The Iranian position is both inconsistant and a load of bull. But it's misleading to say they admit to the search taking place in Iraqi waters, since they released a second set of coordinates for the capture (in Iranian waters) shortly after announcing a the first coordinates (in Iraqi waters).

Other than that though, I think the post is funny.

Bazarro world: Wrong is now right while right is now wrong. ww

Jay,
Do you think the UK should hold its breath waiting for the UN or EU to bail the 15 out? You have to remember that France is part of the EU. I think the UK is trying everything they can short of armed conflict to resolve this matter.

What happens if Iran doesn't accept the apology? Will the EU then support the UK for armed response?

I don't know what's worse, the keystone kops kidnapping routine by the Iranians, or the complete and utter neutering of the Union Jack.

Meanwhile, Churchill is spinning in his grave, and Chamberlain is toasting from his.

I have to wonder: is this what Rome was like, when they thought so little of their nation that they could not raise an army to defend against the Vandal hordes?

Must be.

I don't believe the West has fallen; rather, I think it's rotted from within, like a corpse that doesn't know - or won't admit - that it's been long dead.

The Europeans are finding out what happens when they organize their polity around their marketplace, but don't secure it.
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This is win-win for the Iranians. At any moment, they can announce an error, and cave, earning plaudits. In the meantime, they can enjoy the spectacle of EU/British and UK/US faultlines jiggling under the stress. And of course, Russsia and China are 'interested' spectators.

But watch the cognitive dissonance of the leftists. Let's hear from a few prominent locals.
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Further, the U.K. is a member of NATO. And IIRC, NATO's charter states that any act of war on one member of NATO is considered an act of war on all members of NATO.

'Our' world bodies are repeatedly proving themselves impotent. It's time such as these that the UN, EU, and NATO are tested to determine their worth. It's times after these that we should re-evaluated whether their worth justifies their cost.

Despite the Princess Of Snark, nee Kim, vomiting some of her usual snark, here's a response from a "prominent local": I agree with her and I agree with Jay. Kinda sad to see the Brits do that. Raegan must be rolling over in his grave.

By the way Kim is "cognitive dissonance" the new phrase you learned today?

Naw, Hugh, just having special fun pointing it out today.
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Anyone else think "hughie" is an asshole?

Britain may want to see a diplomatic end to this tense situation. However, Britain cannot allow Iran to dictate where the water boundaries are and impact the British or U.S. efforts to provide security to Iraq's oil terminals or stop ships with illegal smuggling from the area.

Jhow - I second that nomination, do we have a third?

Here's the third for the turd.

Time for the Brits to think about leaving the EU and making their bed with the US and Canada. They have a lot more in common with their North American allies than they do with a French and German dominated EU.

The EU culture of cowardice, led by the French, will ultimately lead to a repeat of 1939-40. You simply cannot summon up courage after generations of running away. Hopefully the Brits will see the light before they become infected with the French disease.

I feel so hurt. Well actually that's a lie. I mean proud to be nominated by the extgremely goofy fringe of Whizbang. What makes it even more funnier is that i agreed with Jay and Kim. Keep up the good work goofballs.

Stick around, Hugh; I've found that when you don't resort to snark you do have a thought or two. Lame, misguided, but not so closely following blindly the usual talking points. Congratulations, I think you can think.
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CB, I agree; functionally, GB is more a part of the Commonwealth, including that apostate colony the US of A, than of Europe. The world's functioning civil authority today is a variable coalition of the legitimate democracies. Iran's action is jiggling the web of this authority.
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It doesn't seem to be just nomination, either; rather, election by acclamation.
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When I elected I will proudly serve Princess Snark

Can't be stumbling over your lines, now.
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Hey Paul; you don't think Iran can dictate where the water boundaries are? How about when they have 'Da Bum'?
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Hugh:

When I elected I will proudly serve [as] Princess Snark

Congratulations, on your new title. I present to all, Hugh, Princess of Snark.

The Spider and the Fly.

You don't see Ahmadinejad taking to the air, lately, do you?
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Whooey, just past equinox and there's cobwebs in the garden shed.
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It should be Prince [Snark]Mike....don't be tossing gay labels around like the homophobe you probably are.

