What are the wily Iranians up to? Are they intentionally trying to provoke an international incident or is their version of events correct? Or is this payback for their Iraqi consulate staff being kidnapped by the United Stupids?
Claiming they were in Iranian waters, Iran has captured 15 British seamen, who have supposedly confessed their transgression. The United Kooks government says their ships were in Iraqi waters.
The Iranian military says it can prove that British naval personnel captured in the Gulf yesterday entered Iran illegally.
A senior officer in the armed forces says the 15 British sailors have confessed that they crossed into Iranian waters.
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The British Government says the sailors were in Iraqi waters, a claim supported by Commander Kevin Andal, US Navy fifth fleet spokesman, which helps maintain security in Iraqi waters.
“We’ve been operating in those waters for some years now and all our ship commanders who are participating in the coalition are under clear understanding,” he said.
“Our charts are very accurate and up-to-date, as well as our GPS information.
“We know where the lines are and we respect those lines and we don’t cross them.”
The 15 sailors have been taken to Tehran.
Concurrently new UN sanctions have been whacked on Iran for its non-compliance with suspension of U enrichment.
The council’s 15 members adopted Resolution 1747, co-sponsored by Britain, France and Germany, that broadens UN sanctions already imposed on Iran in December for spurning repeated demands to suspend the nuclear fuel work.
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The resolution bans all Iranian arms exports, freezes the overseas assets of 28 additional officials and institutions linked to the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and restricts financial aid or loans to Tehran.
It gives Iran 60 days to comply with the repeated UN demands or face “further appropriate measures” – economic sanctions but no military action – under Article 41 of the UN Charter.
There’s little probability that Iran will comply.
48 naughty pollies have rushed to update their investment interests since Howard called for a spring clean following the revelation of Santoro’s disastrous blunders. The miscreants include Lie-berals Malcolm Turnbull, Mal Washer, Bronwyn Bishop, Don Randall and Jo Gash, and Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen.
Once again, it is clear who is little Johnny’s main priority, and it isn’t the long-suffering Whorestralian people.