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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| EU demands urgent release of British sailors |
| 2007-03-31 |
| European Union foreign ministers Friday mandated the bloc's chief diplomat Javier Solana to work for the urgent and unconditional release of 15 British naval personnel captured last week by Iran. Defying calls by Tehran that the 27-nation bloc stay out of the dispute, EU ministers meeting in Bremen, Germany, issued a strong statement deploring the continued arrest of the British citizens. The statement said there was 'unconditional support' from the EU for Britain in its standoff with Iran and warned of 'appropriate' EU action against Iran if the sailors were not released 'in the near future. Solana refused to give details of possible EU retaliatory moves against Iran but warned that the row over the sailors was 'complicating' already difficult nuclear diplomacy with Tehran. The chief EU diplomat insisted that he wanted the 'unconditional and immediate liberation' of the navy personnel. Iranian arguments that this was a bilateral dispute with Britain were not acceptable, he said, adding: 'They have to understand that when something happens to EU citizens, the EU acts in solidarity.' |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 If the EU imposed a 100% blockade on Iranian trade and commerce, Iran would be crippled beyond repair in about three months. Unfortunately, the EU gets too much of its oil from Iran to do that. Things would work out a lot better if they did, but they don't have the courage. I'd love to be proved wrong, but... |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2007-03-31 15:31 |
| #7 No. Brussels wouldn't allow it. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-03-31 14:24 |
| #6 Think this could lead to the break-up of the EU if Britain doesn't get the right kind of support? |
| Posted by: Danking70 2007-03-31 13:19 |
| #5 Iran to EU: What are you going to do, bleed on me? |
| Posted by: CochinoMarrano 2007-03-31 11:20 |
| #4 EU demands urgent release of British sailors Or they will taunt Iran a second time! |
| Posted by: CochinoMarrano 2007-03-31 11:16 |
| #3 Sooo...the EU has no army that they can commit, no artillery, no nuclear weapons to make good on the 'negative consequence' thingy. Explain to me again why the Brits went to the EU for the 'strong statement'? |
| Posted by: WTF 2007-03-31 09:00 |
| #2 Nuke Tehran Save Bandwidth |
| Posted by: Shipman 2007-03-31 02:43 |
| #1 EU demands urgent release of British sailors [read in the voice of John Cleese] Lesson Number One in How to Make A Demand: Demands are something that must have negative consequences to back them up. Demands made in the absence of any pending negative consequences are more commonly referred to as "requests". Requests made in place of demands are generally met with sneers, face making, laughter or other sorts of unpleasantness. Demands backed by something so inconsequential as, say, finger wagging, repeated tongue clucking or sternly worded letters of reproof historically obtain rather low success rates as well. Such inadequately reinforced demands often can find themselves greeted by derisive suggestions, rude gestures or inappropriate speculation upon oneÂ’s personal matrilineal ancestry. Demands made with negative consequences that rely upon force of arms frequently find a much more attentive audience. Successful examples of such force typically utilize gun barrels of a caliber measured with triple digits, guided missiles or, in extreme cases, devices that yield substantial amounts of neutrons in very short order. Demands backed in this sort of fashion occasionally may be received with less than appreciative demeanor. These displays can come in such forms as sulking, foot dragging and other counterproductive activities. However, even a slight physical demonstration of the abovementioned negative consequences usually renders tangible results without much further delay. To review: Demands that are refused must entail negative consequences. Demands with negligible consequences often are greeted by some form of hilarity. Demands whose consequences do not involve force of arms invite unpleasant replies. Demands involving force of arms are a time tested and proven method of obtaining actual results. Any questions? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-03-31 02:32 |