated Press in Baghdad that hundreds of Iraqi Shiites have crossed into Iran for training by the elite Quds force, a branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard thought to have trained Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon.

With tensions running high, the United States has bolstered its naval forces in the Gulf in a show of strength directed at Iran. Two American carriers, including the USS John C. Stennis — backed by a strike group with more than 6,500 sailors and Marines — arrived in the region in recent months.

U.S. officials had expressed concern that with so much military hardware concentrated in the Persian Gulf, just such a small incident could spiral out of control and trigger a major armed confrontation.

Earlier this week, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, warned that 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."

The Britons were in two boats from the Cornwall during a routine smuggling investigation, said the British Defense Ministry.

According to a statement from the U.S. Fifth Fleet, the British sailors had just finished inspecting the merchant ship "when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters."

"This was a normal, routine boarding," Lambert told CNN. "So we were boarding, it was a vessel that was trading in the area, which had passed one or two `trip wires' that we were concerned about, for example its flag and its call sign and so on. So the boarding party went in to carry out a routine boarding operation."

A fisherman who said he was with a group of Iraqis from the southern city of Basra fishing in Iraqi waters in the northern area of the Gulf said he saw the Iranian seizure. The fisherman, reached by telephone by an AP reporter in Basra, declined to be identified because of security concerns.

"Two boats, each with a crew of six to eight multinational forces, were searching Iraqi and Iranian boats Friday morning in Ras al-Beesha area in the northern entrance of the Arab Gulf, but big Iranian boats came and took the two boats with their crews to the Iranian waters."

The seizure of the British vessels, a pair of rigid inflatable boats known as RIBs, took place in long-disputed waters just outside of the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway that divides Iraq from Iran.

A 1975 treaty recognized the middle of the waterway as the border. Saddam Hussein canceled the treaty five years later and invaded Iran, triggering an eight-year war. Iran disputes Iraq's jurisdiction over the waters near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab.

"It's been in dispute for some time," Aandahl said. "We've been operating there for a couple of years and we know the lines very well. This was a compliant boarding, this happens routinely. What's out of the ordinary is the Iranian response."

In June 2004, six British marines and two sailors were seized by Iran in the Shatt al-Arab. They were presented blindfolded on Iranian television and admitted entering Iranian waters illegally, then released unharmed after three days.

Vali Nasr, a senior fellow for Middle East Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, suggested that the latest detentions may be Iranian retaliation for the arrest of five Iranians in a U.S.-led raid in northern Iraq in January. The U.S. said the five included a Revolutionary Guards general.

"I think Iran sees this as retaliation for the arrest of their own personnel. They have repeatedly said that they want their personnel released," Nasr said. "So they are either signaling that they can do the same thing or they are trying to bring attention to it."

[pishdead1]

Mr Z. you can be a true american by what we did in iraq. In fact i think thats what it is all about, bringing freedom to an oppressed people is what we have done since we where created (except the Indians). Mr. Z your new name is *** becase that is what u are. and i am sorry to resort to name calling but u are just so far out there that i wish u would move to france.

[drinuk]

The prospect of an escalation of the middle east conflict is too dreadful to contemplate. I did not agree with the Iraq invasion and mourn the deaths of the 260,000 people lost thus far. I do however feel that Iran is winding up for a conflict, they actually want America and Britian to attack them, so that it may involve the whole of the middle east, and cause conflict between Russia, China and ourselves. I never thought I would say this but to prevent any further loss of our lads, we should Nuke the "b a s t a r d s" tomorrow and let the rest know we are sick to death of them.

[bluestardad]

THIS IS A PROVOCATION SO WE CAN BE SEEN AS COMING TO THE AID OF OUR ALLIES AND ATTACKING IRAN BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL NOT PERMIT THIS WITHOUT SOME COVER! ISRAEL WANTS AMERICA TO ATTACK IRAN AND STAY IN IRAQ.

We can still support our allies such as Israel without putting their interest over that of our own country. This is something American Politicians have not understood! It is not in Americas interest to attack Iran or to stay in Iraq!

