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Original poster

15 captured British soldiers -- Iranian or Iraqi territory?

168 replies

Eleusis · 28/03/2007 12:44

The news coverage on the BBC presents this as they were in Iraqi water and the Iranians captured them at gun point. But, a colleague of mine has just told me that the borders are actually in dispute. Is this so? Does anyone know the story on the dispute?

BBC coverage

However, I must say though even if they did stray into Iranian waters, is that justification to capture them at gun point? I wouldn't think so!

OP posts:
ArcticRoll · 28/03/2007 12:55

I'm really surprised this isn't the number one story in the media.
Also the government seem to be down playing it.

Original poster
Eleusis · 28/03/2007 13:01

It is the number 1 story isn't it. It's front page on news.bbc.co.uk.

I think it is very important. What is Iran's motive. Do they want World War 3? I work with two people who happen to be Iranian. One of thinks that George Bush is a wreckless manian and wants to blow his homeland to bits (and joking comes round to hold me responsible every now and then) and the other comes round to tell me to help blow her government to bit so the IRanian people canbe free again. She thinks the current regime is terrible. Such radically opossing views. She says that 95% or the Iranian population wants to see this government overthrown but that the people are powerless because the government has the backing of big powerful nations who are interested in their oil (Russia, China, and France among others... oh and the UK, which surprised me). The US is obviously not among their backers.

OP posts:
ArcticRoll · 28/03/2007 13:01

Sorry take back what I said after just hearing 'The World at One'!

Original poster
Eleusis · 28/03/2007 13:03

And why has Iran taken UK soldiers, rather than American?

OP posts:
ArcticRoll · 28/03/2007 13:05

Also I based my widely inaccurate comments on the fact that The Guardian didn't feature it on front page yesterday!

paulaplumpbottom · 28/03/2007 13:06

I can't help but think that Iran is trying to pick a fight here.

Original poster
Eleusis · 28/03/2007 13:11

You think?

OP posts:
paulaplumpbottom · 28/03/2007 13:16

They think they are in a position to. They feel like the US and the UK can't afford another war. Finacially and politically

littleEasterlapin · 28/03/2007 13:22

As the Shatt al-Arab waterway comes down between Iraq and Iran, there is a wide strip of disputed water, which both Iraq and Iran claim. This is the second time that our service men have been taken by the Iranians for being on "their" side.

If you imagine you take a straight line out from the right bank of the river (Iran) and one from the left bank of the river (Iraq) there is a large triangular area in between... this is where our personnel probably were.

paulaplumpbottom · 28/03/2007 13:26

What happened to the servicemen the first time?

littleEasterlapin · 28/03/2007 13:45

We got them back after 3 days, but the Iranians kept all their boats and equipment

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:11

This isn't going to "go away" though is it? Goodness knows how long they will keep them for.

littleEasterlapin · 28/03/2007 14:15

It's been 5 days... hopefully the Iranians, who seem keen for the rest of the world to be "on their side" will release them soon.

As to why they took Royal Navy rather than US Navy personnel - because we're patrolling that area, and because it was opportunistic, at a guess.

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:16

Perhaps they also thought that the UK would be less likely to retaliate - the Americans would probalby send their planes and soldiers in and make the whole situation a lot worse.
I feel for the little girl of that woman captured though

littleEasterlapin · 28/03/2007 14:26

DH served with her and her husband years ago. The family would have been in the same situation if it had been him, but somehow it seems worse that it's her, IYSWIM.

They are talking about releasing her soon though, hopefully.

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:26

Sky news is running the story that Iran is planning to free that woman that has been captured, and will show footage of the Naval and Marine personnel

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:28

Sorry if this insults anyone but i don't get women who have children then put theirselves into the situation that she is in, by staying in the Aremd Forces.Thankfully she will probably be ok, but what if she had been captured by Iraqi insurgents, or Al-Queda? The worst imaginings we have would be true then. Or she could have been killed

littleEasterlapin · 28/03/2007 14:28

But why would men stay in, then? They are parents too.

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:30

I meant both parents being in. I know a couple who both went to Iraq for 6 months and the child was taken from school, and sent to live with it's grandparents in Devon (this was from the north of scotland). I don't get it.

suejonez · 28/03/2007 14:30

she'd probably be more at risk as a paramedic or a nurse in central London, Saltire

OrvilleRedenbacher · 28/03/2007 14:31

course they were spying fgs

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:32

They weren't spying Orville, they don't send basic seamen/women to spy! That's why they have MI5 and MI6.
They were doing patrols

Original poster
Eleusis · 28/03/2007 14:33

Saltire, I too am sorry, but that view is shockingly sexist. A guy I work with said the same thing this morning in the office, and I asked him why it was different for men. He said "because they've always done it". Oh, okay, was there some logic there????

So, when women (and men -- it takes both you know) have kids the women should give everything up and the man should go on to enjoy career and family.

The word Victorian comes to mind.

OP posts:
OrvilleRedenbacher · 28/03/2007 14:34

yeah right
she was just drivign hte boat

mates dh was wiht them alt week or week before
he is very cagey ont he issue

saltire · 28/03/2007 14:36

I didn't say all women should give up their jobs eleusis. There is a world of difference between a women going out to wrok in an office for say 9 hours a day and leaves her child/ren with a childminder and one who goes off to a war zone and leaves her child with grandparents for 6 months.

It's my opinion and I'm entitled to say it.