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Ear to the Ground

Iran Demands Mea Culpa in Exchange for Captives

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Posted on Mar 28, 2007
British captive
news.yahoo.com

Faye Turney is the only woman among the 15 captured British sailors and marines.

The Iranian foreign minister has said if Britain admits it made a mistake and violated Iran’s territorial waters, it would “facilitate” an end to the standoff over 15 captured British sailors and marines. Both countries say they have evidence to back up their conflicting claims.

Update: A former British ambassador has challenged Britain’s data.

AP via Yahoo:

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—Iran’s foreign minister said Wednesday that Britain must admit that its 15 sailors and marines entered Iranian waters in order to resolve a standoff over their capture by the Mideast nation.

Manouchehr Mottaki’s statement in an interview with the Associated Press came on a day of escalating tensions, highlighted by an Iranian video of the detained Britons that showed the only woman captive saying her group had “trespassed” in Iranian waters. Britain angrily denounced the video as unacceptable and froze most dealings with the Mideast nation.

The Iranian official also backed off a prediction that the female sailor, Faye Turney, could be freed Wednesday or Thursday, but said Tehran agreed to allow British officials to meet with the detainees.

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By archeon, March 29, 2007 at 3:18 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

If the maritime boundary is in dispute, why should we accept the Irainian claim who was on which side of which line?

Look folks, accept the fact the the “Islamic” republic of Iran is no friend of truth, justice, freedom, or democracy.

The most likely scenario is that the Irainians saw this as an oportunity to distract the british from the atomic weapons issue regarding Iran/US relations.

Let’s trust the Irainians.  I guess the fatwa issued regarding Rushdie was a good idea too.

I am no fan of the American and British adventure in Iraq, but Iran is not any better.  It is just another merchant of death in Iraq.

It is the Iranians who are playing the dangerous game of chicken.  But being religious fanatics who believe god has chosen them to be martyrs for Islam makes stuff like this inevitable and unavoidable.

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By Hemi, March 29, 2007 at 12:33 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Couldn’t you see this coming? Even if they were’nt in Iranian waters, they were too close and without ass kicking back up. What better excuse than to
come to Great Britain’s aid in avenging this incident. Can’t you hear the rhetoric now, “we didn’t start it”. Tony Blair’s going away present.

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By Georgia Whitman, March 29, 2007 at 12:30 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I’ve been watching this story on the BBC since the first “breaking news” report. It is interesting how they have edited the images. From the original airing, the brief image of Faye Turney on the boat with a smile on her face is completely edited out. Same for the smile on her face during the first airing of the alleged confession. Today a female security analyst explained to everyone that we are seeing a “brave girl.” Girl? She looks like woman to me.

This is not to say that those smiles were smiles of joy, but why edit them out? Those images are part of the story. No matter which side is telling the truth, it’s interesting to watch the British propoganda machine at work ... so much like its American cousin.

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By Quy Tran, March 29, 2007 at 12:10 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

A good advice for Tony “poodle” Blair :"Just follow your master narrow road which is to invade Iran.”

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By Alexander Cramp, March 29, 2007 at 10:58 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Come on you Libs… where is your staunch defense for Iran on this.  I am sure the imperialist Brits provoked the poor, misunderstood Iranians.  Or wait, Blair and Bush planned this as a reason for invasion..  OIL, OIL, OIL!!!!

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By M Henri Day, March 29, 2007 at 10:23 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Readers with good memories will recall that this is hardly the first time that the British have faked maps and boundaries in order to promote their interests - the so-called McMahon line dating to 1914 between the then-Chinese province of Tibet and then-British India being. perhaps, the most famous case in point....

Henri

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By C Quil, March 29, 2007 at 8:52 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Gulf of Tonkin all over again?

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By Steve Hammons, March 29, 2007 at 7:53 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

If the UK boat was inside Iran’s waters, which has not been confirmed, was it unintentional or an intentional provocation?

Was the boat conducting appropriate martime security duties, gathering intelligence or testing the Iranian navy to see what there reaction would be? Or, all of the above?

Many published reports have noted that US and related forces may be conducting operations inside Iran as well as overhead in the form of reconnaissance aircraft.

How far will Bush-Cheney, the neocons, warmongers and chicken hawks push Iran until there is a flashpoint and overt armed conflict?

For more on this, see:

“Will Bush, Cheney attack Iran? When and why?”

By Steve Hammons
Columnist, PopulistAmerica.com
Populist Party of America
February 2, 2007

http://www.populistamerica.com/will_bush_cheney_attack _iran_when_and_why

- - -

“Military Draft Needed for War With Iran and Syria?”

By Steve Hammons
Columnist, PopulistAmerica.com
Populist Party of America
September 28, 2006

http://www.populistamerica.com/military_draft_needed_f or_war_with_iran_and_syria

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By Dave, March 29, 2007 at 12:47 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

The iranians are only trying to start fight, and its unacceptable, they should just release those innocent marines who have not provoked them without further delay otherwise the consequences of this standoff will be for thier own making.

Dave

Zimbabwe

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