Bush: Capture Of Sailors "Inexcusable"

President Calls For Immediate Release Of Hostages; Britain Softens Stance

(CBS/AP)  President Bush said Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines was “inexcusable” and called for their immediate, unconditional release.

Mr. Bush said Saturday that Iran plucked the sailors out of Iraqi waters. Iran's president said they were in Iranian waters and called Britain and its allies “arrogant and selfish” for not apologizing for trespassing.

“Iran must give back the hostages,” President Bush said at the Camp David presidential retreat, where he was meeting with the president of Brazil. “They're innocent. They did nothing wrong.”

It was the first time that Mr. Bush had commented publicly on the captured Britons. Washington has taken a low-key approach to avoid aggravating tensions over the incident and shaking international resolve to get Iran to give up its uranium enrichment program.

Also Saturday, Iran's hardline president said Saturday that Britain and its allies were "arrogant and selfish" for not apologizing over what he called the incursion of 15 captured British sailors and marines into Iranian waters.

President Bush did not answer a question about whether the United States would have reacted militarily if those captured had been Americans. The president said he supports British Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to find a diplomatic resolution to the crisis, now in its second week.

The president would not comment about Britain's options if Iran does not release the hostages, but he seemed to reject any swapping of the British captives for Iranians detained in Iraq.

“I support the prime minister when he made it clear there were no quid pro quos,” Mr. Bush said.

Like President Bush's words, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments were his most extensive on the crisis. They tracked tough talk from other Iranian officials, an indication that Tehran's position could be hardening.

“The British occupier forces did trespass our waters. Our border guards detained them with skill and bravery,” Iran's official news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. “But arrogant powers, because of their arrogant and selfish spirit, are claiming otherwise.”

Britain, however, appeared to be easing its stance, emphasizing its desire to talk with Iran about what it termed a regrettable situation.

“I think everyone regrets that this position has arisen,” British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said at a European Union summit in Bremen, Germany. “What we want is a way out of it.”

Iran appeared unreceptive to possible talks with Britain.

“Instead of apologizing over trespassing by British forces, the world arrogant powers issue statements and deliver speeches,” Ahmadinejad told a crowd in southeastern Iran.

The British sailors were detained by Iranian naval units March 23 while patrolling for smugglers near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab, a waterway that has long been a disputed dividing line between Iraq and Iran. Britain also insists the sailors were in Iraqi waters.

In London on Saturday, the political wing of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen Khalq said the capture was planned in advance and carried out in retaliation for U.N. sanctions over Iran's nuclear program. The group is listed as a terrorist group by Britain, the U.S. and the European Union.

"The British government and the Iranian government are now eyeball to eyeball and someone has to blink," said CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk. "The problem here is that both have hardened their positions."

Blair has expressed disgust that the captured service members had been “paraded and manipulated” in video footage released by Iran. He warned Tehran that it faced increasing isolation if it did not free them.

Britain has frozen most contacts with Iran. The U.N. Security Council has expressed “grave concern” about the incident. The EU has demanded the sailors' unconditional release and warned of unspecified “appropriate measures” if Tehran does not comply — a position the Iranian Foreign Ministry called “bias and meddlesome.”

Ahmad Bakhshayesh, a professor of politics in Tehran's Allameh University, said he's convinced that Iran is prepared to stand its ground and insist that the British violated Iranian territory.

“Iran will seriously continue the case and will put them on trial,” Bakhshayesh said. “Only an apology by Britain can stop it. Iran thinks that Britons trespassed to test Iran's reaction, and now London is trying to isolate Tehran instead of apologizing.”

But British officials are hopeful that diplomacy can resolve the crisis. The Foreign Office confirmed Saturday that Britain had replied to a letter received earlier in this week from the Iranian embassy. It declined to reveal the nature of either letter.

“We have been exchanging letters with the Iranian government, and we will continue to conduct or diplomatic discussions in private,” a spokesman said on the government's customary condition of anonymity.

[tuckerndfw]

It appears the US & UK do not support the "Bush doctrine" when it is applied to US & UK citizens.

At least Iran is citing international law, something the "Bush doctrine" does not acknowledge.

