Doublespeak
Iran characterizes British prime minister Tony Blair's assertion that he is prepared to take the standoff over its 15 captured seamen to a "different phase" as being "provocative".Let's see now; Iran falsely accuses British sailors of venturing into its territorial waters on a pretext that will permit them to take said seamen into illegal custody, since they're really spies intent on destabilizing Iran. But it is not they who are behaving illogically, provocatively, but the country whose people are being detained.
Why are we not surprised? Iran's garrison mentality has prepared us for just about anything. But that they would take such bold steps to up the ante in the hostilities department is pretty mind-boggling, given where their behaviour up to now has landed them in the court of world opinion. Britain can certainly present proof that her ships were located well within Iraq's waterways through satellite observations, but that isn't the issue.
That the British sailors were on a routine inspection patrol sanctioned by the Iraqi government is irrelevant. Iran simply grasped an opportunity, as it always does, to take a complicated situation to the next degree of irritating stupidity. "The media campaigns and provocative remarks regarding the violation of Iranian territorial waters by the British sailors are doing nothing to help settle the affair", huffed Mohammad Ali Hosseini.
"The British service personnel entered Iranian waters illegally and the case will follow its legal and judicial course." For whom is this neat little drama taking place? The Iranian population, already frustrated and upset at the ongoing inanities by their president and supporting clerics? For the ruling elite's entertainment, in being able so effortlessly to blindside the hated British?
These little fancies come at a price. Meanwhile, the United States is conducting rapid-fire simulated air attacks in the region, meant to last several days, although not considered to be taken as a reaction to the capture of the British sailors. Their warships are staying put for the time being. But the ongoing situation is troubling, very nervous-making.
Nice to be able to get an inside picture on what Iran hopes to accomplish, aside from the juvenile 'don't mess with us' message.
Labels: Middle East
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, March 28, 2007
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