Harvest Time
Sowing the wind has yielded a bumper crop of whirlwinds for the West. Iran, flush with success from its acts of piracy on the high seas has announced it will do more of the same whenever it feels like it – and the West can't do a thing to stop them.
Hardliners in the Iranian regime have warned that the seizure of British naval personnel demonstrates that they can make trouble for the West whenever they want to and do so with impunity.
The bullish reaction from Teheran will reinforce the fears of western diplomats and military officials that more kidnap attempts may be planned.
The British handling of the crisis has been regarded with some concern in Washington, and a Pentagon defence official told The Sunday Telegraph: "The fear now is that this could be the first of many. If the Brits don't change their rules of engagement, the Iranians could take more hostages almost at will.
"Iran has come out of this looking reasonable. If I were the Iranians, I would keep playing the same game. They have very successfully muddied the waters and bought themselves some more time. And in parts of the Middle East they will be seen as the good guys. They could do it time and again if they wanted to."
Americans also expressed dismay that the British had suspended boarding operations in the Gulf while its tactics are reassessed.
"Iran has got what it wants. They have secured free passage for smuggling weapons into Iraq without a fight," one US defence department official said.
It is also clear that the Iranian government believes that the outcome has strengthened its position over such contentious issues as its nuclear programme. Hardliners within the regime have been lining up to crow about Britain's humiliation, and indicated that the operation was planned.
Obviously it was planned. Only the truly dim could think otherwise. And the complete breakdown of the so-called transnational institutions just tells Iran it can pretty well do what it wants without fear. The West may have finally lost it collective chance to stop Iran short of a war.
By James, April 8, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
The Iran-British affair is a yawn.
Iran and Britain played one of the oldest games in the world. You have someone they want, so they capture someone you want. It’s a version of the old spy vs. spy game. Capture one of their top spy so they will exchange your top spy they captured.
Nothing new here, no surprise.
If folks are getting a lather over this then it means they are really unqualifed to think about it.
Come on folks. This is good old fashion international behavior between nations. Kind of refreshing really.
Lesson for Britain: Pay more attention to troop protection while troops are doing a mission. (British
military is how old? Someone goofed.)
Just another lesson to learn at Officers School.
Happy Easter All!