Try Riehl World View on 'Democrats strong on defense', today. Suck the juice out of that blue dog bottle.
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Hugh gaily godwins gaiety?
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As usual, When do the bombs from the U.S. and U.K start falling on Iran? No one else has the balls to defend themselves and their citizens, and with one more dhimmi win we'll be back to the Dimmy Carter days when our leaders will join those without balls. How many billons of dollars have we wasted on the totally worthless U.N.?

Steyn's article is good and makes a darn good point.

We've put our faith (even those of us who are constantly UN bashing) in institutions that are fundamentally illegitimate.

To be a "nation" there needs to be some element of common identity. In the case of the EU it seems there is not. If citizens of the EU do not react "they've taken our people" then the British sailors are not "our people."

And the UN is as bad. Or worse. Because there is no feeling at all that the UN has been transgressed upon. There is no common feeling and no common sensibility and that's not because conservatives in the US aren't supportive enough of the grand vision of the United Nations. There is no "United" involved.

Grim, over on Blackfive, made the shocking observation the other day that while we all take civilization for granted, that the "state of nature" exists in the areas between nations. There essentially is no law because there is no social contract, no agreements, no binding together in cooperation. Pretending there is does no one any good. Steyn makes the shocking observation that one side of this conflict is pretending that there is law between nations and the other side is not even making a token effort (except to their advantage) and violates borders and the geneva conventions and anything else it d*mn well pleases.

Meanwhile some UN commission on human rights or other passes a resolution so against the foundational principles of the west that it's not even funny. We are now supposed to stop bashing Islam or talking like terrorism has anything to do with Islam and we aren't supposed to defame anyone's religion. Free speech now "officially" does not include speech about religion. Islamic states pushed this through. They don't want to hear people talk bad about their prophet, or make cartoons they don't like, or point out that the terrorists blowing stuff up and a whole heck of a lot of the "street" that has a party every time they do, are claiming religious motivation.

Can't talk about that anymore without violating a UN commissions passed resolution.

But we're supposed to believe that the space between nations is governed by civilization, by laws and agreements and all that good stuff.

We bind ourselves to these one-sided delusions. Better to look at what is true, what Grim explained quite well, that the space between nations exists in a state of nature, a state of fundamental conflict, and that the conflict goes from cold all the way to hot but is *always* in conflict. The interests of one nation, even friendly with another, are still the interests of that nation. Russia and China and Brazil and Germany and France and England and the US have different interests and are, at some level, in conflict. Always. The UN makes as little difference to this as the EU.

If you don't think so, just remember that you have given up your right to free speech in the interest of supporting "your" UN and the international resolutions it makes to define your behavior.

What Steyn said should be obvious to anyone. What is right is right, even if China raises its hand and opposes a measure, and wrong is wrong, even if the human rights commission declares that only approved speech is free.

Hugh, the Princess of Snark, tossed his ignorance around and blurted:

It should be Prince [Snark]Mike....don't be tossing gay labels around like the homophobe you probably are.

Unsurprisingly, you leap to a flawed conclusion. My comment was emasculating, not homophobic. ..so don't be tossing your ignorance 'round.

Actually, since Dan Rather has apparently declined the title, perhaps Hugh could be named "Queen of the Space Unicorns".

Yes Mike, exactly what a homophobe would do....label another man as gay. Congrats, you showed what you really believe.

Hugh, Prince of Snark, cried:
Yes Mike, exactly what a homophobe would do....label another man as gay. Congrats, you showed what you really believe.

What I really believe is that your very limited knowledge (or expansive ignorance if you prefer) apparently fails to include the concept of emasculation.... which is why you moronically believe that simply because a male is gay that they are feminine. Your recitation of the stereotypical view of a gay male reviews what a closed minded bigot you truly are.

I hear that people that accuse others of being homophobes are really homophobes themselves.

Oops..

First line should read:

Hugh, Princess of Snark, ...

My appologies, Princess.

Keep rationalizing Mike and continue showing your true side. Sad but not unexpected.

There are some who would resent your implication that gay men are emasculated, Hugh. Show this thread to a gay friend or two; you are ignorant.
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No Kim, I am gay.

Keep rationalizing Mike and continue showing your true side. Sad but not unexpected.

Okay, Princess.

Then why did you confound emasculating and gayness?
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