Iran acts like it is dealing with a Toothless Old British Lion and a Paper American Tiger!
March 26, 2007
http://www.tribulationperiod.com/
I do not believe Iran is ready for a major confrontation with the United States and Great Britain at this time, with American and British troops still in Iraq, and on Iran’s western border. But Iran is certainly anxious to make all the sects of the Islamic faith believe Great Britain is an old toothless lion, allied with an American paper tiger. So, unless Iran tries to push this latest challenge to the Brits and Yanks too far, it would seem it should end in the same manner as did the previous kidnapping of British troops by Iranian forces, without turning into a major war.
The stunning victory of Osama bin Laden, over the then great Soviet Union in Afghanistan, once again proved the difficulty of a foreign force winning a sustainable victory in a war against native guerilla forces.
It was this victory over a world power that caused the spirit of Jihad to come to life in the hearts of Persians and Arabs across the Middle East. Since that time Iran has done everything in its power to fan the flames and keep the spirit of Jihad burning. If Iran gets away with all of its rhetoric and sword rattling against nuclear world power, it will strongly influence even moderates to believe Islam can defeat Israel and the U.S.
The last such deliberate act by Iran did lead to the release of the Brits involved after four days. I believe this one is going to last a lot longer before they are finally released. Iran is playing with fire to build the Shiite love of Jihad into a sweeping desert sandstorm.
Begin Jerusalem Post Report
‘US sailors would have shot at Iranians’
JPost.com Staff, THE JERUSALEM POST
March 26, 2007
A senior US officer in the Persian Gulf expressed surprise at how easily a team of Britsh sailors were taken captive by Iran on Friday, saying that US marines would have fired on the Iranian forces, the British newspaper The Independent reported on Monday.
“The unique US Navy rules of engagement say we not only have a right to self-defense but also an obligation to self-defense,” Lt.-Cmdr. Erik Horner, who has been working with the British task force in the region, told the newspaper.
“They [the British] had every right in my mind and every justification to defend themselves rather than allow themselves to be taken.
Our reaction was, ‘Why didn’t your guys defend themselves?'”
The group of 15 sailors was taken at gunpoint by Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Al Quds soldiers after “routine boarding operations of merchant shipping in Iraqi territorial waters,” according to a US statement issued after the incident on Friday.
Iran maintains that the sailors illegally entered Iranian waters.
The British government has been pursuing this matter with the Iranian authorities at the highest level. On the instructions of the British Foreign Secretary, the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the British Foreign Office. The British Government has demanded the immediate, unconditional and safe return of their people and equipment.
AP contributed to this report.
Begin Reuters Report
Iran: If U.S. starts war with us, it won’t be the one that finishes
By Reuters
March 26, 2007
A senior Iranian military official warned the United States against launching any attack on the Islamic Republic, a news agency reported on Monday, two days after the United Nations imposed new sanctions on Iran.
“If America starts a war against Iran, it won’t be the one who finishes it,” Morteza Saffari, naval forces commander of the elite Revolutionary Guards, was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.
“Our people will not even allow one American soldier to enter our country,” Saffari said.
International tension over Iran’s disputed nuclear program
has risen in recent days, sending oil and gold prices higher.
The West suspects Iran is seeking to make atom bombs, a charge Tehran denies.
Iran said on Sunday it would limit cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog and vowed not to halt its atomic program “even for one second” after the Security Council voted to impose new arms and financial sanctions on Tehran.
On Friday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized 15 British navy personnel in the Gulf, sparking a diplomatic crisis.
The United States, which is leading efforts to isolate Iran over its nuclear ambitions, has said it prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis but has not ruled out military options.
“We have the spirit of resistance and this is a factor to stop [them] Saffari said. “Our nation’s unity and martyrdom-seeking spirit with God’s help is always a guarantee for the Islamic Iran’s resistance.”
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