Maybe the US & UK should return the Iranians they kidnapped so this can be resolved.

[crater7]

What Iran should do is use the Bush Administrations policy regarding illegal aliens who cross our borders every day in our country. Just tell them not to do it anymore, then build a 700 mile fence on their 2000 mile border. This policy, has been major success here, as there are no more illegal aliens entering into our country. OHHHHHH, while the Brits are there, let the apply for any benefits available to them, such as government programs, welfare, social security etc. Again, works here.

[hypnotoad72]

I hope they are put on trial, and not this wishy-washy "may be" stuff. They've admitted they, and not the Iranians, caused this particular stir - in a time when Iran has been mouthing off and pulling other stunts.

I'm also out of the loop, when did the US kidnap Iranian citizens?

[tuckerndfw]

I'm also out of the loop, when did the US kidnap Iranian citizens?

Posted by HypnoToad72 at 10:03 AM : Mar 31, 2007

That is hard to say with certainty since most US & UK operations are kept secret.

But, the most public was when US forces kidnapped ("detained") five Iranian diplomats. And, is currently holding them despite claims by the Iranians and Iraqis that they are diplomats, not "terrorists."

This is a Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_attack_on_Iranian_liaison_office_in_Arbil

But it was widely reported elsewhere.

[vinncent-2009]

The US arrested Iranian agents in a war zone in which Iran is among the enemies. Iran rode out into international waters to kidnap Brits in timing obviously calculated to be their only vulnerable moment.

Ahmadinejad was a leader of the 1980 kidnapping terrorists, and he obviously still considers this to be a legitimate foreign policy tactic.

Once the soldiers are returned, a couple of well placed cruise missiles would be an appropriate response.

[tcsandford]

If I was Tony Blair as soon as I found out where they were I would do what ever I had to do and get them out

[zipperhead60]

This is a typical Ahmadinejad (translated to mean *** in English) response to provoke. And this jerk calls himself President?? Civilized. Respected??
He continues to be a puppet of the Ayotolahs ploys. If this is soooo serious a threat to Iran; 15 men believed to take down a country "so powerful" as Iran; then how is it that this statement is contained in the same story :

"If the U.K. government admits its mistake and apologizes to Iran for its naval personnel's trespassing of Iranian territorial waters, the issue can be easily settled," Gholam-Reza Ansari said.

Its a joke, all this "little man" wants is someone, anyone to take notice of him. So he can fullfill his Napolean complex.

[sharncedar]

If you were tony Blair you would care about the country and the soldiers. but TONY BLAIR does NOT. Have you ever read one of his awful opinion pieces? He is like a Bill clinton, obsessed by what his upper crust peers think about him, posturing about his own importance and his theories about globalization. He really doesn't care about Britain, other than as a stage to promote himself.

these people live in a world you can't even imagine, they aren't sitting there worrying about some grunt soldiers, they are attending parties and such every night, hobnobbing with each other, decorating their fancy new homes in Spain with the latest trends, etc. Just really silly to imagine Tony Blair wastes even one brain cell wrrying about things that actually happen, he has a party tonight with the most wealthy and powerful people in the world, where he will act like a pretend intellectual to get their admiration, don't you get it. He isn't sitting there wondering about what the right thing to do about Iran, he's wondering about Cherie and his new luxury mansion in spain and the house-warming party and whether the "important" people will think he is important and thinking up clever ways to justify himself to those people, the people he cares about.

[jebby_one]

with the DEMOCRATS so clearly on the terrorist side, the balance of power has shifted and iran can now advance its influence and domination.

Friendly middle-east countries have good reason to be concerned. When America betrays them will they be any match against fundamentalist islam?

[gfox67]

Britain don't wait on the UNITED NONSENSE (UN)to help you........ they are a worthless orginization!!!

You have the right to defend yourself, even though the liberals don't think so...... go in and make Iran pay for their actions!!!

[mbcsmith]

This is so reminiscient of the CARTER years. For 444 days our nation suffered while Carter did NOTHING to get our citizens released. THAT WAS AN ACT OF WAR for which the wimpy Carter stood by and took it! For all you LIBS out there looking for appeasement, this is a perfect example of emboldening the enemy, for which we suffer for generations.

