Iran won the propaganda battle by making light of the military status of the only female seaman hostage, and making her wear a veil in public as she "admitted" to being in the wrong. It is well that she was not released early as that would have been a tremendous propaganda coup in the Arabic speaking world. Then they said in effect that they were taking care of the little woman as they chided the British for putting a young mother in harms way.

Then they put the icing on the cake by having the rest of the crew praise their captors for treating them so well. Patti Hurst was given a stiff prison sentence and served 22 months for the crime of being kidnapped and 'consorting' with her captors after being held for a year.

J. CHIARAVALLOTI, HAMILTON, il

Don't get too carried away. They're not home yet. They were going to release the female soldier and then didn't.
R.Powell. UK.

R.Powell, Norwich,

You people really need to put this is perspective. Iran has nether attacked any country with aggression unlike the UK or America. We are extremely concerned by the 15 hostages that have been captured but what about the concern for the many hundreds of thousands of Iraqi’s that have been slaughtered. If I were Iranian I'd feel like acting out a little considering the illegal sanctions which have been imposed on a country which doesn’t pose a threat to the UK or US.

Sohiab Rehman, hemel Hempstead, herts

US must draft 2 million men and do a ground invasion of Iran. These are our coalition forces, and they are our responsibility. -- Old Atlantic, Atlantic City, NJ

I don't see the need for an invasion. We were given this choice at the end of WW2 and chose Fat Man and Little Boy. I don't think we need to go nuclear. We have plenty of conventional weapons and certainly a blockade would make them cry Uncle. When the 4th largest oil producer doesn't have enough gas to run their cars, I think they'll be amenable. If they they harm the hostages, start bombing.

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

As long as nobody got harmed, especially not the 15 soldiers, that all should not be taken to serious.
To unleash a war does not work anymore in this certain affair. At least the jugglery of the British High Command with its maps came to early to daylight. The EU fell to the UK line, while those did already paddle back. Our representatives keep themself to far away from people say, else they would only have to listen.

They shall negotiate and draw the sea border again with modern means and then swallow down their cockscombs. (Self critic is not expected from anybody). Or does UK insist on the Saddam Hussein view of the seaborder? He is to dead for supporting the british stance now.
With greetings from Germany.

Schröder, Stadtroda, Germany

I was just reading about America's first war on terrorism. It was also with arabs - the barbary coast pirates(~1805). The book is "Tripoli" by David Smethurst. The US and European nations all paid the Bey's who ran the city states "tributes". No amount of money or tribute would keep them from attacking the western powers shipping, for more than a few months. Treaties were invalid almost before the ink dried. These tribute payments included ships, guns, gunpowder, muskets and jewels. So the Beys were able to extort the westerners out of the very tools with which they would continue intercepting cargo ships and selling off the crews to slavery. After many years of this nonsense, Thomas Jefferson finally authorized the US Navy and Marines to go and fight these people. Shortly after enjoying the attention of the Marines, the Beys concluded eternal treaties with the US. Ask an Israeli about trying to negotiate with the arabs. Its still the same in the middle east 200 years later.

KenP, Tampa, FL USA

Saman fails to see that in a free country the media can show stuff that they want even if the subject is unacceptable to others. Now using your enslaved media to parade around a bunch of illegal captured people is not very nice. Actually the problem is not the Americans killing Iraq people, but themselves killing each other with Syria, Iran, and other radical groups help! If they would have been smart by waiting until the USA left and took over a nice place afterwards..... Fools

Eric M, Pittsburgh, USA

If oils was at £20 a barrel these rogue states would conform to our idea of civiliistion somewhat better.

adw, Banff, UK

it is about thirty years that Iranian people are kept hostage by an hierocratic and fundamentalist regime. Anyone who have any basic understanding of the country would appreciate that there is a big line between the government and the nation. Very much like so many other totalitarian regimes the government does not represent people. I wish someone could explain that for these so-called "political commentators ". It is ironic that the Iranian internal media even have not covered the events as such. Only some of these highly ignorant people in the British "mainstream "media are generalising everything and misrepresenting the events. After all we shouldn’t be trapped in a battle between these two highly unpopular governments!

