Comments on: How dare those Limeys not give us more martyrs?

By: Nabakov

Nabakov — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:28:31 +0000

And isn’t it fun to accidently stumble across old threads like this and see whose predictions played out and didn’t?

Which reminds me, is Missy still a ligsniger?

Opps, time to leave on a jet plane.

By: tigtog

tigtog — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 23:45:29 +0000

Beck: the post where I saw the other photos of the hostages. [link]

By: Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 20:22:30 +0000

ongoing underground aggression against the US across a variety of fronts, including bizarre plots to mass-counterfeit US currency.

Was that a bizarre plot and crime against the underground tree roots or the Australian Conservation Foundation j_p_z?

Shorter j_p_z: Crime of Aggression #001: breaching copyright on George Washington’s published photographic works–with malice aforethought.

By: Nabakov

Nabakov — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:11:06 +0000

Nothing said here changes the fact the Persians caved in and handed back their captives after only a fortnight of stern but tastefully presented diplomatic notes. Compare and contrast with dozens and dozens of similar incidents over the past century. Googling “USS Pueblo”, “EP-3E” and “South China Sea” may be a good place to start.

By: J F Beck

J F Beck — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:58:03 +0000

j_p_z,

Nice comment.

By: j_p_z

j_p_z — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 13:17:37 +0000

Mick Strummer: “Surely if any country qualifies for the title of reprehensible bully, it must be the United States of America.”

Surely if there is a word that is out of place in discussions like this, it is the word “surely.” Iran has for a long period now used terrorist organizations as cat’s-paws against US allies and US interests; it has conducted ongoing underground aggression against the US across a variety of fronts, including bizarre plots to mass-counterfeit US currency. Iran has publicly and repeatedly called for a US ally to be annihilated and “wiped off the map.” The “diplomats” whose seizure Peter Kemp laments are “surely” active agitators in the Iraq war, aiding US enemies; and besides, the Iranian respect for diplomats is, um, the stuff of legend.

Of course, none of this should be surprising; the Iranians have their own interests, after all, and that should be frankly acknowledged, if not agreed with. If there were a large and questionable war being conducted on my frontiers by countries I didn’t like very much, then I imagine I’d be a little upset too. No reason not to take that into account. Still, “surely” the Iranian actions across broad categories set a certain amount of, um, context for US actions, whether wise or unwise.

None of these problems should be unsolveable; with a little sanity, a little caution, and a little talk, lots of ugly issues could probably be reduced in seriousness. But the silly name-calling –Bush’s, yours, Iran’s (“Great Satan”. oh, for pete’s sake.)– doesn’t contribute to a climate of sanity, which amongst other things requires a lot of accuracy in the soil to take root.

By: J F Beck

J F Beck — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:43:02 +0000

From the Mick Strummer link upthread:

“That emollient British approach is probably why the Iranian Revolutionary Guard chose to grab British troops rather than Americans.” Yep, go for the Poms; they’re unlikely to put up a fight.

Tigtog writes:

“BTW, Beck: that picture discussed in that post you linked to upthread? I’ve seen other photos from the same series where those three chaps who looked dour and stoic in that image are smiling and waving while others who were smiling and waving in that image are looking all stoic and dour.”

I made no claims for the photo comparison, saying “apparently…”. Got any links for the photos?

Anyway, it’s good to see you lefites have come around on the application of the Geneva Convention to non-POWs. I take it you all agree with this?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/20020207-13.html

By: Mick Strummer

Mick Strummer — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:38:16 +0000

To Pommygranate (and any others who want(ed) a hairy chested response): Surely if any country qualifies for the title of reprehensible bully, it must be the United States of America. Either directly or indirectly they threaten, bully and/or bribe other countries into doing what is the interests of the USA. This is not to argue that Iran has not taken a chance to behave as an international bully, but to shade them as the bad guys and the yanks as the calvalry in white hats is surely trying to extend the analogy too far.
And, what pre-emptive action, exactly, could possibly be taken against Iran without the west being embroiled in yet another foreign military adventure at a time when they don’t even have the troops to carry out the ones they are presently engaged in? I suggest that there is none. Which is why the Iranians felt safe in arresting and detaining those 15 Brits.
Let us not forget that this is just international politics and diplomacy carried out with the tools ready to hand. And before we condemn the Iranians, let us remember that the USA has 5 Iranian nationals holding diplomatic passports under close arrest (presumably wearing orange jump suits whilst being threatened with anal sex from a guard dog).
BTW, thanks for the tip off about my namesake. I always knew he was good. Had forgotten about his excursion into climatology (even if he got the basic prediction wrong – although that remains to be seen.)
Anyway……
Cheers….

By: bridie

bridie — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:21:55 +0000

Neo-conservative CNN talk-show pundit Glen Beck summed it up most eloquently when he proclaimed, “Iran played chicken with the West and we blinked.”

Yay, go Persians! Kick that imperialist arse big time for all of us, big babe.

By: Peter Kemp

Peter Kemp — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 10:15:39 +0000

Sorry i missed the part of your report that states what the British did to deserve this humane action by the Iranians.

Simple, unlike the Yanks, their diplomats were a tad polite, and were “diplomatic” something that exceptionalism, bullying, ‘one size fits all’ belligerence, bluster and self righteousness from the other side of the Atlantic seems to have forgotten. Reward for being civilised…. whatever.

Sorry about the Latin, but with with common neo-con arguments, one can only advise…caveat emptor.