A number of people have been highly critical of the British soldiers recently captured and freed by the Iranian government. Particular criticism has been levied at the statement made my the soldiers in a press conference that "Fighting back was not an option."

In one sense, I think the soldier making that statement was correct. Fighting back was not an option. It was an obligation. It was a necessity. It was a duty. But it was not an option.

What would have happened if the British inspecting a boat for contraband had simply told the Iranians to sod off and get out of Iraqi waters? What would have happened if the British had taken up defensive positions and pointed their weapons at the Iranians? Did the operators of the Iranian boats know that they were in Iraqi waters? If they believed they were in Iranian waters would the have started a fire-fight, particularly with a British Navy ship very near by? How much fighting back would it have taken to convince the Iranians to turn around and leave?

The answer of course depends on what the Iranians were doing there in the first place.

If the local Iranian commanders were mistaken about their position, (A mistake the Iranian government tried, very badly, to cover up) an armed standoff would have been resolved fairly quickly when they were proven wrong, and additional British Naval and air support arrived on the scene. End of situation and the Iranians learn a lesson in being more careful about where they are and who they approach.

If they were ordered to the area by superiors, the likely intent was to test the British and see how they responded. I would bet officials in the Iranian government were just as surprised as the rest of the world at how easily the British gave up. There must have been a bit of panic when the Iranians realized they had prisoners they weren't expecting. They were probing for information - and they got plenty along with a major propaganda victory. They held the British long enough to get some good use out of them - which didn't take long. Then they released them before the British or their superpower ally the United States did any serious saber rattling.

They now know the British will give up without resistance. They will be most cooperative prisoners. And the West - at least the European West, will do little or nothing. Then they released prisoners before anything really bad happened and get to appear reasonable to the West and Western media in particular.

This is what the British sailors handed to the Iranians when they decided that resistance was futile.

Fighting back was not an option. It was their duty.

Technorati Tags: Iran, Terrorism

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 01:10 PM | No Comments | Add Comment