Tuesdays with Paulie 3/27/07

Britons Held Hostage: Day 5

The showdown between London and Tehran is in it's 5Th day with no positive developments in sight. Iran has admitted interrogating the 15 British Marines they are holding hostage and are considering indicting them on charges of Espionage. As you will recall this ordeal began after Iran took the Brits hostage while they were in the Iraqi part of the Shatt al-Arab waterway leading to the Persian Gulf.

Iran claims the Brits boat was in Iranian waters. The actual boundaries have been disputed for decades between Iran and Iraq. Regardless, Iran has no legitimate basis to hold these 14 men and one woman prisoner. Britain has spewed the typical rhetoric of demanding their Marines be released, but today Prime Minister Tony Blair did turn up the heat. Efforts to secure the release of 15 Royal Navy personnel held by Iran will enter a "different phase" if diplomatic moves fail, has said. Immediately, British government officials did immediately attempt to dismiss Blair's comments, claiming drastic measures such as expelling diplomats or a military response was not on the table.

The political pundits on the 24 hour news channels have been debating Iran's motives. Your brilliant blogger can't tell you exactly why Iran decided to mess with the British, but there are many possible scenarios. The most obvious reason is economics. Iran's economy is weak and the recent decline in oil prices have hurt them. However, whenever Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes his threats toward Israel or talks about their nuclear program, the oil markets panic and prices go up.

Oil prices began going up a few months back as the UN began discussing sanctions due to Iran's nuclear ambitions. A few weeks ago the market steadied and began coming down, especially after it appeared Russia and China was finally on board. Since this hostage situation began, oil prices have shot up. The idea that Iran is simply trying to drive up the price of oil is very conceivable.

If isn't about money than it's about power. Iran wants to show their willingness to stand up to the major power players and rally other Middle Eastern countries to their side. Nothing excites the Arab world more than fighting Jews or Westerners. It has been brought up that Iran is looking for a prisoner exchange with the United States. Last Christmas Eve, it was announced that the United states captured four Iranian military officials during raids on insurgents in Iraq. So far Tehran has not made such demands.

No one can predict how this situation will play out. However, I do have a few questions that I have not heard asked. Have the British detainees been given bibles and proper religious meals? It is still Lent you know. Will they be permitted to attend Church services on Sunday? Have they been given crucifixes to display in their holding cells/rooms. Have they been able to meet with clergy? Has Amnesty International and the International Red Cross demanded to see the prisoners, so they may bring letters to family and confirm they are being treated according to the rules of the Geneva Convention? As of today Amnesty International has no mention of the British serviceman on their web page. Double Standard?...you be the judge.


More about Portland
Far Left Hate at it's Finest

Last week I wrote about the recent anti-war protest in Portland that included activists burning an American flag and U.S. soldier in effigy. If this action didn't show the far Lefts true colors than these signs undoubtedly do. F**k the troops isn't beating around the bush.

Instead of a long diatribe about how disgusting these people are, I will simply let you judge for yourself. Plan on hearing more about this in the future. Since the mainstream media is hiding the extreme-lefts true colors, you can rest at ease that I will expose this blatant hate for the people providing the freedom that permits us to be sad excuses for human beings.

Paulie