So how is this not arrogance?
Iran dismisses EU’s biased, meddlesome stances on sailors case
ran on Saturday dismissed EU’s “biased and interventionist” stances on capture of 15 British marines and sailors, who illegally trespassed into Iranian territorial waters, calling on Europe to avoid any “uncalculated and irresponsible” comments on the issue.“While ruling out the biased and meddlesome stances of European Union on arrest of the 15 British marines for illegal entry into Iran’s territorial waters, Foreign Ministry asks European states to avoid any uncalculated and irresponsible comments on the issue,” said a Foreign Ministry statement in reaction to a statement, issued by the European Union (EU) in its informal meeting in Germany.
The Foreign Ministry statement, citing documented and authoritative proof and evidence on violation of Iran’s territorial waters by British marines, recommended European officials and European Union to take such evidences into consideration before offering any illogical support for London.
It warned the EU against issuance of “baseless” statements and against any unwise interference in an issue which fully concerns the Islamic Republic of Iran and the British government.
Or this:
Ahmad Khatami: No country should interfere in British sailors case
This week’s Friday Prayers Leader Hojatoleslam Seyed Ahmad Khatami said here that no third party, such as the United Nations Security Council or any country has the right to interfere in the case of arrested British sailors.[…] Khatami said that no country does ever let its sovereignty be violated, adding that what has taken place actually marks the discord between the two countries.
“Britain is an aggressor and Iran has confronted it. Therefore, no third party — neither the United Nations Security Council nor any country — has the right to interfere in the issue. They should be aware that their interference will make the matter more difficult and complicated,” he said.
This is the man brought to speak at Harvard. The one they call a moderate. Yep, that’s a totally moderate stance I’m reading there. Uh-huh. Why, the man is a regular ambassador of peace, tranquility, and brotherhood among nations.
Since the British sailors and marines were in Iraqi territorial waters when the Iranians attacked them, as shown by the first set of coordinates the Iranians gave which matched the ones the British had for their people, it was Iran that was the aggressor. They captured uniformed service personnel of another country in the waters of Iraq. This is an act of war. Of course, Iran has committed many other acts of war against the West without having to pay any penalty.
The Iranians are at war with us and Britain. They have been since the Islamic Revolution. They delight in “asymmetrical warfare” which means, for them, terrorism and criminality. Britain has not got the conventional strength to fight Iran, and even US participation may not be enough. If Iran wants asymmetrical warfare let us give it to them. I suggest Britain and the USA (and Iraq if possible) give Iran a short ultimatum to hand back the sailors and marines, cease its terrorism, and cease interfering in Iraq or face dreadful consequences. When Iran’s Pharaohs arrogantly refuse, I suggest that Britain use one Trident missile to destroy several high-value targets in Iran, including the U enrichment facility and Iran’s single gasoline refinery, using nuclear warheads. Asymmetry works both ways, if Western leaders have the guts to use the overwhelming power available to them.
If Western leaders had the guts to use the overwhelming power available to them, this act of piracy would never have taken place.
The weird quasi-alliance between the hard left and the islamofascists seems kind of odd but one thing this kidnapping shows is that the two groups share a kind of “boy was the revolution cool” nostalgia.
These are no longer rag-tag student groups holding Westerners hostage but men in charge of a government. Yet the films, the propaganda all seem right out of the Carter years. Our government and the British government should be pointing out that there are real consequences to be had and Iran can’t hide behind a chaotic situation this time. The Iranian government itself chose to act and it will answer for it. Not just now but until this government is replaced by a more responsible one.
As a member of Generation X I’m not fooled by the Jane Fonda types reliving their glory years and I’m sure younger Iranians are not fooled by this either.
We should be united and strong until these soldiers are brought home. If Iran perceives this as a propaganda victory against the West these Brits will be there for a long time. If they perceive us as being united they will release the soldiers rather than see things escalate. After all, nostalgia has its limits.