Tony Blair should open "negotiations" with Iran to release his sailors by telling them failure to release the sailors/marines in 24 hours will result in the disappearance of Tehran.

Iran isn't run by the sharpest tools in the shed if They kidnapped british soldiers to get leverage over something the americans did !!!

Ditto...

i hope we don't give into Iran and trade Iran officers we don't need to give in on the sections Blair just hollowing about wanting men back will not do any good You can not deal with Iran i have not heard from their Dem upset about their seizure of 15 sailors by Iran they done nothing but hollow when solders went to Iraq.i believe if this can not be worked out i think we need to declare war with British help no body else in europe will help.

Dear Brian Ross,

Pleae get off your phone and start writing articles from a journalist's perspective. Your musings simply parrot those of the Bush regime and I find them all so annoying! There should be a tag next to these articles: Warning--written by the guy with the cell phone.

Why is the security council/UN not putting pressure on Iran? Iran has gone to far this time, we need to teach them a lesson.

In the back of everyone's minds is the Iran Hostage crisis. Blair must be firm, declaring that 'if the British Citizens - marines and naval sailors, are not promptly released, it would represent an act of war', then promptly close the Iranian Consulate in Britain, ejecting its occupants.

Brian -- Thye British sailors involved already admitted they entered Iranian waters. ABCNEWS.COM even reported it (which I am sure you are aware). This was an attempt by Britian to provoke Iran into an attack, thereby providing a justification to expand the war to Iran.

I am thankful the Iranians are smart enough to have not fallen for the bait. I am very concerned that the British military would sacrifice 15 of its troops for such a risky series of events that were only bound for failure.

If Iran is such a threat, why did Col. Oliver North, and the Iran Contra team, sell 1000's of weapons to Iran in the 1980's, at the SAME exact time the US government (and Ronald Reagan) was officially supporting Iraq? If Oliver North doesn't think Iran is a threat, why should anyone else?

I think while the soup is hot on Iraq, United States & British should do something With Iran before living office, otherwise Iran will be more powerful and more dangerous.

If there is any sort of fight with Iran, the US {and its allies} should NOT make the same mistake they made in Iraq -fighting in a minimalist way! Totally anihilate whatever force/resistance Iran puts up with little regard to "collateral damage" or political correctness! Instead of wringing hands, the west (US) should simply thank God that Iran is presenting a chance to be decisively dealt with for the 1979/80 US-Embassy attack and hostage-taking and for Beirut 1982 attack on the Marines barracks.

I think there is no rule for war. They are in war,teeth for tat.
Americans doing whatevere they want, no rule for thier game!!!!why donot you complain!!!

We (Britain and the US) should not tolerate this kind of activity from Iran. I agree with a previous comment: If the British sailors and marines are not released in 24 hours, it is an act of war.

"I agree with a previous comment: If the British sailors and marines are not released in 24 hours, it is an act of war".....
Ok, Haley and someone else who was agree with a war, I hope you all to be faced with your enemy in a fierce of battle field.

So samuel, you're saying that, prior to this incident, the UK was at war with Iran? Are you sure?

Shat al Arab is a contested zone; the territorial borders are often disputed by the two countries, so it's not surprising that Iran uses this to start some stuff...

Ditto

A majority of the middle eastern countries have it out for the U.S. and its allies, obviously. I would like to see more British pressure on Iran. I think that the West is playing too scared and taking the diplomatic route timidly as well when in fact its soldiers and citizens are being held for reasons that shouldn't be considered.

As if Iran wasn't being closely watched in the first place, capturing the sailors and marines really doesn't help their cause as their president continuously pleads that they are a country of peace.

Everyone here please get a life!!!! If your so concerned about our country go sign up for the military. But none of you will because you're all talk and no action. It's easy to sit at a desk and write down your opinions on things you have no clue about!!!

1. None of us were in the water at the time of the event.

2. Bush and Blair aren't controlling this war it is way bigger than politics, they're takign orders like everyone else. Yes they have to lie and be dishonest again they're told what to do.

