The Hms Cornwall, and the
HMs Newcastle, of the British navy.

Here, Xomba readers, is a late breaking story which may well change the course of things in the mid-east, Only the events of the next few days will tell.
As I write this, early on Friday, march 23, we have just become aware that 15 members of the British Navy have been captured and are being held by Iranian Forces.

Earliest reports said the HMS Cornwall was on a routine mission, inside Iranian Waters. They were boarding a boat, suspected of smuggling cars, off the coast of Iran.

This quote, from the British Ministry of defense: "The group boarding party had completed a successful inspection of a merchant ship when they and their two boats were surrounded and escorted by Iranian vessels into Iranian territorial waters.

Early reports, and the Defense Minisry reports, are not in agreement as the whether the HMS Cornwall was indeed within Iranian waters.

"The British government is demanding the immediate and safe return of our people and equipment."

Sir Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for their immediate release. "Whatever the rights and wrongs of military action, British forces in Iraq are now there with the authority of a UN security council resolution... and the Iranian government should be left in no doubt of the serious implications of their action," Campbell said.

We can only speculate on this new incident. Iran is a proud country, as is the United States. They demand to be viewed by the international community as the equal of the United States, inferior to no one. Recently they have fought for the right to develop nuclear capacity, which other nations, including the U.S. already possess. Iranian president Almadinejad is scheduled soon to address the United nations Security Council on that issue.

The American Government, under the leadership of President George W. Bush has continued a policy of non-negotiation with terrorists. Bush considers the Iranian government to be, terrorists. At this forthcoming U.N. address by Almadinejad, however, The American government, and the people of America, will be listening to Iran; a United Nation rule demands it.

We may speculate on Iran's motivation in seizing this British ship, conducting "routine business", possibly within Iranian coastal limits. We suspect that for Iran to allow vessels, enemy vessels, in this new cold war, to violate estalished boundries, would be viewed as a sign of weakness. Can Coalition forces ignore the right of Iran to it's coastal waters? Are they expected to "look the other way"? What would America, or Britain do, were Iranian ships to attempt to operate within American or British national waters, American or British national boundaries? Surely we would "blast them to obscurity."

America, and her nearest ally, Britain, have been increasingly insensitive to the rights of mid-eastern nations, insensitive beyond ordinary limits; insensitive to a fault.

It may be pointed out that even Britain has lately backed away from her alliance with the United States. Britain has without fan-fare withdrawn most of her troops from the American run war in Iraq. Perhaps as a demonstration of good faith, they have, however, left the dashing Prince Harry and his regiment to defend the Iraqi border with Iran.

If America, and the United Nations, fail to appreciate that Iran has "some rights" in this matter, this capture of British Seamen could develop into an Earth-shaking incident, a provocation to a war, at a time when the U.S. is only in the planning stage, not quite ready to strike.