If you follow the money trail you will find that most of those elected officials who support the war in Iraq are under the influence of AIPAC.

http://www.aipac.org/forms/join_aipacClubs.htm



Now here is the real kicker! President Bush is funding Al Qaeda in Lebanon with funds from Iraq! This is Impeachment and Treason! Here is the proof Read it!
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh


If you think Americas sacrifice is worth it contact your ELECTED OFFICIAL and tell them http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

The House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

[e-mail] Here is the Republican Party email address too!

[e-mail] Here is the Democratic Party email address also!

[epiker-2009]

edit: *presently ruled by

[epiker-2009]

zetrat,

You're being melodramatic and posing absurd, rhetorical questions and then you're expecting a serious response from us. Here's an example of your antics:

"Back to the point. Please justify why any of us real Americans should tolerate you violent, autocratic creeps."

Can that even be considered a real question? But there is something you said that I can address. Yes the US invading Iran is bringing them real democracy because Iran is presently a religious totalitarian regime, which grabbed power by brutality and force.

But that issue is beside the point-the primary reason to attack Iran is to end their nuclear weapons program and yes we have every right to disarm anyone that threatens our freedom.

[epiker-2009]

cooljcrg-you're quite right, I was being a bit optimistic on the Iranian people, but we certainly can't take any chances. If the Iranians foolishly decide to defend the tyrannical regime (that's enslaved them and threatens the west), then they're also have to suffer the consequences.

Hopefully the Dumbasscrats don't try to put the brakes on an eventual Iranian attack. Muslims must love their well-trained, anti-west leftist stooges fighting on their behalf here.

What the left doesn't understand is that once Iran or any terrorist group gets their hands on a nuke, there is no way of undoing the deaths of millions of Americans and we'll probably be forced to annihilate all muslims. So we can't make any mistake-we must defeat our enemy at any cost before things get out of hand.

[zertrat]

Dear Cool, Scanner, Pishhead, Thugdriver, Epikrat:

I'm going to bed now (because I'm a pansy who does not understand the manliness of staying up all night to assert righteousness on pathetic old CBS) but i expect to get a full explanation from you nutcases about how and why american values involve occupying a sovereign nation and trying to set up a government that is fundamentally not democratic, in the sense that nobody there wants our version. Have any of you been there? -- no, i thought so. Some of us have been in that neck of the woods. Seems like the English had good intent in the 18th Century about how to govern the colonies, but the locals did not really like it. I feel bad for Epikrat because he's stressing out that I'm crying all night long. Thanks, Epi, I'll somehow get by. Back to the point. Please justify why any of us real Americans should tolerate you violent, autocratic creeps.

[zertrat]

Dear tbweb,
No, I'm not advocating blowing up Iran.
You're not in charge? Good.

[zertrat]

Dear Epiker,
Sorry to bruise your delicate feelings. I was not trying to chase you off, and I'm sorry if you ran away with your tail between your legs. My fault. I apologize, and I hope that you can engage with the rest of us in meaningful discussion. I posed this question some time ago, and none of you faux Americans want to answer it:

"Someone on this post please answer this simplest of questions: How can you be a true American and occupy the country of Iraq?"

Because you, Epiker, are so disdainful of feminine behavior and non-americans, certainly you can give me a full and satisfying answer to this question. If you cannot, I understand, and wish you the best.

[tbweb]

--zertrat

You're the all-knowing, all-seeing, clear it all up advisor here? LOL!! Yes, blow Iran up and leave the nuclear tips on the Ballistic Missiles too! Why take the nuclear tips off and replace them with conventional war heads? Iran deserves every blast! blah blah blah! No more chit chat! I say the U.S. attacks and warm Irans arrogant b-u-t-t now! But hey, I'm not in charge!

[tbweb]

-- j-whitman

You are right, the U.S. don't have 30,000 Ballistic Missiles, its about 28,000! :)

[zertrat]

Dear Epiker,
All who read my posts know I was not crying on the keyboard. Your strategy is a typical Limbaugh-type thing. You won't face up to the issues, like my "simplest of questions", which none of you will address, and you dance about with fancy *** statements that imply femininity. Crying. Boo-hoo. You have no idea, Epiker. It is folks like you who are the traitors to American values. Answer my simples of questions, from the previous posts. If you don't even give it a try, you are pusillanimous. I dare you. A coward is always playing word games.