3. This will continue to go on until the Earth no longer exists.

Dorien, because you addresses your post to "everyone", I assume you meant me as well. Umm, I AM a combat veteran - I'm no talk, all action. No I was not "in the water" during this incident. I have been in naval ops in the Straits of Hormuz, and I can tell you that Iran has, for a very long time, played these games with international forces that are mandated to be in these waters. They are playing a very dangerous game with the world right now, and one does not have to "sign up for the military" to show concern or even interest in these events.

Mark my words, General Ali Reza Asgari's "disapperance" is involved in all this. He went missing while in Istanbul and has been reported to be in England right now spill his guts regarding Iran and their nuclear program and terrorist training programs. I'd bet they want him back and back now.

It is a shame the US and GB are run by idiots and criminals. Bush hasn't done one thing right since he was appointed in 2000 and there is no reason to believe he is going to change. Iran may well be more advanced in their nuclear activities but we'd be hard pressed to believe anything Bush has to say.

Given that a vessel from halfway around the globe was captured off the coast and in close proximity to Iran, (regardless of whether it was in Iraqi or Iranian waters) I'm giving the benefit of the doubt to the natives rather than the people from thousands of miles away who were never welcomed or invited in the Gulf in the first place.
Let's see what it looks like when the dust settles.
I know what the general opinion would be if there was an Iranian ship off the coast of England or the US.

I think it is a ruse by Iran to begin talks with West. This gives them perfect cover. They have something on. There is double speak here like a warning of some sorts. Only time will tell.

It's pretty widely known that the US has operatives in Iran. So the argument that we wouldn't cross over into their territory just doesn't hold water. Whether or not these particular British troops were in Iranian waters really doesn't matter. Look at how long Iran held US hostages before releasing them unharmed. The British won't be harmed. We should negotiate them out of there.

All of you people who want to rush in and attack Iran scare the hell out of me. First, it's illegal for us to do so, according to int'l law. Second, we do not have the resources available for an all-out war with Iran. Third; just look at Iraq. Do you honestly think that we would have a better result in Iran?

Let calmer heads prevail and stop your fist-shaking. Think before you speak, and learn about the subject before you form opinions.

Iran is larger than Alaska with three times the population of California. They also have a military which was not destroyed by Bush 41. I think "Bring 'em on" would not be an appropriate response to this situation.

I hope Americans are going to support getting the return of our servicemen...

Remember who's been there since the beginning... and Britains whos made great sacrifices too.

This was AN ILLEGAL ACT. International Law means that a warning to leave territorial waters and the time to do so should have been the response. ILLEGAL SEIZURES ARE UNLAWFUL.

I think this highlights the underhanded and two-faced nature of the theocratic-dictatorship regime in Iran. Politiking is their life-blood. I just hope no-one is going to let them off for this!!!

The US has the resources to take on Iran tody if it chooses to. It simply depends on what kind of fight the US chooses.

While we're racking up what is or isn't an "illegal act", let's not forget to give a little scrutiny to our invading Iraq for all the wrong and unsubstantiated reasons. OK?
Ok.

Apples and oranges - Iran was glad to see armored columns trekking from Kuwait to Baghdad in search of Mr. Hussein. Do you actually see colors, or just black and white?

GPS will tell where they were. As I understand it, they were in Iraqi waters and Iran drug the whole nine yards to their waters. Iran claims the British were in their waters 6 times....which is probably poppycock. They are masters of lies and deception. It doesn't matter which administration was in office, who the president was, and has nothing to do with politics......this could have happened anytime and probably won't be the last. Wish our plate wasn't so full right now.

Gee I guess it's too terribly hard to imagine that the Brits were in and out of Iran waters a half dozen times and then scooted back as close as they could to the Iraqi side by the time the "capture" took place, huh?
Seeing as how all the focus is placed on where the pick up was made, no one seems all that fired up to know or find out if a series of trespasses were what provoked the incident in the first place.
Nationalists are so selective with what they care to know and believe.
I couldn't say this is what happened. I merely comment on the fact that far too few people care enough to ask.

