OK, that Iran water boundary thing.

[matgb]

Y'know how sometimes a story is both very depressing and something that will only make you angry so you avoid following it? I haven't been folowing the Iran/Sailors thing, because, well, all sides are stretching the truth past breaking point and it'll just depress me. A few aspects were bothering me though. fridgemagnet (who may be a little to my left) links to two articles by craigmurray (who really doesn't like the current Govt but does have some knowledge of the legality). Summary:

1. There is no legally recognised maritime boundary between Iran and Iraq
2. Iran does not recognise the boundary that Blair is claiming
3. The Allies know this

So, both sides are sabre rattling, both sides are obfuscating and telling porkies, both sides are playing to their domestic galleries and world opinion rather than actually being honest.

My understanding is that the event happened very close to the border Britain claims, but that that border still puts them closer to Iran than Iraq, or, as Craig puts it:

Go on, print out the map and measure it.

Everyone has an axe to grind. No one is in the right. Don't believe the hype.

I now go back to trying to ignore this story. Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Comments

[kcontheroad.livejournal.com]

A war with Iraq is the last thing we need right now. What we OUGHT to do is ignore them in the press, and talk with them in private. The hostage crisis in '79 showed us that the more press they receive, the more they feel there's a use to holding onto hostages.

We've be itching for a fight with Iran for some time now. The US public hasn't been going for it no matter what the Bush people keep saying. What sense are you getting from the people on your side of the pond?

[matgb]

My internet connection ate my reply, but overall there are some trigger happy loons (a phone in this afternoon had one bloke suggest we nuke Tehran) but mostly they're dismissed, as this guy was by every other caller.

We were never that keen on Iraq, any extension would probably topple the Govt, and the Labour MPs know it.