Ive asked the same question to myself and aired it on this forum. Some one either F...ked up or it is policy. Either way it was F...ked up.

From what the British Government say it has to do with the rules of engagement. Let's turn the question to its head for a moment though. Can you imagine what would have happened if the British ship had open fire? Probably the Iranians would have either fired back or there would have been casualties. Can you imagine the political and moral standing in such a situation? Things are not as easy as they seem some times.

I'm sure the ROE were in play. But if I'm an Iranian in a small boat, and If I see a warship bearing down on my position at a high rate of speed I would be seriously thinking about getting my behind the hell out. Perhaps the British ROE had been compromised and the Iranians knew that they were safe in their action.

If the report Tchocky posted is accurate, it makes alot more sense. What doesnt make sense to me so far is why I havent seen Blair on TV telling the Iranians to release his people today, or be prepared for the consequences. Its ultimatum time. Give them 72 hours to release the sailors.

Having said that, it's probably good that Blair isnt as hot tempered as I am when it comes to such situations. I think if we were talking about 15 sailors being held by some other country, I wouldnt be as impatient with it. But given Irans history, and our recent repeated bashing of heads with them, im not liking this one bit.

What I'm trying to say here is that the Royal Navy kept their cool and did not allow themselves to be drown into a gun fight. In my opinion the way the Royal Navy and the British Government handled the issue was (and so far still is) correct.

The boats were in too shallow water for the Cornwall to come to them, check my post from the BBC.

Definitely. Don't start a war unless you absolutely have to
http://www.petersellersappreciations...elMandrake.jpg

I can't understand why though the government is allowing 15 men to be held hostage. I hope to god some dialogue has been opened.

From November 4, 1979, through January 20, 1981. The Islamic regime, held 63 diplomats and three additional U.S. citizens hostage inside the American diplomatic mission in Tehran, Iran.

This is what these people do.

And then what? Send in the SAS to release them? Cause more trouble in the relations with Iran?

I agree with you on this one. It will probably take some time. There will be some kind of deal under the table and the sailors will go home eventually. It's the unfortunate world of politics I'm affraid.

The British Government is not allowing anything. They are in no position to allow or not to allow stuff to happen. They just need to sit down with Iran and see how they can sort this thing out. There will be deals in the end, but angry talk and shows of force will not bring the solution closer in my opinion.

No, no, no, your timing is all out....

Should be July 4th, then you can have the victory celebration and Independence Day in one party.

These guys got it right.

http://www.bibleetnombres.online.fr/image2/inde4jul.jpg

Well, if one looks at the front page of that site ( http://www.rense.com/ ), one can't help but notice there's something special about it.

Not rense again, AL will make a sarcastic remark or a clever one. :roll:

Special in the way its front page has hands-down the funniest picture of Dick Cheney I've ever seen. He's really up to no good in that one. It must be the red tint.

http://jmgillis.com/cheney.jpg
"Why make trillions when we could make... billions?"

What could it do? It was 8 miles away at the time, the soldiers themselves were armed only with SA80s so fighting back would have been suicide.

There was helicopter top cover for the first part but it returned to cornwall to refuel.

Theres nothing cornwall could do from 8 miles away to assist. If it opens first then lots of people are dead on both sides.

So many inconsistencies in the MoDs account today anyway there maybe other reasons for not trying anything. How both iranian boats allegedly sneaked up and ambushed is an interesting claim given the radar coverage of the entire area by land and sea.

As the USA continues to provoke iran at every oppertunity hoping to get a reaction and therefore excuse to bomb it these incidents are just going to get more and more common.