I think that if our military forces did not have so many restrictions this war might have been over a long time ago. But NO, as soon as we retaliate in someway there is always some person complaning about how we were wrong in doing what we did. This is a war people wether we like it or not, let the military do there job and you do yours. And that is support what ever decision is made. If we dont this war will come to American soil someday.

I am very concerned why the media is highlighting the confessions and the letter from the woman who said we should withdraw from Iraq - obviously what Iran wants if they told her to write that in the letter. We can't even get our own media to condemn Iran let along China and Russia (CNN especially). It should be obvious to all that Iran wants us out of Iraq if they put that comment in the letter from the female.

Great Britain isn't so great anymore
It is no secret that i have never been a fan of anything British (well apart from British Rugby) i trash anything Anglo from their over hyped soccer league to the old gizzers who seat in the British parliament .But i think we can all agree that great Britain is not great anymore .The fiasco of the 15 British marines being held by Iran speaks volumes of what Britain is today .A has been power that cleverly masks its weakness by hiding behind a great history .

I remember a while back arguing with my Kenyan College professorin an International relations class over the role and importance of Britain in the world .To put it politely I told him that Britain only hangs on the coat tails of America and thumps its chest at others only because if challenged its big brother was there to lend support .Yesterday the poor state of Britain's position in the world was exposed and showed itself when it failed to secure a resolution that would have forced Iran to hand over the captured troops On the same day in Southern Africa Britain's calls for Mugabe to step down from power were largely ignored by African states that came out in support of Mugabe instead .In short the UK is a paper tiger whose time to be relieved of its Security Council position has come .It is only appropriate that in all fairness that Britain relinquish its position in the UN and hand over power to a more suitable power such as India .

Today Britains only claim to this position can only be described as a racial .The united kingdom is a toothless kingdom that has lost all the majesty it once boasted of .From nairobi to tokyo its influence and its opinions count for nothing .It is sad that london withthe help of the BBC still pretends that the majesty and power Britain once spoke off still lives today.The reality of the the current world we live in is that Great Britain is great no more .

Iran is clever to detain British service personal, and not American. Had Iran taken 15 American marines and sailors, Bush would not hestitate to bitch-slap that silly little country with blunt trauma. By going after Britons, Iran makes a case against the entire western world, not just America. The general population in Britain these days would rather sing songs of peace and hold hands, than develop some backbone and defend what is theirs. The left wants to tuck tale and run. And then what? The Double Standards in this country make me sick. Talk is cheap. Enough of this left-wing cowardice!

Hmmmm. Let's see now. According to Tony Blair the captured British soldiers are falsely admitting being captured in Iranian waters because they are being coerced but the Gitmo prisoners who admit to fighting for the Taliban are telling the truth despite the fact they have been tortured.

Stupidity and lies remain the underpinnings of their respective administrations.

1. Many are calling the Iranians stupid, but how stupid was it of the U.S. and the U.K. to depose Hussein and put Shiites in power in Iraq, giving the Iranians a natural ally? The Iranians were all in favor of us attacking Iraq so that we could do their dirty work for them. We've spent nearly half a trillion dollars and lost over 3,000 KIA and 20,000 WIA and they've just sat back and laughed at us.

2. All this talk of attacking Iran doesn't mention the effect on world oil prices, nor the toll this would take on U.S./U.K. forces. The Iranians have been practicing and buying equipment for a LONG, LONG time to face down our navies in the Gulf. Recall that in 2002, in a war game simulating an attack on Iran, a U.S. Marine general, using guerrilla tactics and unconventional logistics beat the U.S. force so badly that they had to stop the game and reset the rules in order to let the U.S. win. The ancient Persians invented chess. The Iranians are not stupid.