[tbweb]

IRAN is the kind of enemy that kicks you when you're down, pours salt in your wounds and enjoys exploiting your every weakness. Look around IRAN, you have few friends. If it wasn't for IRANIAN OIL you would have no friends at all. The U.N. vote for sanctions against IRAN was unamimous, not one country supported IRAN. Even if the sanctions don't matter, even if the sanctions will be ignored, no one voted for IRAN, nobody!! So how right are you IRAN? IRAN is only right in its own mind.

[neoconrcrazy]

Ethnic cleansing returns to Israel's agenda
By Johann Hari
The Independent of London


The silence over Lieberman's appointment is a bleak sign of how far Israel has drifted to the right


Johann Hari is a columnist for the major British daily newspaper, The Independent.

In the past fortnight, a startlingly far-right politician named Avigdor Lieberman has joined the governing coalition in Israel %u2013 in the lofty position of Deputy Prime Minister.

His party, Yisrael Beytenu (Israel, Our Home), has campaigned on two ugly issues. The first is the claim that Israel's two million Arab citizens are "a danger to the country", to be dispensed with, in part, by ethnic cleansing. Lieberman wanted to bus thousands of released Palestinian prisoners to the Dead Sea and drown them.

Today, he has moderated his stance and merely wants to "transfer" many hundreds of thousands of Israeli Arabs %u2013 inevitably by force %u2013 to the scraps of remaining land that will be labelled Palestine after Israel has annexed the major illegal settlement blocks. If your name's not on the list, you're not staying in.

"Minorities are the biggest problem in the world." He would like to begin these racist expulsions with a simple, swift move: executing Israeli Arab members of the Knesset. Since they have spoken to the democratically elected Palestinian leadership, they are "traitors", Lieberman argues.

AMERICA ! STOP ISRAELI ZIONIST EXTREMISTS AND STOP 85% OF WORLD TERRORISM !

[j-whitman]

Rick,,,,
, UAE is funding more terrorism in the world than Iran is... But, getting back to the trial of the British, have you noticed they don't put hoods on thier prisoners ??? They don't lock them up without benifit of council for years either..

[feelfree1]

Re: "15 British sailors held by Iran could be tried for violating international law"

Thank goodness they were not spirited away and tortured to death, in the manner that the U.S. now applies justice.

It is heartening to see the Iranians providing due process to these captured British soldiers. This is an excellent lesson in decency and honor for Bush and Blair.

This was a pretty obvious provocation by the Brits, in my opinion, and the Iranians offered Blair a very reasonable solution to this incident. The Iranians have offered to return these soldiers, if only Blair was man enough to apologise for this "mistake". Obviously he is not.

[rafterman1]

"This is so reminiscient of the CARTER years. For 444 days our nation suffered while Carter did NOTHING to get our citizens released. THAT WAS AN ACT OF WAR for which the wimpy Carter stood by and took it! For all you LIBS out there looking for appeasement, this is a perfect example of emboldening the enemy, for which we suffer for generations."

He did try to rescue them, but the operation in the desert went bad. Learn some history before you rant. By the way, I wonder how many Americans have been killed over the years from the weapons Ronald Reagan sent to Iran in the 80's? Talk about appeasers.

[neoconrcrazy]

Israeli officer: I was right
to shoot 13-year-old child
Radio exchange contradicts army version of Gaza killing


Thirteen-year-old Iman Al-Hams was killed when an Israeli officer emptied his weapon into her. Israelis have been responsible for killing over 600 other Palestinian children since September 2000.

By Chris McGreal
UK Guardian


An Israeli army officer who repeatedly shot a 13-year-old Palestinian girl in Gaza dismissed a warning from another soldier that she was a child by saying he would have killed her even if she was three years old.

The officer, identified by the army only as Captain R, was charged this week with illegal use of his weapon, conduct unbecoming an officer and other relatively minor infractions after emptying all 10 bullets from his gun%u2019s magazine into Iman al-Hams when she walked into a %u201Csecurity area%u201D on the edge of Rafah refugee camp last month.

A tape recording of radio exchanges between soldiers involved in the incident, played on Israeli television, contradicts the army%u2019s account of the events and appears to show that the captain shot the girl in cold blood.

