Ok, the islamofascist terrorist state of Iran seizes about 14 english sailors in international waters and holds them hostage. They humiliate the only female member of the group by forcing her to cover her head in a submissive manner, same as they treat their own women. They force them to make speeches condemning their governments and display them on TV.

What is england going to do?

Seriously, I hope england grows a pair and takes concrete action, along the lines of "Release them within 24 hours or we start taking out your naval ports. Harm them and we take out your oil facilities and vital government buildings. Kill them and we take out your infrastructure, starting with the water plants you depend on. Then we force you to pay reparations for the dead personnel."

I doubt they'll do it, but I can hope. I know we have some englanders here, is the BBC allowed to tell the english public about this situation and if so how do people in england feel about it?

I'm not an Englander, though I have had sex with many English girls, but as a British person I'm shocked and dismayed at this news which has clearly been repressed by the evil monarchist state. I would speak more but I can hear the boots of the suede-demin secret police fast approaching. If you don't hear from me again remember me in your prayers and keep up the good fight Noxboy some of us know you as a true champion of freedom.

I think we'll quietly negotiate while muttering fervent hopes under our breath that the US don't do anything stupid.

I'mm all but certain that British and American dictionaries have different definitions for the word 'Diplomacy'.

What will England do?


Nothing.

Well they'll keep negociating and name calling until the boots are on the ground.

Iran wants them to make an offensive move.  Britain's strategists know this.  Iran's strategists know Britain knows this.  If it takes too long, Iran will torture these guys (but only to the extent that we could get away with, nothing that'll turn the other Muslims against them) because they know damn well that bluffing won't get them the response they want.  The only real question is how long it takes for Britain's intelligence to figure out where the soldiers are.

Quote from: Dominus NoxWhat is england going to do?

They could always take an idea from Jimmy Carter's playbook and threaten to boycott the Beijing Olympics in 2008 unless China gets with the program and puts pressure in Iran. :rolleyes:

Quote from: Dominus NoxWhat is england going to do?

Have a nice cup of tea?

Nox, why are you still posting?  Didn't you get the despatch?  You should be base jumping into Bahrain right about now! How else are the poor sailors going to be freed if our top agent isn't on the job?

What SHOULD they do? Threaten to seize Kharg Island in 48 hours if the soldiers aren't released, followed by bombing Iran's only gasoline refinery 24 hours later if they haven't been released.

What WILL they do? Beg the UN to apply "stern pressure" while staring at paintings of Britain's glorious past and weeping silently.

It's win/win for Iran, even though world opinion of them isn't exactly being bolstered by this. They know that any largescale military action isn't forthcoming due to commitments elsewhere. They know that any kind of airstrikes will play into radicals' hands and increase trouble in Iraq for allied forces, as well as solidify opinion in Iran against us (which, really, isn't there for most of Iran's population. Before the Iraq war, they were actually one of the more reformed nations in the region). So, they are milking this for as much as they can before they release them. In the unlikely event that they just continue pushing and pushing, then that may be another matter, but i'm at a loss as to what could logistically be done. Maybe a punitive airstrike as a cover for an inteligence operation to retreive the soldiers.

It's pretty much guarenteed that both the US and UK have intelligence operatives already in Iran. I'm guessing they are working at getting the holding location just in case a retreival is necessary.

Opinion i've seen in the country is pretty gung-ho really. Which doesn't really match up with the reality that our armed forces have been continually reduced for decades, making any unilateral action pretty much impossible now. We probably couldn't take back the Falklands today if Argentina decided they wanted it back.

Still, we get free healthcare with the saved money.

Quote from: WerekoalaWhat SHOULD they do? Threaten to seize Kharg Island in 48 hours if the soldiers aren't released, followed by bombing Iran's only gasoline refinery 24 hours later if they haven't been released.

What WILL they do? Beg the UN to apply "stern pressure" while staring at paintings of Britain's glorious past and weeping silently.

Guy, I respect your first option there and like the way you think.

While I disliked maggie thatcher for a lot of reasons, I admit she would have handled this situation in a way that would have at least been close to right.

Iran needs to be careful because:

1. Bush is crazy.
2. We don't need an invasion force to bomb them into oblivion.

Interesting column:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/321825,CST-EDT-steyn01.article

Quote from: One Horse TownWe probably couldn't take back the Falklands today if Argentina decided they wanted it back.

Dude, Argentina doesn't even have fuel for its tanks, let alone its fleet.

Meanwhile, in Israel...