Matt, Oxford, The Uk

"why no one asked USA that time about not treating him
(Saddam) well.Is it coz he was not BRITISH! "

No Saman, it's not because Saddam wasn't British, it's because he was a mass murder and a convicted war criminal by the Iraqi courts, not just an ordinary foot soldier subject to the Geneva law. And I would say that in all his years of power, that yes, Saddam was responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, much more than the US was responsible for in Iraq.

Why do some people who support these crazy Middle East dictators have no ability whatsoever to tell APPLES FROM ORANGES !? Again logic classes for these people may be our only savior.

sc, Atlanta, USA

SC, Atlanta, USA - Honestly, an American stating
"there is a saying that people get the government they deserve."

What does that say about Americans ?!
And I have to agree with your last sentence; the world judges a country by it's government. Just like the world is judging America.

I suppose it takes one to know one ...

Annelise, Belgium,

Hi

I am just curious people are saying that showing Brits on Iranian TV is unacceptable; was showing Sadam Hussain hanging video acceptable to Brists and for US people?
They seem ok not like Sadam at least if you have seen him losing weight and appeared so weak ,why no one asked USA that time about not treating him well.Is it coz he was not BRITISH!
One Last question did sadam killed as many people as US forces :)


Regards,

SAMAN EHTASHAM, ELY, UK

sc do you not see the irony of your position?
Where are the Iranians that the US military captured from their Embassy in Iraq back in Jan?? Open your eyes. The TRUTH is all around!

mary, morehead city, nc

Why do we miss the obvious?
If Iran had a huge military force doing Naval execises in the English Channel, we might be a little concerned.
Further, if we detained a patrol boat crew who strayed too close, this would be perfectly understandable.
I agree that normally we would treat them better thatn the Iranians seem to be doing, but what about the people detained illegally in Guantanamo Bay.
Bush and Blair have been monumentally idiotic, and should apologise to the world for their crass stupidity
I am not an Iranian sympathiser, but we must be evenhanded, and stop poking our nose into other nations affairs.

Read Dis, London, England

For those who are saying not to blame the Iranian people because they are being held hostage by their government, and for the most part, do not agree with their government.

I say, that may be true, but there is a saying that people get the government they deserve. If most of the Iranian people do not like their government, it is time for them to show courage and fight for a government they want. The Iranians need to show as much courage fighting their government as they appear to have "fighting" the West. Until that happens, the world will judge them by the actions of their government.

sc, Atlanta, USA

Iran as kidnapped British servicemen. Strike hard and brutally against the Iranians. Making sure they can never raise their ugly head again.

henry baker, bradford, england

Hey Bernard in Paris (below), who claims the Iranian kidnapping was hatched from a US/UK plot, didn't you also blame the U.S. government and Mossad for blowing up 3,000 Americans on Sept 11? We live in a dangerous world and the French continue to be one of the biggest profiteers from terrorists, whether you're building Sadaam a nuclear plant, scamming oil-for-food riches, developing Iranian oil fields or opposing British calls for action by the EU. At least no one gets surprised when France abets our enemies.

Michael Z, Chicago, IL, USA

We are witnessing what history will remember as Islam's darkest period. We read reports that Islam is a religion of peace. Iranian government foreign policy positons of 'Death to Israel', 'Death to America', and 'Death to the UK' are those of genocide. Yet, where are the Islamic believers and leaders who are calling for peace, coexistance and religious tolerance? And further, where are the condemnations from the nations of the world to this call for genocide? Where are the condemnations in the western press? Can you imagine the livid outcry if Prime Minister Blair made statements like 'Death to Iran' and 'Iran should be wiped off the map' and 'The Iran/Iraq war never happend and the loss of Iranian soldiers is myth'? Why then is their no common outcry from European nations? We read that France is willing to permit this type of dangerous genocidal behavior to protect their trade relations with Iran. How can this be? Are intra-European national relations so desperately poor?