AMERICA! STOP ISRAELI ZIONIST TERRORISM AND STOP 85 % OF WORLD TERRORISM! PROTECT OURSELVES !

[rafterman1]

He he, now that I think about it, when the 444 were taken, liberal Carter tried a military operation to free them. Yet when a number of hostages were taken in Lebanon in the 1980's, conservative Reagan tried to appease the Iranians by trading them hostages for US weapons - only to see hostages get released and others taken in their place.

And the libs were the appeasers? Hilarious!

[j-whitman]

Rafterman1 ,,, During Carter's admininstration, it was actually George H.W. Bush who delayed the release of our hostages... He wanted them released after Reagan got into office --

- ROTTEN, SCUMBAG, TREASONOUS POLITICS - USED AGAINST OUR OWN CITIZENS BY THE GOP - SAME TODAY

[radiob-2009]

Has everyone forgotten the airmen of ours that were taken by the Chinese? We did not go to war over it.

[j-whitman]

Now Bush has showed them how to treat prisoners, Way to go Bush --- You dangerous idiot

[fascistusa]

The American Power Elite and Israel/AIPAC want to invade Iran.

End of Story.

Our Mainstream "News" is Complete PROPAGANDA.

We live in a Hopeless, Fascist Country.

[j-whitman]

Sure hope Iran doesn't follow our example of justice -- I've heard the Austrailian Hicks we have had in GITMO for the last 5 years, will be sent to Austrailia & serve only 5 months.

[superpatr894]

The Neo-Nazis are out in force today.

OK for Iran to try the Brits.

Blame Israel.

Blame Bush.

The Brits provoked the Iranians.

UAE funds more terrorism than Iran does.

The usual lies, cowardice, and hate of the bigoted, Anti-American, Anti-Christian, and definitely Anti-Jewish Hitlerian Left. Ahmedinejedad is a saint, Bush is the devil.

And some of these mental midgets claim they're veterans of U.S. service. Sure doesn't sound like it to me. Left Fascists like Loserman, FeelFascist, Ex-Lax, RandyBS, Bluestarbigot, Skybozo, Kalimfromhamas, are much more apt to blame both America and Israel for 9/11 than to blame their Islamonazi friends. The ones they always want to make excuses for.

Leave America if you hate us. There's no room for cowards, amateurs, or traitors in this country.

[feelfree1]

Superpatr894,

Re: "Leave America if you hate us. There's no room for cowards, amateurs, or traitors in this country."

It is the welcome of the sniveling Bush-puppet appeasers and dead-enders that is quickly running out.

[j-whitman]

Superpatr894,, You would tell this veteran to leave the country also ???? He fought from D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge..

Germany anticipated an attack from the Soviet Union, Ohlendorf argued, and since Jews were perceived as supporters of Bolshevism, they presumably posed a potential future threat to German national interests. And if Jewish children knew that their parents had been executed, he continued, they, too, might become enemies of Germany, and therefore they had to be killed.

In a carefully reasoned judgment by the three judges presiding over the case %u2014 all of them American %u2014 Ohlendorf's defense was held to be untenable, and the S.S. general was hanged.

Sixty years later, I am afraid, this and other lessons from Nuremberg are lost on the Bush administration.

Benjamin Ferencz was chief prosecutor in the Einsatzgruppen trial at Nuremburg.

[emtak1]

With all the Global Positioning Satellite technology available I would assume that there are multiple data sources available to determine exactly where British Marines were when they were captured...

Considering the indecent exploitation of the British Marines by their Iranian hosts, truth in this situation would seem to more likely tolay with the weighty conduct and character of the British government, rather than the erradicate and bombastic rhetoric supplied by Iran's leadership

[superpatr894]

Like I said before, the Nazis, the real snivelers are out in force.

As for you, Loser-man, what are you, some kind of remnant of the Jooz-baiting, Christian Hating Stalinist CPUSA or its offshoot ANSWER? If so, yeah, you've disgraced the uniform of the Armed Forces of the United States - a uniform that my uncle wore, that my cousin won the Silver Star in Northern Germany for, and that another cousin was shot down under a flag of truce trying to get water for his wounded comrades.

