Iran hostages
Posted by Andrew Murrison, MP for Westbury, at 17:17, Tue 17 April 2007:
Yesterday in a statement to the House of Commons the defence secretary eventually said sorry for his part in the Iran hostage fiasco. I'd be interested in hearing people's views on any aspects of the crisis and particularly what needs to be done to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Comments
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Posted by Shane McCracken, 18:08, Tue 17 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
I can't really comment on the military aspects of the fiasco as many constituents will be able to, but the way the hostages were taken and the propaganda triumph that the Iranians construed out of it were humiliating to Britain as a "major power".
The selling of the stories to the media compounded the problem. The personnel in question would have been far better advised to keep quiet. The temptation of the £80,000 or so should have been kept out of the equation.
The problem is that the Government is obsessed with the media. It is an important and invaluable vehicle in communicating to the population in general but it is unwise to become beholden to it.
Specifically the Govt. and MPs should reduce their reliance on the media and favour more direct communication with people. To their credit and yours this is slowly happening more and more.
Posted by Giles Turnbull, 20:51, Tue 17 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
It was so odd that it almost seemed like the soldiers had been *ordered* to talk to the press. (I'm not saying they were, just that that's how it came across to me when I first heard about it.)
The manner in which it happened was so unusual that I'd be very surprised if it did happen again, at least in such a blatent manner. I'd expect senior officers to be very much against it.
Shane's right: obsessive media management is an underlying problem.
Posted by Rev H.P.Barkham, 08:46, Wed 18 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
Britain should not be so obsessed with Iran especially when we are breaking the NNPT ourselves. There have been too many unsubstantiated references to Iranians stirring up dissidence in Iraq. This routine demonisation of Iran by the West must stop. Let's look at the human detail and cultural diversity. Salaam Shalom Peace, Rev H.P.Barkham
Posted by Andrew Murrison, 13:53, Wed 18 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thank you for your comments. I largely agree with Shane and Giles. However, Rev Hazel Barkham is mistaken in her belief that the UK is in breach of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NNPT).
Posted by Rev H.P.Barkham, 09:24, Fri 20 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
The NPT obliges the five declared Nuclear Weapon States to "pursue negotiations in good faith relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmamant, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control". The failure thus far of the Nuclear Weapons States to abolish their arsenals continues to undermine the treaty. The replacement of Trident would undermine this treaty and would undermine efforts to halt nuclear proliferation by states such as Iran. Rev H.P.Barkham
Posted by Andrew Murrison, 09:49, Mon 23 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
No it wouldn't since Trident will reduce the payload and thus be entirely commensurate with out treaty obligations.
Posted by Rev H.P.Barkham, 08:51, Tue 24 April 2007: (Is this post abusive?) #
I don't understand this reply. Rev H.P.Barkham