So our sailors were captured and returned and somehow we got a black eye? Is the response to getting eye blacked by binoculars to pull out your concealed carried weapon and stand your ground? This joke falls flat – this isn’t something Iran did to us – we were the ones who got caught here… More like we handed over the binoculars and they didn’t fall for it.
Who shot down and Iranian airliner and thought apologies were wrong then too? Our guys screwed up in the PERSIAN Gulf, not the Gulf of Nebraska or Texas, and who knows what their real mission was, but the simple fact is; diplomacy works, far better than missiles or bombs.
Republicans hate cooler heads prevailing between traditional adversaries and the possibility of détente, cooperation, and progress toward a safer and more stable Middle East. I don’t think it impossible some sort of co-operative association develops between Iran and the U.S., united against the real enemy – ISIL and other extreme jihadist groups.
Mr. Mike Lester! Finally, you reply to one of my comments. Well, let’s not waste it:Yes, indeed, hardliners in Iran AND hardliners in America are making political hay out of this. Glad to see you’re matching rhetoric with the hard-nosed Iranians!Unfortunately, Iran and the USA are not at war with each other and probably unlikely these propaganda images of the US sailors did not breach the Geneva Conventions regarding parading P.O.W.s (which stands for ‘Prisoners of WAR’)Not my words but quoted from your State Department: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/state-geneva-convention-doesnt-apply-to-iran-sailors-case/article/2580522
Do you think parading folks in orange jump suits in Gitmo made the waters murkier about what contravenes Geneva Conventions on the matter, since your country has steadfastly refused to call the prisoners held on Guantanamo Bay P.O.W.s?
“Iran analyst Afshon Ostovar, …., points out that this incident coincides with a “recent uptick” in “provocative behavior” in Persian Gulf waters from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the military and security service that also wields substantial political power within Iran, and that is associated closely with the hard-liners.“
”It was the IRGC that detained and then released the 10 American sailors. So it would seem that everything worked out fine in the end. But there are hints that along the way, there may have been some push and pull between the IRGC and more moderate factions in the regime over how to handle this incident.“
”The IRGC would also have domestic political incentive for provocative behavior here. Ostovar again: “With Iran’s parliamentary elections coming up, and with the soaring tensions between Tehran and its Gulf Arab neighbors as a backdrop, the IRGC likely feels that it needs remind everyone of its formidability.”
But the IRGC did not escalate and instead quickly released the sailors, and there’s at least circumstantial evidence suggesting that it may have been because Iran’s moderate faction won out”
But note:" As the New York Times puts it, “The [IRGC] has been engaged in an open power struggle with [President Hassan] Rouhani’s government. It is still not clear who decided to release the sailors.”
However, the propaganda usefulness of this story by your conservative and right of centre base in the USA is on full display for the world to see. It’s impressive.
larryrhoades over 8 years ago
Soot on the eyepieces – is that the joke?Carbon from oil? Nah, too obtuse.
Frankfreak over 8 years ago
Lester has once again shown he has lost his contact with reality.
Mr. Blawt over 8 years ago
So our sailors were captured and returned and somehow we got a black eye? Is the response to getting eye blacked by binoculars to pull out your concealed carried weapon and stand your ground? This joke falls flat – this isn’t something Iran did to us – we were the ones who got caught here… More like we handed over the binoculars and they didn’t fall for it.
Tarredandfeathered over 8 years ago
They were hoping we’d sent Don Rumsfeld and his band of men again.
Dtroutma over 8 years ago
Who shot down and Iranian airliner and thought apologies were wrong then too? Our guys screwed up in the PERSIAN Gulf, not the Gulf of Nebraska or Texas, and who knows what their real mission was, but the simple fact is; diplomacy works, far better than missiles or bombs.
tauyen over 8 years ago
dumb
OmqR-IV.0 over 8 years ago
The only ones making political hay out of this are Americans. How odd.
Gypsy8 over 8 years ago
Republicans hate cooler heads prevailing between traditional adversaries and the possibility of détente, cooperation, and progress toward a safer and more stable Middle East. I don’t think it impossible some sort of co-operative association develops between Iran and the U.S., united against the real enemy – ISIL and other extreme jihadist groups.
OmqR-IV.0 over 8 years ago
Mr. Mike Lester! Finally, you reply to one of my comments. Well, let’s not waste it:Yes, indeed, hardliners in Iran AND hardliners in America are making political hay out of this. Glad to see you’re matching rhetoric with the hard-nosed Iranians!Unfortunately, Iran and the USA are not at war with each other and probably unlikely these propaganda images of the US sailors did not breach the Geneva Conventions regarding parading P.O.W.s (which stands for ‘Prisoners of WAR’)Not my words but quoted from your State Department: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/state-geneva-convention-doesnt-apply-to-iran-sailors-case/article/2580522
Do you think parading folks in orange jump suits in Gitmo made the waters murkier about what contravenes Geneva Conventions on the matter, since your country has steadfastly refused to call the prisoners held on Guantanamo Bay P.O.W.s?
Eagerly awaiting further correspondance…
OmqR-IV.0 over 8 years ago
http://www.vox.com/2016/1/15/10772184/iran-boats-sailors-irgc
“Iran analyst Afshon Ostovar, …., points out that this incident coincides with a “recent uptick” in “provocative behavior” in Persian Gulf waters from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the military and security service that also wields substantial political power within Iran, and that is associated closely with the hard-liners.“
”It was the IRGC that detained and then released the 10 American sailors. So it would seem that everything worked out fine in the end. But there are hints that along the way, there may have been some push and pull between the IRGC and more moderate factions in the regime over how to handle this incident.“
”The IRGC would also have domestic political incentive for provocative behavior here. Ostovar again: “With Iran’s parliamentary elections coming up, and with the soaring tensions between Tehran and its Gulf Arab neighbors as a backdrop, the IRGC likely feels that it needs remind everyone of its formidability.”
But the IRGC did not escalate and instead quickly released the sailors, and there’s at least circumstantial evidence suggesting that it may have been because Iran’s moderate faction won out”
But note:" As the New York Times puts it, “The [IRGC] has been engaged in an open power struggle with [President Hassan] Rouhani’s government. It is still not clear who decided to release the sailors.”
However, the propaganda usefulness of this story by your conservative and right of centre base in the USA is on full display for the world to see. It’s impressive.