You bait America and Sieg Heil along with the Jew-haters like NeoConCrazy - You blame America, Bush, and Israel - NOT Carter, NOT Pelosi, NOT COWARDS AND TRAITORS for the hate of the Islamonazis.

GROW UP. You do not deserve a country willing to fight for the freedom of others as well as its own. When you do, talk to me. Otherwise you are about as relevant as FeelFascism or HitleriteFan aka NeoConCrazy.

[drinuk]

Perhaps feelfree1 you would care to specify just what was the obvious provocation. The British were in Iraq territorial waters, a proven fact, checking on Dows which have been frequently smuggling both roadside bombs and vehicles into Iraq. Maybe you should tell us which act you feel was the greater act of provocation.

[j-whitman]

Superpatr894,,,, I served for 20 years active duty -- How about you ????

[nothappyatall]

"an Iranian opposition group claimed Saturday that Iran's capture of 15 British sailors and marines was planned in advance and carried out in retaliation for the U.N. sanctions imposed against the country,"

Well they DID warn us not to impose sanctions didn't they? we ignored that as usual didn't we? here's the consequences when you send troops to a foreign country where they don't belong and are unwanted.
Have a nice trial and hope y'all enjoy the Iranian prisons as much as the innocent people held for the past 5 years with no charges or lawyers by the US Govt.

[down-ndirty]

"This is so reminiscient of the CARTER years. For 444 days our nation suffered while Carter did NOTHING to get our citizens released." Posted by mbcsmith

...so reminiscient! Indeed! That 444 days could have been cut significantly (by at least 60 days) had reagan not made a deal with the enemy to keep the hostages UNTIL THE VERY MINUTE he became president. Nice guy, that reagan. Using hostages to further his own political agenda!

And tell me, smith, what reagan did when 243 Marines were killed in the bombing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut? Wasn't that an act of war?

What's more important to you, smith? 50-some hostages who were SAVED by reagon? Or 243 U.S. Marines who were killed--for nothing?

Why did reagan send them there? The reason still isn't clear.

Who killed them? hezbollah.

Did reagan retalliate against the hezbollah? No, he did nothing; just rolled over.

[feelfree1]

emtak1,

Re: "rather than the (erratic) and bombastic rhetoric supplied by Iran's leadership"

Iranian President Ahmadinejad-

"We are opposed to any kind of conflict and as we have said repeatedly we think the world problem can be solved through dialogue, the use of logic and a sense of friendship. There is no need for the use of force."

Bush-puppet-

"smoke em' out...get em' runnin'...dead or alive"

Henry A. Kissinger-

"Military men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy."

Richard Perle (on Iraq)-

"I think in this case international law stood in the way of doing the right thing."

[down-ndirty]

"with the DEMOCRATS so clearly on the terrorist side..." Posted by Jebby_One

Yeah, right, you moron!! We either agree with you right-wing religious nuts or we MUST BE SO CLEARLY ON THE TERRORIST'S SIDE. How phuckking infantile is that thinking?

To think that I spent 28 years in service to my country to allow asssholes like you to have the freedom of speech to say stupid ***** like that.

Morons like you and sickrick and mbcsmith would love nothing more than living in a dictatorship under asssholes like bush, cheney, rove, and rumsfled, as long as their ideals and mandated religion matched matched yours. ROFLMMFAO!!!

But then, bush isn't all that religious; he just used you guys to get elected--twice. LOL!

[j-whitman]

It's amazing republicans are trying so hard to make other US Presidents look worse than Bush - They are the ones who should leave this country.

[feelfree1]

Hi 'drinuk',

Re: "The British were in Iraq territorial waters, a proven fact"

Shall we take Poodle's word on that?

Re: "Maybe you should tell us which act you feel was the greater act of provocation."

Waging a fraud-based illegal war of aggression against Iraq is, by far, the greatest act of provocation, resulting in the mass-murder, torture, etc., of hundreds of thousands of innocent people.

The Iraqis have every right to defend themselves, by any and all means. Same goes for the Iranians.

When will the Brits stop disgracing themselves in this despicable crusade, and present Blair to face war crimes charges?

