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Originally Posted by Skybird
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_ne...052699,00.html
Crazy, and for me a total  . Has the MoD lost its mind?
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It emerged yesterday that Iranian intelligence officers told the 15 captives they first became suspicious about their activities after watching an interview with one of them on British television.
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A long shot flashing up in my mind: maybe the incident was an intended intrusion into Iranian waters, to provoke the Iranians in exactly the way they later reacted? It would explain the lacking reaction of the Brits, and their home ship. It would also expolain why in such a dangerous environment the ROE as they had been described wre still valid. Good opportunity to make Iran the number one enemy again, and focus war-tired public attention towards more streamlining with the government's intended political course towards Iran. Also making Ahmadinejadh looking like a dangerous fool. -
Admitted this is thinking around two or three corners. Which is common practice in chess.
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I personally think this had more to do with the Iranian diplomats arrested by US forces in January in Kurdistan. The Iranian govt. is not stupid. They've been dealing with US provocations on both borders for over a year now. They also knew that any overt act against the US would invite reprisal raids on Iran. They bagged the Brits as a target of opportunity to swap for their diplomats. Once those diplomats were back in the news, the brits were released in a "magnanamous gesture".