Report reveals Iran seized British sailors in disputed waters

[cal04]

Source: TimesOnline

Fifteen British sailors and Marines were seized by Iran in internationally disputed waters and not in Iraq’s maritime territory as Parliament was told, according to new official documents released to The Times.

The Britons were seized because the US-led coalition designated a sea boundary for Iran’s territorial waters without telling the Iranians where it was, internal Ministry of Defence briefing papers reveal.

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act detail for the first time the blunders last spring that led to what an all-party committee of MPs came to describe as a “national embarrassment”.

The captured 14 men and one woman were paraded on Iranian TV for a fortnight before being freed a year ago by a smiling President Ahmadinejad, who gave them new suits and bags of presents.

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3761058.ece

[Arctic Dave]

1. One less thing * can use to beat the drum with. Awsome.

[Judi Lynn]

2. It's surprising we're gettting the news on this, even! Probably wouldn't have ever come out if

someone hadn't requested specific information through the FOIA, after all!

From the article:

"Under the heading “Why the incident occurred”, the report examines the history of a border that has been disputed since a treaty between the Persian and Ottoman empires in 1639.

Professor Robert Springborg, of the School of Oriental and African Studies, said yesterday that it was negligent to fail to clarify with the Iranians where the notional boundary was."

[OnyxCollie]

3. While captured, the woman said she was being used by the British government

to create an incident. After she was released, she changed her tone. All were encouraged by the British government to tell their stories for payment. Propagandists to start a war with Iran.

Russian sources predicted war between the US/UK and Iran in the first week of April weeks before this incident occurred. Timely coincidence? I didn't believe so then and I sure as hell don't believe so now.

[marmar]

4. I guess they'll have to come up with a new fake casus belli.....

:nopity:

[uppityperson]

5. k&r

[LynnTheDem]

6. George bUsh & Cartel should have used their lie to attack Iran

before their lie was exposed.

Oh well, they got 2 wars on lies; 2 outta 3 ain't bad.

And watch for the next round of lies, coming soon!

[lovuian]

7. Deja Vu

this is a repeat

[CJCRANE]

8. LI

HOP.