[alphaa10-2009]

Everyone seems aware Bush is looking desperately for an excuse to distract the country with Iran, and halt all debate about US withdrawal. That explains why Bush-- whose own emissaries had expected US withdrawal to begin within months of the Iraq invasion-- reacted with angry frustration to the House vote on withdrawal in 2008.

The House demand shows not only public opinion running against Pentagon plans and Bush hopes, but time running out fast for a Bush retrenchment in Iraq. The only rational supposition is Bush plans to widen the conflict as soon as he can. The House vote happened to come first.

So, go figure why the Iranians appeared to oblige Bush by seizing the Brits. We would think it would be in Iran's interest to lie low, and not respond to any Bush provocation, real or imagined. Ahmadinejad may be a loose cannon to the rest of his country, but he is not stupid.

One explanation is the Iranian "seizure" is the inevitable and fully anticipated result of Bush plans to bait and provoke Iran into a military confrontation. Was Iran actually innocent of provocative behavior, and were the Brits actually trying to provoke an Iranian response?

Bush is a desperate man, and prone to rash action. Consider Bush simply cannot stand to be seen as a loser, and leave behind his (and Cheney's) neocon dreams for Iraq oil and geographic position. Clearly, he would have war with Iran before withdrawing from Iraq.

[cooljcrg]

Epiker, I don't necessarily agree with you that the average Iranian is pro-West but I still agree with your conclusion. Whether the Average German was pro-Nazi or not didn't change the conclusion that the Nazi Germany had to be fought and defeated.

[epiker-2009]

Thanks radiob, but the Chatham report is telling me what I already know. However, I disagree with its conclusion that we should "engage" Iran.

The only real solution to ending Iran's program is by direct threats and the use of force. You don't negotiate with evil, you destroy it. So I support Israel/US plans to bomb Iran if diplomacy fails (which it has for years).

Most Iranian people are pro-US/West and desperately crave freedom, but they're held hostage by their Islamic overlords. The best thing we can do is help topple the present regime and make these great people an ally on the War on Terror.

---

zetrat, were you crying on your keyboard as you wrote that? At least that's the way it reads. I'm sorry you're so mixed up, but I'm not a therapist, get professional help-god bless.

[cooljcrg]

Which America are we talking about here? The one which won WW2 and the Cold War out of strength? or the one which lost Vietnam because it couldn't stomach the sacrifices? Any surprise that El Quaida takes comfort in our Vietnam experience? Not to me.
Watch "Apocalyspe Now"... You blink or faint... You lose

[zertrat]

Dear cooljcrg,
Poor old Carter was your ace-in-the-hat contribution to this issue? Sad. Sorry. Pathetic. You are definitely not on solid ground. Please address the issues raised in previous posts. Say something of substance, or better yet, go learn something of substance. Pishhead and thugdiver also dissappeared the second they were challenged by me. You guys are sorry. You idiots have always been favored by the fact that true Americans tolerate you. You are not true Americans. I'm frankly getting sick of tolerating you traitors, people who undermine America by these insipid views that we should bomb the hell out of everyone. Tough talk is not the same thing as insightful talk, it's not the same as talk about what makes Americans better off. The greatest tragedy of our age is you guys claim to be Americans. Step up to the plate, you chipmunks, and tell me why your views advance any one thing about American values instead of casting us into the dark past of a grim and violent view of human history. Go. Now. I cannot wait!

[zertrat]

Dear jlmcscanner,
I take it that you are one of those traditional Christian Biblical types, so folks "living like it was 1000 years ago" are crazy young radicals. Only folks living like it was 2000 years ago count. Am I wrong? Are you saying modern capitilist culture wins out over 2000-yr-old biblical culture?

[zertrat]

Dear Cool,
No he's not. Can you answer my simplest of questions?

[jlmcscanner]

The Iranian terrorists leading that country will have a day of reckoning very very soon, either by their own people that are fed up with living like it was 1000 years ago or by round the clock heavy bombing for about 30-40 days straight of every military asset and hiding place the mullahs have.We got Saddam,Milosevic,Al-Zakawi,Khalid Sheikh Mohammed ect... and they said we never would.I can picture Ahmadinejad being captured like a frightened little boy.It`s funny how they are so tough running and fighting through video tapes but when they are caught they look like disheveled street bumbs.Time is running out for them.Tick tock tick tock.....