Iran Threatens Death For UK Sailors

An Iranian Web site linked to Mah- I'm in the moud for a bloody confrontation Ahmadinejad (rhymes with "I've got your swabbies and you want 'em bad") has this to say about Iran's intentions regarding its captured UK sailors, according to the Times of London:

Referring to them as “insurgents”, the site concluded: “If it is proven that they deliberately entered Iranian territory, they will be charged with espionage. If that is proven, they can expect a very serious penalty since according to Iranian law, espionage is one of the most serious offences.”

Not surprising in a paranoid police state, Iran pretty much kills everyone convicted of espionage.

That's nothing more than ante-upping, I hope. We've got 300 or so of theirs; they've got 15 Brits. Sounds like a fair enough trade. Threatening death penalties, as they did when they siezed, then released 8 detained British servicemen in 2004, gives them a bargaining edge ... even if it loses them any remaining credibility as a nation worth dealing with.

The Iranian government keeps demanding respect, like a brat demanding a toy. What do they have to justify respect? Kidnapped US diplomats, attempts to close the Straights of Hormuz, bloody (not in the British slang sense) repression at home, arming terrorists in Iraq and globally, defying the UN on nukes ... and now crossing into Iraqi waters to sieze Brits.

Perhaps they're hoping for some limited military actions against them, in the hopes that an attack will shore up fading domestic support.

Perhaps they're just brats.