[down-ndirty]

Eisenhower set up the existing state of conditions in Iran when he overthrew a fledgling democracy and allowed the SHAH to become a dictator. He did this (after Truman refused) to support the British maintaining control of the oil flowing out of Iran. The "elected" Iranian prime minister was going to "nationalize" the oil, which would have devastated the British economy.

We're all paying for the greedy mistakes of the past. And with $4/gallon gas looming on the horizon, you will be paying for a very long time. Not to mention the "bill" for the war(s); your children and grandchildren will be paying off that debt for a very long time.

Do you not care about the welfare of your children and grandchildren? Bush & Co. obviously do not. They will send your children to die in wars.

You right-wing, religious crack pot morons should study a little history before you post your stupid infantile comments.

[drinuk]

feel free go take your pills and get back to bed, CRETIN

[diplomacy3]

"The Iranian government has at its disposal proved papers which testify that the British navy sailors had been situated in the Iranian maritime belt. Naturally we trust those papers because they are real."

vs Britisn GSM from Google Earth
who is right?

Feelfree1: your comments on Brit. sailors two days ago were echoed yesterday by Iranians(Safe in Iranian custody than in Gitmo)

[tbweb]

So what! Even if the British were in Iranian waters IRAN and BRITAIN are not at war! A simple warning would have done the trick. IRAN is an extremist terror state and is using this incident to further its terror agenda! This act of capturing hostages from the Royal Navy who were acting under a U.N. mandate to search suspect ships is not extreme? IRAN needs to get a grip on reality! IRAN telling the U.N. to stay out of it while the British were on a U.N. mission which clearly involves the U.N. is further proof IRAN is operating in a world of its own and not dealing with reality.

[diplomacy3]

tbweb

What would we do when Mixicans tresspass our territory?

[feelfree1]

drinuk,

More to the point, the Bush/Blair terror network has been threatening the Iranians, non-stop. The area where the Brits were captured was a disputed area, at the very least. Bush/Blair have been searching for any and every reason to attack Iran.

If the roles were reversed, we can be sure that Iranians conducting this kind of activity off the coast of the US/UK, would be facing torture sessions in some secret prison by now.

[feelfree1]

drinuk,

Re: "feel free go take your pills and get back to bed, CRETIN"

I am disappointed to see this kind of comment from you.

[feelfree1]

diplomacy3,

Re: "Feelfree1: your comments on Brit. sailors two days ago were echoed yesterday by Iranians(Safe in Iranian custody than in Gitmo)"

It is pretty f-ing sad when those who we have labeled as "terrorists" can claim the higher moral ground. Sad indeed.

[diplomacy3]

tbweb

When things get bad we go to the UN, a helpless organ of the world community that feeds on its funds though but listens only to its 5 permanent landlords.

[superpatr894]

Active duty for who? Hitler...that's what you sound like...or was it J.V. Stalin.

Either one, you give aid and comfort to America's enemies.

Oh, I see we have the Galloway supporter on board. Too bad that they didn't take ol' Georgie and Kenny hostage. But Ahmedinejedad, Islamic Hitler that he is, wouldn't do any favors for Britain.

BOMB IRAN!

[fascistusa]

The American Power Elite and Israel/AIPAC want to invade Iran. This is a FALSE FLAG.

End of Story.

Our Mainstream "News" is Complete PROPAGANDA.

We live in a Hopeless, Fascist Country.

WHY DO YOU PEOPLE INSIST ON ANALYZING EVERY TIDBIT OF USELESS INFORMATION THE FASCIST MEDIA THROWS AT YOU???

[fascistusa]

SuperFag894 and lars00ahole

ARE PAID TO SPEW NONSENSE IN THESE BOARDS.

PAID. PAID. PAID.

[sero5]

If you want you sailors back, go capture 15 Iranians from their Revolutionary Guard. Then prisoner exchange.

[antoniof123]

What is it with the wackos out there. If someone says something they don't like they attack them. I am tried of these types of tactics they show that some people can not be taught and how they know to breath the air is beyond me. It is a good thing that it happens with out having to think about it. Just because someone does not agree with you does not give you the right to try to force them to agree or tell them to leave. If you do not like what they say and they have the right then maybe it is you who should leave.