The country that brought you Admiral Lord Nelson, The Duke of Wellington, the RAF pilots, the Knights of the Round Table is now exhibiting the rebirth of a Neville Chamberlain-like appeasement policy.
‘Peace in our time.’ Chamberlain declared just before the blitz.
The fact of the matter is that the British involvement in Iraq has been anemic at best. They contributed a token number of Soldiers, were assigned the least dangerous areas of operations and put into place rules of engagement that assured their personnel would not come into harms way unless by the most remote chance.
While any coalition military death is tragic, it should be noted that the British have suffered about 200 tragic deaths in this war. Their military has operated in the background while the United States military has done the heavy lifting.
Their last military victory, the Falkland Islands, was celebrated as a great British military success. The fact remains that this victory was over what amounts to a banana republic.
It’s hard to identify the exact point in time at which the British lost their stiff upper lip. Even worse, there appears to be no other remaining stiff anatomical body parts. Do you need any other proof than that their so-called assault troops contained a female whom the males made no attempt to defend knowing she was being taken into a captivity under Shar’ia law.
We will not see Prince Harry making an appearance in a ‘combat unit’ in Iraq after this. Until now it was relatively safe for the Brits in Iraq. It’s obvious now that even for the British, this isn’t a game of drop the hanky. They surely can’t send the prince into a situation in which the British Soldiers are functioning under rules of engagement that leave them high and dry should they happen to encounter an enemy combatant.
It’s fortunate that our response to their crisis in the 1940s was not as anemic as their response to our time of need today.
A further explanation of their delicate handling of this crisis is that they are afraid of upsetting their own muslim population.
So the question remains, what will Britain do? There are those who say they do not want to ’start a war with Iran’. Iran is already at war with Britain. Will the roar of the British lion return, or will they have to settle for a meow.
Never have so many appeased so much to so few. It’s a bloody shame.
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EU Referendum is following this story closely.
Left in the humiliating position of having nothing in the locker with which to take on the Iranians after their abduction of our service personnel, our esteemed government has been running, cap in hand, to the United Nations Security Council for a resolution condemning Iran’s action.
For all we got for our efforts, though, we need not have bothered. The mighty mouse groaned and heaved and delivered what Reuters called “a watered-down statement” which merely expressed “grave concern” at the detention of the 15 British crew members, calling on Tehran to allow “consular access” to them.
Michelle Malkin calls it a national humiliation.
Simply put, I would like the UK with our support to ‘get their pecker up,’ and keep a ’stiff upper lip.’
Verum Serum and A Blog for All have updates.
Brit & Grit is keeping up with this situation and wonders some of the same things many others have been wondering.
What is the UK government doing about this issue? Secondly, where are the human rights campaigners, such as Amnesty International and the UN, when citizens of a Western country are abused in this manner?
Others: No Man’s Blog, Cop the Truth, Crimson Blog, Wizbang, Hot Air
Previous:
- Tony Blair Warns Iran to Release British Sailors and Marines
- US Troops Would Have Fought Iranian Captors
- Britain Demands Iran Free Seized Sailors
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Disclaimer: trackbacks to this post do not necessarily represent the opinions or standards of the Blue Star Chronicles.


April 1st, 2007 at 9:48 am
Terry Jones is a comedian, so he uses sledgehammer sarcasm. His point though is relevant to your post.
By contrast, your point about free speech in Iran is true but beside the point, and seems somewhat undercut by your editing my comment to delete the link.
Here’s the argument.
Basically, if we want to hold Iran to commonly-held standards regarding the treatment of prisoners, we need to take the lead in upholding those standards ourselves.
If instead common standards aren’t important because they restrict our freedom to impose our will on our enemies - fine, but then quit complaining.
Quite a few people are confused as to where they stand on this, and their commentary has shown this confusion.
I’d be interested in your response, but at the very least I hope you won’t delete this comment.
Best wishes, Bert
April 1st, 2007 at 12:11 pm
The point is Bert - they took these marines illegally.
And the Iranian-theocracy should know that we’re onto them - in the bigger picture.
Also with the propaganda letters/video - it’s not fooling anyone here.
Also why should we apologise? When we weren’t in their waters????
I don’t see people being educated in any insitution in Britain to shout “death to Iran” …. by the way.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6515995.stm
There is institutionally encouraged hatred of the west there.
The taking of the marines - is indicative of that.
April 1st, 2007 at 1:14 pm
No argument with any of that, M.
There’s been a lot of outrage though, from Blair not least, about their treatment in custody.
Use of prisoners for propaganda, for instance, is explicitly ruled out by the Geneva conventions.
Those Conventions are there to protect our guys. That was the point made by John McCain, John Warner and Lindsey Graham when the Abu Ghraib story broke. All three of them Republicans by the way, and all three apparently with a moral compass in working order, on this issue at any rate.