Lane, Halibut Cove, Alaska

The silence out of the so called moderate Muslem Nation's after this act of aggression by the Iranian's say's alot.GOD WILLING, may you someday have the courage and freedom to speak out without fear as us the the Free World.

jxbong, baltimore, Maryland USA

The Royal Navy operation which ended up with the boarding party being captured, if one is not to prejudice the result of a courts martial, was a gross act of incompetence - not just one mistake but a series of misjudgements. The likelihood of such an operation should have been appreciated by the naval intelligence staff (or has the naval intelligence staff been disbanded as well?). Was there an officer in charge?; if so, his tactical judgement has been found wanting. Where was the topcover? Where - in view of the proximity of Iranian waters - was the Quick Reaction Force? Gross incompetence is an understatement - but we can expect a flacid government response to this as well.

A. Acorn, Dubai, UAE

This is either Munich or D-Day - and the Mullahs know it.

Dan Friedman, New York City, USA

I do believe that there is ahuge point that is being missed in all of this furor....how did this ever come to pass in the first place? How did 2 assault inflateables, with a Royal Navy warship in support, ever come to be taken without so much as a whimper? Armed Royal Marines, supported by a guided missile frigate, taken by 1 helicopter and ragheads in armed bass boats. Tis truly a sad stte of affairs when a blatant act of war is treated as a diplomatic crisis instead of being handled as it should of been in the first place-on the field of battle. Sir Winston and Lord Trafalger must definately be spinning over in their graves at a very high rate of speed. Shame indeed on the Admiralty.

Chuck Harmon, Birmingham, USA

Britain should just apologize and do whatever is necessary to get back their men. Fighting would be useless as Iran is significantly stronger than the UK and the UK would risk becoming an Iranian province. Better for the UK to wait and peacefully become a Pakistani province in the not to distant future.

Samuel , London, United Kingdom

If these two countries think differently on whether the captured soldiers were in Iraqi or Iranian waters, why don't they take the matter to a court, or ask UN to intervene and determine the credibility of their claims. One of the two has done a mistake, a SUBTLE mistake. It is easy to resolve.

Amir, Toronto, Canada

The possibility of Terry Waite going??? Please, no more grandstanding by this egocentric. Unless it´s a straight swap!

Nigel, Caracas, Venezuela

The cowardice shown by Tony Blair and the West only continues to weaken our war against terror. Iran funds and helps man the insurgency in Iraq....they orchastrated the war between Hezbollah and Israel and they continue to fund terrorist organizations that kill innocent civilians around the globe. They are laughing at us right now....and sadly they will have the last laugh once they become nuculear.

Robert, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Diplomacy is in action, now, I am sure. One thing is certain, when all else fails, it will be the Brits and the US who will sort it. The French and the Germans will sit on the side lines, watching and complaining.European Union my foot
United only when it suits them.

Christine, Boston, USA

Britons, of all people, should know, "Once you start paying the Danegeld, you never get rid of the Dane."

Wethal, Philadelphia, USA

We have the means to exterminate the radicals that want some day to rule the world and dictate to everyone their way of life.

The only thing these thugs understand is force!

Set a deadline for the release of the captured military people, a good suggestion is NOW and without their compliance, hit them with a big stick!!!!!!!!!!!

No doubt the Iranians, (stupid, I must say) in power think that we are spineless and some what "girlieboys" by their actions.

A wake up call is needed, if we wait long enough our children and grand children will be in bondage to the animals.

Turn the clock on and wait for for the alarm.

