Iran’s brinkmanship has entered a new and potentially dangerous phase. The 15 Royal Navy personnel captured on Friday were moved to Tehran yesterday, presumably for propaganda purposes. So far, calls for their safe return by Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, have fallen on deaf ears, as have her demands for a full explanation from Tehran.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, is playing an obvious game. Last night the United Nations security council was voting in New York on extending sanctions against Iran, banning arms exports and freezing assets of individuals and companies involved in its nuclear and weapons programmes. The security council tested the water with limited sanctions in December. Last night’s vote was aimed at ratcheting up the pressure.
Welcome muscle is coming from other quarters, too. Russia is reported to have issued an ultimatum threatening not to supply fuel to Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant unless it suspends its uranium enrichment programme. Moscow is also said to be withdrawing its engineers from the plant, concerned at the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. Now Iran’s state-run media have accused Russia of being an “unreliable partner”. Keep up the pressure
WATCH: Iran faces UK and UN pressure
WATCH: UN backs fresh Iran sanctions
Mark Alexander
7 comments:
All very well and good, but the ruling classes of Europe pay no heed to the aspirations or fears of their plebeian classes, they are after all, above such petty considerations, being the bravest of the brave and all.
Actually, the more this goes on the more our leaders take on a Monty Python quality, which will eventually tar their very memory. What a fitting epitaph for such weak and pusillanimous men and women.
Brave Sir Robin, brave, brave Sir Robin.
Sir Robin bravely rode away.
As an aside to the above comment; it is my understanding that for the most part, the members of the Monty Python troupe would sit firmly on the side of those same pusillanimous elites, philosophically speaking, which I guess goes to show you just how plentiful are the moonbats within Western societies - lord help us!
But then, John Cleese and company are at least being true to their words, and being nothing more than court jesters, should not be held to such condign ridicule. The ruling elites on the other hand, the words craven, shallow, pusillanimous, cowardly, hardly begin to cover the degeneracy displayed by one and all.
Posing and posturing.
Didn't we see how the American military man was soon shut up when he suggested UK response to the hostage taking was weak, and that the US would not have reacted the same way.
Does Tony and NuLabour think that Iran gives a monkey's toss what threats we make.
We don't have enough troops to do the job in Iraq, and Afghanistan, let alone have fisticuffs with Iran.
What utter twits are running this circus.
What weakness in the face of provocation.
Why the heck is'n't there any Brit airpower in the region to protect the marines.
Why did we have to scrap the Sea Harrier VTOL and other top planes that could have done the job?
That's what happens when Gordon Brown has to strangle the Military to finance his P.R. NHS spending and now, his meaningless 2 pence tax-cut.
I would wish a "plague on both their houses" but that may be tempting fate too much.
Reminds me of a sea-side "Punch and Judy" show.
Or an episode of that old classic British film
"Carry On Up The Poop-deck"
Here is a brief extract from the script,
P.M.." Now look chaps, this blighter Johnny Armenajab has got to be stopped"
He's jolly well not playing cricket with us."
Rear Admiral.." Err, what with Mr. Prime Minister?"
P.M.: "well what about the Navy then?"
Admiral Sorbottom: "Sorry, P.M. they are very busy with the sex-equality enforcement agenda, at the moment, and all our top Johnnies are at the "Political Correctness in the work-place seminars being organised by the Defence Ministry this week, oh, and we haven't got any ships left to do the job, by the by."
P.M. "Oh dear,
"Well couldn't we send them a really strongly worded note, General? On second thoughts,
maybe not quite yet, we don't want to upset them. Do you think Mrs. Beckett could tell them off very loudly on the BBC, it works for me you know,
Minister Mrs. Beckett, "Well, Tony,
I have sent them all an invite to this years big caravan- meet in Bournmouth. I have also offered them a years free subscription to "Butlins Holidays" for a fortnight
in Bognor Regis in July"
P.M. "You know, that may just do the trick!"
Now let's see the teeth.
Post a Comment