What if the 15 UK sailors held in Iran were American?

[Cascadian]

I think Britain took the high road in securing the release of the 15 British sailors and marines. They used more diplomacy and kept the lines of commincation open. It makes me laugh when Neocon freaks like John "The Walrus" Bolton think it was a victory for Iran and a setback to get tough on Iran's nuclear program. This had nothing to do with that. It was about 15 people's lives.


Can anybody imagine what would happen if the 15 sailors and marines were American? I think a war would have started over this. Bushco have no negotiating capabilities. They ony know of one thing. Death and destruction. I would like to urge the Democrats in the Capitol to keep sending our lawmakers to foreign capitals and really handle foreign policy (and don't forget the domestic!). Make it very very hard for Bush to continue his twisted agenda.



Also, congratulations to the familes of those British sailors and marines for their safe return.


John

[BOSSHOG]

1. "Christians" in America would be praying that Iran would execute them

The pro-life lunatics in this country would just love another war. Somebody better check out the status of our military before we start stretching it any further, but what the fuck do I know, I'm just a cowardly liberal.

[Cascadian]

3. Sometimes I really wished America was not colonized by Puritans.

We could have been like Australia. All the "fun-loving criminals" went down there. Instead we got stuck with a bunch of religious zealot idiots!



John

[no_hypocrisy]

2. You kidding?????????????? * would use the opportunity to "correct"

history to have the results that he thinks they SHOULD HAVE been. He would do a replay the Iranian hostage situation from 1979 to show Iran who's boss just like he's using Iraq to "correct" both his father's retiscence to destroy Saddam Hussein (and take his oil) and the "surrender" of South Vietnam.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. No Matter Which Country They Were From Iran Was Still Wrong For Holding Them To Begin With.

Diplomacy in my opinion isn't even a parameter in the equation because no diplomacy, agreements, discussions or otherwise should've been necessary for their release from the start. Iran was playing games here.

[Cascadian]

6. That might be but my point is this.

If these people were American sailors and marines, the way Bush would have handled the situation would be different. There would have been more sabre rattling and rhetoric thrown around from both sides. I absolutely do not condone what the Iranians had done. American foreign policy would make it very hard for those people to have been released in fact they would still be in Iranian hands.


John

[physioex]

5. Ummm...

Do what Raygun did, trade WMDs for hostages......

:shrug:


Edit: I don't think this country is in a position to fight on another front. Our army is already over extended in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now we are talking about Iran?? Impossible. Know what happened to Germany??

[louis-t]

7. Our soldiers would never have been seen in those strange Iranian suits.

They would have found a way to get uniforms back. I don't think you would have seen our soldiers laughing and frollicking like the Brits did. I was very surprised at their demeanor. I was also surprised at their willingness to apologize and admit they were wrong. Hmmm, maybe they took the Brits uniforms away to 'soften' the situation. Anybody else think the Brit soldiers' demeanor would have been different had they been allowed to stay in uniform?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. I'd imagine...

that if I were imprisoned for two weeks I wouldn't want to be wearing the same outfit the whole time.

What, you think British troops are softer than American troops?

[louis-t]

14. No, I just think taking away their uniforms was a way to

get them to act and feel less 'soldierly'. Iran used the situation to make themselves look good in the eyes of Iranians. It was just very strange to see soldiers acting jovial and 'confessing' when obviously not under duress. They were captives, after all. Not guests.

[Cascadian]

11. Not all of them looked happy.

Look at the guy on the far right.

[roamer65]

13. Bet the one on the far right is...

British S.A.S. Probably worried because he fouled up the mission.

[madeline_con]

8. We'd be at war with them.

DUH-bya tried to stick his big dumb nose in this one and somehow get the change to blow more shit up.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. If they were American...

Then we would have clandestinely sold Iran weapons for their return, then funneled money to the contras.

[gatorboy]

12. Chimp would first pee his pants,

because that would mean that he'd have to attack a country with a real army and not one we've been bombing for the past decade.

And second? Hmmm, what was that thing that happend with China during his first term?