By complete contrast, Alberto Gonzalez, author of the torture memos, seems a different kind of man altogether.
When we’re confronting nasty pieces of work like the hardliners in Iran, having people like that on our side really doesn’t help.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Well the issue of Abu Ghraib - is one of sadistic behaviour…
Don’t worry most people realise that “bad eggs” exist in any large organisation.
The only way around that is oversight oversight and more oversight - with regard to prisoners.
Abu Ghraib was a failure of oversight. - i.e. looking over shoulders.
But I must add - that anyone held now (even RIGHTLY held) - occuses the US of torture…. since they believe it will speed their release. I don’t believe all these can be happening.
The politicians with oversight - McCain and others you mention themselves would certainly have blown the whistle on it by then - as to not would ensure they become responsible…….
But hey - we’re off topic again….
the issue is THE ILLEGALITY of Iran’s action…
April 1st, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Did you notice - we begin justfying our actions - NOT questioning their actions…?
Notice?
April 1st, 2007 at 3:47 pm
M in the UK,
I hope I didn’t come off as sounding unappreciative of of the British/American alliance. Britain, in my humble opinion, is the only nation in Europe that still has will to use military power when needed.
I guess my point is that your continential allies can’t be counted on for much help (hell, German officers are suing in court over their role in Afghanistan and the French, well are just the French). Right now, if Britain needed to take unilateral action of some sort against Iran, it would be on a shoestring force.
While it is a good thing that Britain will have 2 large carriers in 10 years, the point is that you don’t have them now. And quite frankly, I don’t know if you could count on our help right now. The Democratic Party and the pacifist/communist/drugged-out left to which it is wedded have Bush at a great disadvantage and I don’t think he has the political will to help Britain out at the moment. That is sad, and Bush does owe Britain and Blair a great amount, but don’t count on collecting it at the moment.
Just saying…..
P.S. I was glad to see you guys voted to upgrade your nukes, but it did scare me that a large part of the Labor Party defected.
What is it with the left on both sides of the Atlantic that makes them think that they can disarm and that the bad guys won’t take advantage of that?
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:27 am
Machiavelli…. I have asked myself the same questions.
I must say I agree about the defections. There is something about (that far left) the defectors that has an aura of extreme arrogance. They are blinded by a superior attitude that says “because I think peace - everyone else does” which is rubbish and extremely short sighted. Not only that it is IRRESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT.
At the end of the day - I think Blair has actually been a very good (conservative) prime minister…. ironic as that sounds.
(as opposed to a BAD conservative party).
The issue is and something I recently recalled… on watching “the latest” propaganda - with the guys pointing to the maps…. (edited - with obvious prompting).
Also - on reading Robert Fisk’s IDIOTIC - The Independent headline today…
This isn’t a humiliation. Not at all.
This is a great reminder - for us Britain not to show HUBRIS..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubris
“Hubris or hybris (Greek ὕβÃÂιÂ), according to its modern usage, is exaggerated self pride or self-confidence (overbearing pride), often resulting in fatal retribution. In Ancient Greek hubris referred to actions taken in order to shame the victim, thereby making oneself seem superior.”
Aristotle defined hubris as follows:
to cause shame to the victim not in order that anything may happen to you, nor because anything has happened to you, but merely for your own gratification. Hubris is not the
requital of past injuries; this is revenge. As for the pleasure in hubris, its cause is this: men think that by ill-treating others they make their own superiority the greater.
Britain must be careful to not allow itself to be drawn into a trap. Even with superior technology.
What we must do - is wait. Bide our time…. and when the dust settles, take remedial action - in a manner and at a time of our choosing.
Currently, Iran has the initiative. Lets wait awhile until Britain and her allies retake the initiative…
Then we’ll hear the theocracy squeal…
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:29 am
Indeed - Iran is currently embarked on a policy that embraces hubris….
Let’s see how things pan out from here…
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:36 am
At the end of the day - I think Blair has actually been a very good (conservative) prime minister…. ironic as that sounds.
(as opposed to a BAD conservative party).
Needs expansion… in 1997 onwards people were faced with a fresh faced Blair… good for the country.
In the UK conservative party they were faced with ideological bad government - that wasn’t thinking about the good of the country.
The issue is things fluctuate in party politics… the lefts attempt to assert itself (the “defectors”) - will make Labour potentially unelectable… since as you say - the responsible people in the country realise that the independent nuclear deterent is a corner stone of our national defence.
Blair’s success has been he captured and held the middle ground… this is where elections are won…
April 2nd, 2007 at 2:40 am
I say again……
If Britain is clever… time is on our side…. remembering that a confrontation over the nuclear issue is potentially unavoidable. We should learn from this - and the nature of the Iranian-theocracy threat….
Iranian HUBRIS is the key here….
Not exactly without historical precendent …. in that area of the world…