3. If the U.S./U.K. attack Iran, the Iranians have the capability to completely shut off the roads from Kuwait to Baghdad and to incite an uprising against the Coalition forces. Couple this with the expected resurgence in violence in Afghanistan and you'd have three hot wars at the same time while U.S. equipment is being deteriorated daily and our reserves are non-existent. Do you want to throw in a crippled/sunk aircraft carrier, a closed Straits of Hormuz, making resupply of Kuwait and Iraq impossible?

When are we going to stop playing games with these jacka""es, they are just buy time. People don't realize the importance of blasting them back into the stone age were they belong. They are supplying weapons to terrorist, but they won't supply nukes right! We are so comsummed with oil prices, don't attack because oils price will rise. The next time there is an attack on this soil it's going to make 9/11 look like a milk run, I hope I'm wrong but I doubt it.

The Brits on patrol; why did they not flee or fight back? They just raised the white flag and walked off their boat? Surely they had onboard firepower to mix-it-up with the Iranian patrol and more horsepower, faster boats, to exit rapidly. Believe what you want, but Iran was "given" these sailors by the UK. WHY? To grant Iran the illusion that they have barganing power and force the ball into their court for an internationally visible reaction. Iran has one more chance to prove themselves as peacemakers or barbarians. If they choose the latter, the US and UK will act by following an identical path of escalation that you saw in Iraq. Look for troop buildup, like you saw in Kuwait, to take place in Iraq, just outside the range of conventional Iranian missles. Airpower will again be "tip of the spear" and after-action occupation will be limited. Iran is equipped to govern themselves after their leadership is unseated.

So how come no one has provided GPS details for the 24 hours leading up to this capture rather than simply parading the one lone tracking instance being used to rebutt the Iranian claims of infraction?
Seems to me if the Brits had a case, they would be intelligent enough to present it in their own defense.
But then that wouldn't help with the beating of the war drums would it?

So, Tod, you don't care how how the price of oil goes? Good. Start walking and learn how to make your own plastics, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, etc.

Isn't it odd that everyone assumes that the British had the "right" to be in ANYONE'S territorial waters, Iraqi OR Iranian?

The Iranians were, very simply, taking hostages to trade for their men who were abducted by the U.S. in Arbil back in January.

Why should the Brits hand over any documentation of their military operations to anybody? They have a right not to "present their case in their own defense". They're not in a trial with anyone. I don't think they were "beating the war drums" either (whatever that means). Such a puddy tat, Z.

A minimal grasp of American history would clear up what a "war drum" is for anybody.
And it appears that now that the Brits have been promised their release, and remain unharmed, perhaps the Western Alliance will be able to turn their attention to some other issue to pick up the cadence and drum away. Not to worry. There's still the nuclear thing that has been nicely blown out of proportion. And who knows what else is being considered as a "noble" cause for yet another invasion, this time into Iran.
It is strange however; that after two weeks of news breaking headlines and stories on the capture and detention of these folks, ABCNews online could only muster a whooping half page to the particulars of the release.
I guess we wouldn't want to hear too much about the Iranians not being the demons that we're being led to believe they are, huh?

You are absolutely wrong; don't be so naive.

They are going to do their best to gin up a reason to invade. All the knee - jerk, tough guy rhetoric by all the brave bedroom warriors on the internet and on the talk shows just shows how we can fall for this crap again. Sorry I dont want to spend any money or see any Americans die for another canard in the mideast

There's more ink and bits being spent on the Brit release today than there was yesterday.
Unfortunately, it's pretty much centered around the news that while in captivity, hands were bound, they were threatened with the prospect of being sentenced to serve time and they were interrogated.
Well, isn't that what the case would have been even if someone were arrested by local or federal enforcement people right here in the the land of the free?
There were no reports of brutality, beatings, "water boarding" or intimidation through the use of electrodes as in Abu Graib and the accomodations and length of stay was far shoter than what our "guests" (suspect or otherwise) at Gitmo are enjoying.

The particulars of what humane treatment there was by comparison and the very release itself seems to pale in the US press in favor of the thump, thump, thumping attempts to drive the national furor into the semblance of enough hate to justify the further demonization of Iran and to nourish the possibility of US military involvement.
War sells far better than compassion.