Lee, Abilene, USA

It is absurd to continue pretending that we are dealing with a state here at all. This is no state; it is a mob of cretinous savages. It has been for decades. We don't permit felons to keep weapons. It is time we destroyed the weapons held by these loathsome barbarians. Bomb them. Bomb them prodigiously and exuberantly. Give them an hour to evacuate all military facilities, then bomb. Assure them that rebuilding will result in rebombing, and that any attempt to retaliate will be met with destruction of additional -- now more than military -- infrastructure. Finance the operation with confiscated petroleum, which these criminal theocrats have neither put there nor created, but simply sit upon lazily and use to finance savagery. Britain could do this alone, but happily will not have to do so; the Americans will assist if asked. Bring our troops home from Iraq, let the Shiite and Sunni fanatics kill one another, and destroy Iran's weapons-making capacity.

Aurelius, NY/London, US/UK

If there is any sanity left on earth, this situation has created an opportunity for Bush & Blair to look like heroes again. And if there really is a "power struggle" in Iran over the hostages, that's what it's about. If there ever was an issue that demands uncompromising action - first pro forma diplomatic, then real military - and has general public support, this is it. I have to believe Bush & Blair are just waiting for the target list and assurances from the generals that "the mission" will be successful. And if I'm wrong, all of us in the "free world" better prepare to hide our heads in shame and live below ground again.

Dan Friedman, New York City, USA

"The fate of the 15 British marines and sailors held in Tehran may depend on the outcome of a power struggle between two of Iran’s top generals .. " Indeed. This is because, through our own helpless inaction, we have abandoned the fate of our servicemen to Iran. Britain's views, enfeebled as they are by the weakness of our political leadership, count for nothing.

http://www.elliottjoseph.blogspot.com

Elliott Joseph, London,

In response to Nic Singlehurst, from France, who said he wouldn't want his back protected by Blair, etc. You claim you wouldn't last 5 minutes with this type of backing. Of course you wouldn't... You are French!

David, Washington, D.C.

The fruits of appeasement. The Iranian regime threatens to destroy Israel, and we invite the president over to New York to address the UN with his relgious fantasies. They finance and support the insurgency in Iraq, and we do nothing. They orchestrate a war in Lebanon using their proxies, and we condemn the Israelis for their actions. It is hardly then surprising that the Iranians should now feel bold enough to actually take our troops prisoner in this manner. They must find our feeble reaction to all this highly amusing. As Mrs. Beckett said, how very regrettable.

Peter Dickinson, Kiev, Ukraine

I think that Britain is doing grea. Iranins sought open conflict that would reinforce radicals and tried to create divisions between the allies. They have divisions in their ranks, instead.

I think that this is another nail in coffin of current Iranian leadership.

Drazen Gemic, Zagreb, Croatia

Jürgen Bernstein, you incorrectly claimed that only 44% of Brits would support the rescue of the captured personnel. What "Spiegel" actually reported is that only 44% would support Military Action to get the personnel back if diplomatic efforts fail.

But I think I am right in saying that most, if not all, Brits would just like to see our marines back safe and sound.

Matt, Nottingham, England

I am sorry but in my opinion this has all gone on far too long if the most of what i am reading is true. Iran’s government is just taking the biscuit and being outrageously immature. And our British government is just acting like a stupid parent, which is egging them on more. They should offer the Iranian government an ultimatum that I am sure Bush could help out with. And hopefully bring things to a much more serious level.
For the record this situation has arisen because of the coalition invading iraq. Which didnt actually need invading because none of the original reasons were actually remotely true!

Leo, Liverpool, UK

The more I see and read of Blair's puffery the more it reminds me of the shouting and chest-beating behavior seen in George Bush, Islamic extremists, chimpanzees and other primates. STOP IT, for Christ's sake! Surpress your nationalistic ego, take the higher road, and LEAD your countrymen to a solution worthy of humanity. If the world learns nothing else from the Bush debacle, it should now better appreciate the damage that can be done from nationalistic paranoia run amok.

