Mat Bowles

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.