Iran ‘to try Britons for espionage’

[cali]

I don't believe they'll actually carry through with this, but if they do, well, that would not be a good thing. Here's the story:


FIFTEEN British sailors and marines arrested by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards off the coast of Iraq may be charged with spying.

A website run by associates of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, reported last night that the Britons would be put before a court and indicted.

Referring to them as “insurgents”, the site concluded: “If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offences.”

The warning followed claims by Iranian officials that the British navy personnel had been taken to Tehran, the capital, to explain their “aggressive action” in entering Iranian waters. British officials insist the servicemen were in Iraqi waters when they were held.

<snip>

The article goes on to say that the same threat was made in 2004, but all eight captured brits were released after 3 days. The article also indicates that the brits were in Iranian waters, according to an Iraqi official.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article1563877.ece

[sam sarrha]

1. there has to be satalite photos..

[Kagemusha]

2. Doesn't matter. The prez is blowing smoke out of his rear end.

They're uniformed soldiers. Insurgents are by definition, irregulars. There's no basis to try uniformed soldiers for espionage. At worst, they are prisoners of war after committing an act of war, and therefore, are protected by the appropriate conventions.

[cali]

3. Yeah, I agree. This is all stupid posturing

Iran really doesn't want to try these guys.

[sam sarrha]

4. well unless they are following our Attorney Generals Torture directives

[cali]

5. No. They don't have a good enough hand to play n/t

[Egalitariat]

6. What could Iran do that would be dumber than that?

I'm trying to think of something that would be more stupid for Iran to do. I haven't come up with anything.

There's no way they'll go through with it.

[unkachuck]

7. maybe if....

....the Security Council slaps sanctions on Iran they will put these hostages, I mean, Western Spies, on trial....isn't the law, the law?....and isn't standing up to the West good for Middle Eastern prestige?....Irans on a roll....

....as for the truth, I wouldn't believe anybody, especially the British....

[Dave From Canada]

8. Western spies? LOL

Iran is the last country that should be complaining about uninvited trouble-makers (see Iraq).

[Kagemusha]

9. actually those trouble-makers were invited

by the US' main allies in the Iraqi government.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. I thought you had to be in civilian clothes for it to be espionage

These guys were in uniform, weren't they?

[scrinmaster]

11. Does Iran want a shooting war with the US and Britain?

Cause it seems like they're poking us in the balls every chance they get.

[Ron Green]

12. That's because balls are all we've got.

I wish it were brains (or even a heart.)