R F Schlegel, Virginia Beach, VA - USA

The note from Bernstein, Berlin is what to be expected from a guttless country who wants all the 'goodies' but is not prepared to defend the rights of others - The German forces,well force is to strong a word, hide behind the skirts of their politicians -to scared to be involved. Afganistan is an example - Who needs Germany as an allly - give us US anytime and even Turkey

A.J.Lukes, Olney, England

Emad, does anyone seriously believe tose apologies were of the sailor's free will? For all we know there was a Gatling gun behind those curtains.

Ben, York,

You notice how the Europeans claim to be such pacifists yet refuse to apply even non-violent means to put pressure on Iran? The French and Germans in particular do huge business with Iran and, by cutting it off, could bring the regime to its knees. They could get the hostages back and hold Iran accountable for its nuclear defiance, terrorist support, anti-semitism, human rights violations etc etc etc and do so without bombs. The fact that they choose to ignore Iran's abhorrent record makes their constant criticism of the US ring a little hollow. In the end their strategy might work- they know the US and or Israel will take out Iran (violently) before they get too strong and, in the meantime, they can continue making money with their Iran trade. When the bombs start falling and people start dying, they can self righteously proclaim that they were against it all along. I guess the only downside is that the Euros will reveal themselves to be completely unprincipled opportunistic hypocrite

Cristobal, NYC, NY

this whole thing is a power struggle between various factions in Iran, and murky borders between Iran and Iraq.Some of the Iranians want to test the resolve of the US/UK governments, some are looking for a way out. Chances are good that this whole thing will explode into a regional war, beyond anyones control, due to the fact that there is no one group making decisions here. In effect, this is a result of prior decisions in the region, not something new. unfortuately there is very little chance of resolving this peacefully, as no one is going to back down, its a sign of weakness.
brace your selves for 200$ a barrel oil and alot of conflict in that region.

christopher rehm, hannover, germany

how little respect does the UK generate in the world.

It is just amazing how Iran can do pretty much all it wants without consequences (e.g. threat to wiped out Israel) but as long as the Chinese and Russian keep doing business I do no think diplomacy will do any good.

May be the Russian approach is better and the UK and US should turn out Iran in a Chechnya or Tibet?

Dean Brown, Montreal,

If I was in a physical confrontation,I would not want my back protected by Blair,Becket or any British admiral or general.

I would not last 5 minutes,and that is being optimistic.

Nic Singlehurst, royan, France

Iran pretends an exchange of prisoners. OK, let's take 15 illegal iranian immigrants and give them in exchange.

alceste, Montréal, Canada

I think it is britain sailot fault to violent iranian water.As you saw,the british sailors accepts their fault .I recommend diplomacy to solve this problem .

emad, kerman,

Before arrgantly blame Iran for this crisis, I am wondering how easy it is, apparently, to capture soldiers in international waters. Aren't there NATO ships to secure these waters? Due to this fact, I believe that the British troops crossed the border. And then the GPS thing! Nothing easier than to produce GPS charts - I can put an Alien Starship in the Gulf! So, a dialogue with mutual recognition and apologies would resolve this case within days, I'm sure.

Joachim Kappert, Gaia, Portugal

How is it that US involvement would make matters worse? When will the rest of the world realize that attempting to rationalize with these people has never worked in a thousand years, and will never work now. The time has come for the countries of the world that believe in what is right to stand up and be counted; to stand up against tyranny that only wishes for a world of chaos. Has the US made mistakes in Iraq? Yes. But who else in the world would still be there, trying to make sure that we do not leave that place worse than when we arrived? In this global age, there must be a clear dividing line between good and evil. While Britain and the US are clear which side they are on, there are so many others that are not. The time has come to stop Iranian aggression that is leading to further conflict and a looming nuclear showdown. If it be by military force, than so be it. When evil is so easliy evident, there is only one option.

