What should the UK Government do if the Iranians execute our Soldiers

[Mr Burns]

HIGHLY unlikely that we would ever embark on a full scale invasion a la Iraq.

I have no doubt we will never invade Iran. Iran are a nuclear power, and I presume have an airforce. The only reason we pissed over Iraq was because their airforce consistited of 3 red remote control planes and two helicopters which didn't have any blades on them.

Put us up against a proper air force and we will get totally f***ed over. It was this governments descision to go to war without support from our neighbours, so it's down to our governement to get us out of this. And I very much doubt they have any idea where to start to untaggle this mess they've got us into.

AS I said in another thread, you can only bully for so long, until someone stands up to you and gives you a good kicking. I believe we as a nation are about to receive what has been coming our way for a long time. See how bigger 'friends' the yanks are then...........

 

[portlock seagull]

Short answer would be nothing - other than 10-15 years of diplomatic ties severed ala Lockabie.

Iran will always be able to do this sort of thing because no single controlling power exists and it has powerful religious based governance. Likewise Britain will never be able to react with anything other than words because that's the price of democracy. But a small price to pay, even if you're ones of the families directly involved. I think the rules of engagement have probably been re-defined since this crisis and rightly so. No point having troops out there if they can be taken hostage but anyone with a gun.

Remember, many of the Iranians living here are simply refugees from their revolution in 1979. I knew such a family back in the early 1980's and they've never been back since because they were given the death penalty for being pro-Shar (but managed to escape). Big difference between them and economic migrants when we all get heated in the migrants debate!!

 

[portlock seagull]

And I very much doubt they have any idea where to start to untaggle this mess they've got us into.

Yep, if I was about to join the armed forces I'd strongly consider our governments potential to use you 'illegally'. Nobody minds dying for queen and country if it stops your country being directly threatened. But this government has demonstrated it will lie to its people and will follow Bush without question, with the armed forces in tow. If I was a soldier in Iraq, I'd feel pretty pissed off that Blair had let you down so badly and put you into such an unwinnable mess in the first place - from the comfort of his arm chair. Of course these sorts of questions are best worked out in your head before you take the Queen's shilling.