Ryan Wright, Cottontown, Tennessee

i think prime minister Blair is too timid on the iranians and all there rantings, he should consider sending the HMS Ark Royal to the gulf, then iran will understand. Diplomacy does not always solve things. They there not do try it with the Americans

tope debo , united kingdom, london

The whole story looks like a huge provocation of the UK against Iran. Such artificially created tensions have been engineered many times before when the US or the UK were using their soldiers like pawns for triggering armed conflicts. Could you explain what these British soldiers were doing so close to the Iranian coast? Why has the Bristish frigate not swiftly intervene against the Iranian light boats? Why the response of the frigate commander has been distorted by the UK press (he was not that clear about the territoriality of the disputed border coast)? Why have the SAS have been caught under the disguise of Shiites natives organizing bomb blasts? Too many questions unanswered!

Bernard, Paris,

eddie reader, one of my formative memories is of an HR manager at a firm where I worked in the 70s who was an ex naval officer telling me that the first priority of a naval officer was to "look after your sailors". He recounted a story in which he got a rocket from his CO for going off duty before ensuring his sailors were properly billeted. These sailors now are NOT expendable, eddie reader - not to the navy and not to me. It will be hard to get them back I fear and military force is no answer. My hopes are with them and thetr families.

Geoffrey, Sydney, Australia

This matter should be resolved by the U.K. starting with an apology. There is no need for the US to get involved, it will only make matters worse.

Linda Lou, London, U.K.

The European Union should stop acting on the basis of economic reasons, and start acting on the basis of principles. Britain is a member of the Union and should receive all possible support against Iran, a country with a record of breaking international law (seizure of a foreign embassy, ... ), supporting groups like Hezbollah and calling for other nations like Israel to be wiped of the map. – Our friend will not remember the words of his enemy, but the silence of his friends.

l.karremans, Heusden, Belgium

The key question is what does Iran want out of this? I think both Britain and US can't seem to figure that out.
Now a reason for which the EU and other Security Council members are not supporting Britain is because of the attitude shown by thrm prior and after the Iraqi invasion and Iran knows that and will push matters for some more time. A war with Iran would be a disaster for the whole region as well as for Britain and US. But again what does Iran want out of this? Release of those five men? Or an assurance there would be no air strikes against their nuclear installations? Or do they want US and Britain out of Iraq?

Subin, Paris,

There are two truths here. The first, the service personnel do not matter. They are paid by the state to further the state's interests. In an age where a non-entity can be become a celebrity for appearing on a reality tv show it is understandable the media focus on these personnel, but they are military personnel and therefore expendable.
The second truth is that Iran is in a state of chaos. Patently this is some kind of power struggle in a country that is alredy falling apart at the seems socially and economically. This fact alone makes Iran totally unsuitable to have nuclear weapons.
The only silver-lining is that those behind this cavalier hostage taking will place Iran in an even worse position than it is now and so hasten there own downfall.
If Jürgen Bernstein is correct about the stoic approach of the British electorate to this then it shows were not the headless chickens many of our Anglo-Saxon cousins sem to be. Patience.

eddie reader, birmingham, uk

How can either country be right on the exact location of the British marines, since there is no formal bilateral treaty between Iran and Iraq as to the demarcation of the Shatt-al-Arab? Saddam had abrogated the earlier treaty when he launched his war against the Iranians and no new treaty has since been negotiated. To me it sounds like a routine recce mission where you push the boundary to scout or to test the enemy's military readiness and posture. In any case, the intervention of Bush will only delay a rapproachment between Iran and Britain.

Sarbo Sen, Calcutta, India

The split has started, the road map to the fall of the current Iranian leadership has been revealed. Yahya Rahim Sfari, wanting stability has been confronted by the radical hardliner Yadollah Javani. Now there is a public schism identifying who can be approached by outside moderates to save Iran's future. Was this by chance, or was this planned?

Mike Hermsen, omaha, U.S.A./Nebraska

Get their assurances that with the "apology" the sailors wil be released. Good grief London, send the apology and make sure you add that you do not believe there was a breach, in case they are lying and do not release the sailors and want to use your apology for the "trial". Offer the assurances of no further breaches. Even offer to help Iran put in marker buoys.

Em Hawthorne, London, UK

Over and over again Britons act as if Iran is impervious to anything Briton says or does. Over and over again, Iranians seem to be asking for some understanding. It wouldn't hurt to really listen, offer some validation for their world view and then offer Briton's. Briton shouldn't be saying it is willing to engage in dialogue. It should insist on meetings. And the next time Iran's leader wants to visit, take those meetings, assure Iran no one is targeting it.. Ditto to the U.S.

Em Hawthorne, London, UK

The crucial question is surely: were the sailors in Iranian waters or not? With the range of devices such as GPS and satellite photography at their disposal, surely it would not be difficult for the government to show, beyond doubt, that they were not in Iranian waters, if this is the case? The fact that they seem to have made no effort to take a clear stand indicates that they probably were, whether by accident or intent, in Iranian waters. If so, the government must offer a clear and unequivocal apology and a clear promise never to do the same thing again. If the Iranians were in the wrong, then the government has a clear duty to ratchet up the pressure, while trying to forestall an explosion. But let's get the facts clear first.

akai ringo, Tokyo, Japan

US must draft 2 million men and do a ground invasion of Iran. These are our coalition forces, and they are our responsibility.

Old Atlantic, Atlantic City, NJ

We need a Maggie Thatcher or Churchill in these times, not this constant exchange of memos. Everyone knows Iran has kidanpped English sailors, what else is there to discuss. Send in the SAS.

JERRY MCCULLOUGH, St.Catharines, Ontario, Canada, CANADA

Oh, Britannia!
Shoud you really be proud of being the first europian country that is going on knees in front of the Islam? In the german "Spiegel"-magazine was reported, that only 44% of the British inhabitants wish to support the rescue of their 15 soldiers.
Weak, powerless, anciously and begging for not to be attaqued in and outside of their homeland by Arabs, Pakistanies etc, Great(?)Britan will be in several years one of the first states, who will vote for the membership of Turkey, Alegeria etc. in the EU - due to fatal liberalisme and the snobisme of the wallstreetparasits, who want not see the danger for the UK(Doesn´t matter, they all have houses in France, Canada or in the USA.

Jürgen Bernstein, Berlin, Germany

I am all for negotiating this situation out if it looks feasible. BUT, if Iran takes a single further step towards a "trial" for "illegally entering Iranian" waters in which the the British governement is not assured of a favorable verdict ahead of time, then all bets are off and it will be time to start warming up engines and programming warshots. If one of those hostages is so much as taken near a hostile tribunal, Iran will have hell to pay and then a long, long time to remember its indiscretion.

Thomas, Atlanta, GA, USA

Not one mention of a swap for the Iranian "diplomats" taken into custody by the yanks! - Yet newspapers in Asia claim that this is what it is all about. They also report the yanks refuse to play ball saying the Brits should have fought if found in international waters - and so Britain is on it's own.

Ms. Beckett's call for a peaceful solution is not news since the Iranians where already proposing one. - An investigation and freedom if innocent, or a trial under Iranian law. This is much more than the Iranian "Diplomats" are being offered.

Since the UK are withdrawing from Iraq in the near future perhaps Ms Beckett should offer a speedier withdrawal. That should make everyone happier - including the squadies - and lead to a more peaceful arrangement between the UK and Iran. The UK can then start a campaign to have the Iranian "diplomats" treated in a just way! Happiness all round...

Bill Adams , New Delhi, India

If Iran wants justice, and only justice, as they claim, in this matter, namely, to put sailors on trial, why then Iran did not allow lawyers and British Embassy reprsentatives to see the captives?! Even if sailors are criminals, they are allowed to see their lawyers. Iran plays a game of an honest and innocent guy who, in fact, lies and contradicts himself. Indeed, it is difficult to bear the burden of hypocrisy.

Alex Spak, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion